‘Not Fairly As Anticipated,’ And Here is Why

• 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 common 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 laborious 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 formidable 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 wanting 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, nevertheless it’s extra than simply an SUV model of the class-leading Lucid Air sedan. It makes use of a completely 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 because of 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, nevertheless it’s as tip-of-the-spear high-tech as EVs get exterior of China.

As all the time, Tom is right here to do the Lord’s work by operating the Gravity down to almost empty at a continuous 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 recommended spec, and this Gravity additionally packs the smallest and most aerodynamic wheels accessible. It is a colder early fall night with temperatures within the 50s, however doing these assessments at evening 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 bother 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 house.

The person places within the work, of us.

Picture 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 beneath estimates however not precisely mind-blowing effectivity from Lucid. Whereas it is unreasonable to anticipate an SUV to drag the identical 4.0-plus rankings because the Air sedan, the carmaker did declare a goal of about 3.6 miles per kWh. Not precisely what Tom obtained right here.

Picture by: Patrick George

It is also value noting that I’ve a forthcoming assessment of this very same Gravity, and I nearly by no means noticed rankings 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 cheap right here: 345 miles on the freeway is a superb end result for a contemporary EV. Lately, 300 miles of complete vary ought to 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 wanting that ranking when constantly pushed at 70 mph on the freeway—although a number of now can really outperform these estimatestoo.

Nonetheless, falling wanting the whole estimated vary by greater than 100 miles is a disappointing end result. Particularly so for Lucid, which payments itself because the king of environment friendly electrical driving.

However there could also be a proof right here. Tom obtained in contact with Lucid’s engineers. “When the engineers took at have a look at the total vary take a look at, they seen there’s really an issue with the rear drive unit of this automobile,” Tom stated. “That probably 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 whole battery capability as a sort of buffer, Tom was shocked it was that top. “That is an enormous low-end buffer,” he stated. “I do not assume that is precisely how the automobile is ready as much as be, usually.”

Lucid has since supplied to ship Tom one other automobile for a re-test, which we can even 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 end result. It is a formidable SUV, nevertheless it has a handful of teething points out of the gateas many brand-new EVs do. Hopefully, they’re going to be ironed out quickly.

Contact the writer: patrick.george@insideevs.com