- The Lucid Gravity SUV is rated to be a long-distance champion at 450 miles of EPA-rated vary.
- However State of Cost’s Tom Moloughney did the standard 70 mph run down to almost empty, and achieved 345 miles at 3.0 miles per kilowatt-hour—not Lucid’s traditional landmark effectivity.
- Tom obtained in contact with Lucid’s engineers, and the carmaker says there could have been an issue with the SUV’s rear drive unit.
On paper, the brand new Lucid Gravity SUV appears onerous to beat, as long as you could have the money for one. It is rated at as much as 450 miles of electrical vary, will do zero to 60 mph in simply 3.4 seconds and packs luxurious and know-how options that might ship Lexus spiraling into an existential disaster.
However as with many EVs, there’s typically a gulf between these bold vary claims and real-world efficiency. And in his newest 70 mph freeway vary take a look at, InsideEVs Contributing Editor and State of Cost host Tom Moloughney discovered that the Gravity can actually go the space on the freeway—simply far in need of what it is imagined to do.
As a fast refresher, the Gravity is simply now happening sale. It is solely Lucid Motors’ second automobile, ever, but it surely’s extra than simply an SUV model of the class-leading Lucid Air sedan. It makes use of a wholly new platform and an array of latest applied sciences that evolve past what its older brother can do.
The only mannequin at present on the market, the Gravity Grand Touring, delivers 450 miles of vary due to a 123-kilowatt-hour battery pack, electrical motors developed in-house, extremely environment friendly packaging and a super-aerodynamic design. Beginning at about $96,000, it is not low cost, but it surely’s as tip-of-the-spear high-tech as EVs get outdoors of China.
As at all times, Tom is right here to do the Lord’s work by working the Gravity down to almost empty at a continuing 70-71 mph. (I fear about his bladder, too, particularly as EV vary will get higher and higher.) The tires are set to the producer’s advised spec, and this Gravity additionally packs the smallest and most aerodynamic wheels out there. It is a colder early fall night with temperatures within the 50s, however doing these exams at night time helps Tom keep away from the New Jersey visitors.
After hours of driving, Tom pulls the Gravity right into a Tesla Supercharger station, the place he sadly has hassle initiating a cost. This was at 3 a.m. and the SUV was at 0%, however he miraculously limped it to an Electrify America station, the place a cost session lastly labored and allowed him to drive dwelling.
The person places within the work, people.
Photograph by: State Of Cost
However the work from the Gravity is not fairly as inspiring. It managed 345 miles of freeway driving at 3.0 miles per kWh, which isn’t solely far under estimates however not precisely mind-blowing effectivity from Lucid. Whereas it is unreasonable to count on an SUV to drag the identical 4.0-plus scores because the Air sedan, the carmaker did declare a goal of about 3.6 miles per kWh. Not precisely what Tom obtained right here.
Photograph by: Patrick George
It is also price noting that I’ve a forthcoming assessment of this very same Gravity, and I virtually by no means noticed scores above 3.0 miles per kWh, both. I too wasn’t blown away by its effectivity, even when I drove it extra aggressively than Tom most likely did.
Let’s be affordable right here: 345 miles on the freeway is a wonderful outcome for a contemporary EV. Today, 300 miles of complete vary must be desk stakes for many household SUVs. However the EPA’s testing cycle is a standardized mixture of metropolis and freeway driving. Just about any EV will fall in need of that ranking when repeatedly pushed at 70 mph on the freeway—although a number of now can truly outperform these estimates, too.
Nonetheless, falling in need of the entire estimated vary by greater than 100 miles is a disappointing outcome. Particularly so for Lucid, which payments itself because the king of environment friendly electrical driving.
However there could also be an evidence right here. Tom obtained in contact with Lucid’s engineers. “When the engineers took at take a look at the complete vary take a look at, they seen there’s truly an issue with the rear drive unit of this automobile,” Tom mentioned. “That doubtless impacted the outcomes of this vary take a look at.”
They added that the Gravity should not have learn 0% on the finish of Tom’s take a look at, as he nonetheless had about 6 kWh of battery capability left to run. And whereas carmakers typically reserve a portion of the entire battery capability as a type of buffer, Tom was shocked it was that prime. “That is an enormous low-end buffer,” he mentioned. “I do not assume that is precisely how the automobile is about as much as be, usually.”
Lucid has since provided to ship Tom one other automobile for a re-test, which we may also run when he can. That will not be for some time for scheduling causes, and when it does, I hope the Gravity yields a greater outcome. It is a powerful SUV, but it surely has a handful of teething points out of the gate, as many brand-new EVs do. Hopefully, they will be ironed out quickly.
Contact the creator: patrick.george@insideevs.com
