Lucid released its ultra-luxury Air sedan for the 2022 model year, but plans for the all-electric Gravity have already been released and production is slated to begin in 2023.

Quick Look:

Lucid Motors started as a manufacturer of EV batteries and powertrains. They released their first vehicle, the Lucid Air luxury electric sedan, in 2021.
Even the base Air Pure features a stunning 480 horsepower, while the Air Dream Edition Performance produces an amazing 1,111 hp!
Lucid’s first SUV, the Gravity, is expected to debut in 2024.

Does Lucid have electric cars?

Yes. In 2021, Lucid Motors released the first vehicle in its lineup, the 2022 Lucid Air, to the EV market.

Lucid may be a brand-new car manufacturer, but they’ve already made a name for themselves in the budding electric vehicle (EV) market. Touting itself as “the future of sustainable mobility,” Lucid was founded in 2007 as a manufacturer and supplier of EV batteries and powertrains.

They’ve now taken what they’ve learned and applied it to their own lineup of high-performance luxury EVs.

All about the 2022 Lucid Air

Starting price: $78,900

Powertrain: A single 480-hp electric motor OR dual electric motors with horsepower ratings from 650 to 1111, with a maximum 1025 lb-ft of torque.

Driving range: EPA-estimated 406 miles of range (Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring models), 471 miles (Dream Edition Performance), 520 miles (Dream Edition Range)

Charging time: 13 hours at 240 volts or a Level 2 charging station

When Lucid first announced plans to add EVs to its production alongside battery packs for the Formula E racing series, most assumed their cars would be little more than

Tesla

rip-offs. Boy, were they wrong!

Not only does the Lucid Air offer the longest range of any other EV on the market, but it’s also one of just a handful of EVs compatible with super-speedy 350-kWh DC charging stations.

How do you charge a Lucid electric car?

Hooking up to a DC or Level 3 station can potentially power Air models for up to 300 miles in just 20 minutes. For home charging, you can plug into a standard 240-volt dryer outlet, or you can purchase a

Lucid Connected Home Charging Station

, which mimics the charging speed of a DC fast-charging station.

Admittedly, Lucid’s a bit behind the curve when it comes to developing bi-directional capabilities for its home charging station. But even current stations are ready for upgrades that will allow you to use the station to

power your house

with your luxury electric car in case of an outage!

Adding to its best-in-class range and charging specs, Lucid also offers three years of complimentary charging at Electrify America charging stations. Plus, Lucid vehicles will be compatible with all ChargePoint and EVgo charging stations with no need for adaptors.

What kind of horsepower can you get from a Lucid Air?

The base-model Air Pure features a single 480-hp electric motor driving power to the rear wheels.

The rest of the lineup features dual electric motors for all-wheel-drive with the following horsepower ratings:

650+ for the Air Touring trim

800 for the Lucid Air Grand Touring

933 for the

Dream Edition Range

1,111 for the Air Dream Edition Performance (plus 1025 lb-ft of torque)

Sound fast? It is. According to Car & Driver, the Lucid Air Dream Performance has a blistering top speed of 173 mph!

How do Lucid’s electric cars compare to competitors?

The big question on buyers’ minds when Lucid came to the market in 2021 was, and still is, how does it stack up next to competitors like Tesla,

Porsche

, and

Mercedes-Benz

Brand loyalty is a big part of the equation when it comes to beating out some of the competitors—but when it comes to performance, Lucid is more than worthy to stand up to other models in its segment.

To see how the Lucid Air measures up, we’ve compared it with the top electric luxury vehicles in terms of range and

charging time

, performance, and affordability over time.

Driving range and charging time

Driving range—the maximum distance you can travel on a full charge—is one of the most important automotive considerations when it comes to picking an electric vehicle. A close-second is charging time.

When it comes to both range and charging time, Lucid is at the top of its class. For DC fast-charging times, not even Tesla can hold a candle to the Lucid Air.

Even the Long Range

Tesla S

only beats Lucid’s base-model Lucid Air Pure by six miles when it comes to estimated range. For standard 240-volt charging, though, the Lucid is perfectly average.

Let’s take a closer look at how Lucid’s charging numbers compare with their biggest competition.

