The next generation of premium electric cars look set to end range anxiety.
While early electric cars were compromised by sub-300 kilometre range and extremely sparse charging infrastructure, upcoming machines look set to end driver concerns thanks to improved access to charging points and better in-car technology.
The best of them might be America’s Lucid Air sedan.
Built to take on premium models such as Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan Turbo, the Lucid has an enormous 113kWh battery offering more than 800 kilometres of range.
That’s not a fanciful claim, as the US EPA has officially rated the top model’s range at 520 miles (837km), significantly more than the 652 kilometres claimed by Tesla’s Model S Long Range.
As with the Tesla and Taycan, the Lucid is a big car with big power. The version with the longest range makes a stout 696kW – more than triple that of a regular prestige sedan – while the fastest version has a shocking 828kW of power.
The Lucid will initially be sold in the US before an international expansion that may include New Zealand. Prices start at at $USD77,400 ($106,550) and run to $USD169,000 ($232,650).
Initial impressions by US media such as Motor Trend suggest the Lucid is far more luxurious than a Tesla and that its driving experience is on par with high-performance machines such as the Nissan GT-R.
Lucid chief executive Peter Rawlinson, a former Tesla and Lotus engineer, said there was more to the Lucid Air’s performance than a massive battery.
The car’s electric motors are smaller and lighter than rivals, the battery itself operates at higher voltages than existing rivals, and clever software helps deliver efficiency.
Lucid’s focus on driving range is out of step with some European manufacturers such as Porsche and Audi, which are focusing on smaller and cheaper batteries with rapid recharging potential.
- News.com.au