An electrical Lucid pickup could also be a pipe dream, in spite of everything. Lucid (LCID) CEO Peter Rawlinson stated it’s “very powerful to make an electrical pickup work right now.” At the least, not one which’s usable and cost-effective. Right here’s why.
Lucid revealed a number of new improvements throughout its Tech and Manufacturing Day on Tuesday. The corporate introduced its second EV, the Gravity SUV, will function an NACS port in 2025.
Maybe, extra importantly, it would unlock “mass financial savings” as Lucid expands the model. Lucid already has a “important expertise benefit,” as the corporate claims it could take a few years for the closest competitor to match them.
With the 2025 Air Pure being the “world’s most energy-efficient manufacturing automobile,” Lucid is strolling the discuss.
Powered by an 84 kWh battery pack, the 2025 Lucid Air Pure has an EPA-estimated driving vary of 420 miles. That quantities to a file power effectivity of 5 miles per kWh.
The Gravity is ready to speed up Lucid’s tech management. With an as much as 924V structure, Lucid says its electrical SUV would be the fastest-charging EV in the marketplace.
Lucid additionally launched its new Atlas drive unit on Tuesday. The subsequent-gen unit will energy its lower-cost midsize EV platform, which is able to launch in 2026.
A new teaser dropped throughout Tech and Manufacturing Day gave us a more in-depth have a look at Lucid’s midsize electrical crossover SUV. Lucid stated the midsize crossover will begin at underneath $50,000.
Lucid informed Electrek there can be three electrical fashions based mostly on the midsize platform, together with a crossover and a sedan. The third could possibly be an off-road mannequin however don’t count on a Lucid electrical pickup anytime quickly.
Is Lucid planning an electrical pickup? It’s unlikely
Throughout Tuesday’s occasion, Rawlinson highlighted how the corporate would minimize prices because it scales manufacturing.
Though prices and effectivity are the primary focus, so is “product alternative,” based on Rawlinson. Lucid’s CEO stated, “It’s very powerful to make an electrical pickup work right now,” including, “not one which’s usable and cost-effective.”
Rawlinson defined a typical EV pickup truck’s effectivity is round 2.5 miles per kWh. Even with Lucid’s superior tech, pushing it over 2.7 miles per kWh can be laborious.
If you need a 300-mile vary pickup, you’re already pushing a 120 kWh battery pack. In response to Rawlinson, the battery pack will price $15,360. For 375 miles of vary, a 150 kWh battery is required, which prices $19,000 to $20,000.
Even that isn’t sufficient energy, based on Rawlinson. Some electrical pickups in the marketplace right now have over 240 kWh battery packs. Rams’ first electrical pickup, the Ram 1500 REV, has an optionally available 229 kWh pack, offering as much as 500 miles of vary.
Lucid’s CEO requested, “How are you going to make a enterprise case?” It’s laborious to when the battery pack prices $50,000 to $60,000.
Rawlinson concluded, “I don’t need Lucid to start out fascinated about a pickup.” To take action, a “profound enchancment” in cell chemistry is required.