Model	Driving range	Charging time at 240v	Charging time w DC fast charger
2022 Lucid Air	406-520 miles	13 hrs	10-80% in 11 min
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS	340-350 miles	11.25 hrs	10-80% in 31 minutes
2022 Tesla Model S	390-412 miles	14 hrs	10-80% in 28 minutes
2022 Porsche Taycan	199-227 miles	9.5-10.5 hrs	10-80% in 23 minutes
2022 Audi e-tron GT	232-238 miles	14 hrs	10-80% in 22 minutes
2022 BMW i4	245-300 miles	8 hrs	10-80% in 40 minutes
2022 BMW i3	193 miles	7 hrs	10-80% in 40 minutes

Performance

Performance is a key concern for many where electric cars are concerned, but unlike many hybrids, EVs don’t seem to be suffering when it comes to

power and speed

It’s still too early to tell where the Lucid cars will fall where reliability is concerned, but the Lucid Air is leading the EV pack when it comes to horsepower, torque, and acceleration time.

Model	Maximum horsepower	Maximum torque	0 to 60 time
2022 Lucid Air	480-1111hp	885-1025 lb-ft	2.5-3.2 seconds
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS	329-516 hp	406-611 lb-ft	4.1-5.5 seconds
2022 Tesla Model S	670-1020 hp	310-1050lb-ft	2.1-2.4 seconds
2022 Porsche Taycan	469-750 hp	263-774lb-ft	2.6-5.1 seconds
2022 Audi e-tron GT	522-637 hp	464-612 lb-ft	2.9-4.0 seconds
2022 BMW i4	355-536 hp	317-586 lb-ft	3.3-3.7 seconds
2022 BMW i3	168-181 hp	184-199 lb-ft	6.6-7.2 seconds

Cost of ownership

For the most part, EVs—especially luxury makes, like Lucid—are going to have

higher starting prices

than traditional gas-powered vehicles.

But there is much more to consider when calculating the

cost of electric vehicle ownership

than just sales price. When it comes to EVs, this is where considerations like lower fuel and lower

maintenance costs

, federal tax credits, and other

electric car incentives

come into play.

If you’re in the market for a luxury sedan like the Lucid, you’re probably not too worried about upfront costs. However, if finding a

cheaper electric vehicle

is your goal, consider less pricey but still flashy and stylish alternatives, like the

Polestar 2

, starting at $49,800, the

Tesla Model 3

, which starts at $48,440, or the

Ford Mustang Mach-E

, starting at $44,995.

How to decide if going electric is right for you

The electric car market seems to have gone from empty to full in less time than it takes a Lucid Air to reach a full charge, but that doesn’t necessarily mean EVs are right for everyone.

Here are a few things you should consider before plugging into the EV trend:

Do you have a place to plug in?: Charging at home is likely to be your best bet when it comes to keeping your EV juiced up, but if you don’t have a garage, installing and using a 240-volt outlet or a home charging station is going to pose some problems.

How’s your state’s EV infrastructure?: Do some research to see if you have public charging stations available in your area or on the routes you tend to travel on for work and trips.

How many miles are you driving each day?: If you’re out of power, even 20 minutes for 300 miles can seem like a long time compared to the couple of minutes it takes to fill a gas tank. If you regularly go over your car’s max range, an EV may not be the best bet for you.

Do you like road trips?: EVs are generally a great option for daily trips to work and running errands around town. But if you have an exceptional commute or you find yourself hitting the road for more than 300 miles at a time, charging up could be a challenge.

Will you be towing?: While most EVs boast pretty astonishing towing capacities, the more weight you pull, the more quickly your battery’s charge will deplete, shortening your driving range.

Whether you’re looking for tax credits, lower ownership costs, or you just hope to

benefit the environment

, an EV could be a great choice for you. But if you’re not ready for an EV’s higher upfront costs or to navigate the shifting charging terrain, you may be better served by a hybrid.

Lucid is an all-electric automaker, so they don’t have any

luxury hybrid options

. But with luxury options like the

Lexus ES

and the

Audi RS7

, you might find the perfect middle ground—saving on fuel economy without relying entirely on electric charging.

Lucid’s electric future

The Air is just a preview of Lucid’s all-electric plan. When the Air was launched in 2021, Lucid teased the upcoming Gravity luxury electric SUV, which is now set to arrive in 2024.

Specs are still largely unknown, but it will likely share a good deal in common with the Air. Buyers can expect massive horsepower, extra-long driving ranges, and super-luxe cabin appointments.

Lucid’s CEO, Peter Rawlinson, has already outlined some pretty big plans for the manufacturer’s future as well, mostly dealing with the expansion of sales, maintenance and repair services, and manufacturing activities to support the startup as it gets off the ground.

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