Lucid obstacles Tesla with a high-end EV sedan that has a record 517 miles of variety per charge

The very first all-electric vehicle from Lucid Motors is anticipated to set a brand-new market criteria — and record — with more than 500 miles of variety per charge, quickly topping leading EVs from Tesla, General Motors and others.

The California-based start-up Tuesday stated its Lucid Air sedan is approximated to attain an EPA-rated variety of 517 miles on a single charge. The outcomes were confirmed by engineering consulting company FEV North America.

“It’s unprecedented. It’s a big step forward,” Peter Rawlinson, Lucid Motors CEO and primary innovation officer, informed CNBC. “How we were able to achieve that is a holistic view of all the technology in the car.”

Most electrical cars on the marketplace today have a variety of under 300 miles, while GM and others have actually stated their future cars might top 400 miles. A variation of Tesla’s industry-leading Model S sedan has an EPA-rated variety of 402 miles per charge.

Lucid took a small jab at Tesla, Rawlinson’s previous company, in a teaser video recently on social networks of an odometer speeding up to 402 miles and after that speeding past it.

Lucid, a business backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, revealed the approximated variety ahead of revealing the last variation of its Air sedan on Sept. 9. The vehicle is anticipated to start production next year at a plant being built in Arizona.

Lucid formerly stated the Air would attain more than 400 miles. Rawlinson, a previous vice president of car engineering at Tesla, stated the boost in driving range was an outcome the business’s developments in innovation.

Rawlinson associated the car’s boost in variety to Lucid’s internal electrical motors, style and aerodynamics, to name a few things. The business likewise pointed out the experience of its Atieva innovation department, which provides battery packs to the Formula E electrical racing circuit.

Recently, Tesla CEO Elon Musk informed Automotive News that the business “could make the 500 range car right now,” however it would increase expenses and lower freight ability. He stated “but now people probably want about 300 miles over time.” 

Rawlinson, who was called CEO in April, decreased to go over the weight of the Air. Final style fine-tunes might impact curb weight, he kept in mind. The car is externally smaller sized than a Tesla Model S however roomier than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, amongst the leaders in spaciousness for big executive automobiles, he stated.

The CEO revealed as much aspiration as pragmatism. While proud that the Lucid Air model was individually checked and notched a 517-mile score, he consistently kept in mind, “None of this matters,” till Lucid is really producing its cars.

Lucid is presently taking appointments for the Air through $1,000 refundable deposits. The business decreased to reveal the number of appointments have actually been made.

Production of the car was anticipated to start this year, nevertheless the coronavirus pandemic postponed the business’s strategies, Rawlinson stated.

– CNBC’s Lora Kolodny added to this report.