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Lucid Air Will Be Better Than Model S, Says Former Tesla Engineer

Discussion in 'Electric Vehicles' started by TMC Staff, Apr 21, 2020.

  1. BlindPass

    BlindPass Member

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    If Elon is as committed to the machine that makes the machine as he states, we’ll see big improvements from Austin.

    That said, shifting quality control to the buyer could be a component of the machine that makes the machine. It allows for faster production and less development costs. And if one believes Robo Taxis is the future, cutting costs by lowering the QC/QA burden to a standard of a rental fleet rather than personal car, is a win-win.
     
  2. BlindPass

    BlindPass Member

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    Yes, I’m familiar with the fanboy rationale.
    Most people weight what they need 99% of the time as bigger deal breakers than the 1%. You may not. We’re all irrational from time to time.

    Your EA logic buildout is poor. EA has incentive to buildout prior to having more cars sold, just like Tesla continued to aggressively build SC even with minuscule sales. Buying based on the current charging network is a mistake. EA will soon have nearly equitable chargers, with less cars in need. A good combo.

    Did someone give you the ICE range anxiety bullet points? It’s like it’s 2013 and I’m discussing my first S again.
     
  3. PJFW8

    PJFW8 Red Menace may hurt me

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    We travel from NC to Wisconsin and Michigan several times each year. No problem with the supercharger network and destination charging. Our frequent trips to Florida are even easier. No reason your Tesla would present a problem.Try a Better Route Planner with an Audi EV. Not reasonable yet, but they will catch-up soon. When Tesla brings out its CCS adapter we will have the benefit of both.
     
  4. mrmage

    mrmage Supporting Member

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    By definition, deal breakers are not weighted. You're thinking of preferences.
     
  5. Tam

    Tam Well-Known Member

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    It's interesting that it is using Amazon Alexa as its verbal command system, unlike Tesla that uses its own.

    The Alexa advantage is: It's been around for 6 years in numerous households (about 100 million devices) and it dominates 70% of US smart speakers (more than Google's). That means Lucid does not have to start from zero and the vocabulary is already so much richer than Tesla's system.

    I guess the disadvantage is: Lucid has to be dependent on Amazon who is the owner of Alexa.
     
  6. BlindPass

    BlindPass Member

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    Having charging dictate anything is to be avoided imo. (Plus there’s the superior ride of the our particular road trip car). If you’re a one car house, it may be different, but the delta between our ICE and SC is in general fundamentally smaller than the delta between SC with the S vs EA for Lucid.
     
  7. arnolddeleon

    arnolddeleon Supporting Member

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    Indeed, I made an oblique reference to the "Wunderbox" in a earlier post (prodding Tesla to finally release something here). I think it is one of the most interesting features. The "Wunderbox" appears to also enable compatibility with lower voltage DC charging and car to car energy transfer.
     
    • Like x 1
  8. BlindPass

    BlindPass Member

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    That’s false, everything is relative. Deal breakers are preferences, but preferences aren’t necessarily deal breakers.

    But if you wish, I’ll rephrase- most people’s deal breakers are not inherent to what they need 1% of the time. We’re all irrational from time to time. Some people just need a Tesla, and will grasp for 1% usage as justification.
     
  9. mrmage

    mrmage Supporting Member

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    Most people would be unhappy with a car that doesn't meet their needs 1% of the time. If that satisfies you, that's fine. We all lower our standards from time to time.
     
  10. dfwatt

    dfwatt Active Member

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    #210 dfwatt, Sep 10, 2020
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2020
    I have to say I love the technology in the car but I do not like its styling at all. It looks like kind of a version of a hyper-modern taxi that would appear in the second edition of The Fifth Element. Not sure I care much for 21 inch wheels either, at least in my opinion they appear to be too large for the body proportionally. The wheel styling itself on the 21 in is just this side of bizarre. I'm sure it's aerodynamic but good God. Obviously these are small quibbles in terms of the wheels anyway because I'm sure you can get an aftermarket set that has style that you like. But for $170 Grand you shouldn't have to spend any money after purchase to tweak something. The other problem is that in that stratospheric price bracket they're now competing with the Tesla Roadster and I doubt that the Lucid Air performance will equal that – at least not until they come out with the three motor version.

    All this of course is totally subjective cuz I'm sure a lot of other people will think of how "it looks so modern let me get one!" For that much money I'd have to like everything about it. So that's actually a deal-breaker.
     
  11. ICUDoc

    ICUDoc Active Member

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    I still love my Model S after having one for 5 years, but you are right, it's ripe for a change. I'm thinking Roadster. But regardless of change, I'm still thinking Tesla. They have problems, but I still like them very much, and they import to Australia SO MUCH CHEAPER than other luxury cars. The Lucid top model will in all likelihood be over 400 000 in Australia, like the Taycan Turbo S. Madness.
     
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  12. jelloslug

    jelloslug Active Member

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    I actually got one to charge once. It took three tries and the tech on the phone had to get it to start it. It ran for about 15 minutes at 33 kw.
     
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  13. theothertom

    theothertom Member

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    EA is present at a lot of locations. Check Plugshare. But yeah, EA is expensive compared to Tesla and EA is not all that reliable.
     
  14. theothertom

    theothertom Member

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    And who knows what Amazon is going to do with the data....Alexa, set speed to 80mph....:eek:
     
  15. Kipernicus

    Kipernicus Model S Res#P1440

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    I have liked Peter Rawlinson ever since he worked on Model S. I find him to be earnest and sincere.
    I just wish they partnered with Tesla to have access to the Supercharger network.
    Any info on safety rating of Lucid Air? hopefully as good as Tesla.
     
  16. Tam

    Tam Well-Known Member

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    Not very nice words from a former boss:
    "Elon [email protected]
    Sep 8

    Rawlinson didn’t design Model S. Prototype was done before he joined & he left us in the lurch just as things got tough, which was not cool. He did make some contributions to body/chassis engineering, but not to powertrain, battery, electronics or software."


    My guess is it's cheaper for Lucid to leave customers stranded on their own with Electrify America when it comes to charging.

    I haven't heard any crash tests for Lucid just yet.
     
    • Informative x 2
  17. scubastevo80

    scubastevo80 Member

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    The Wunderbox's ability to allow bi-directional charging is the only interesting note here. I believe there was speculation Tesla was quietly adding this capability by adding switches to its PCS, but I'm not sure if any of the electrical engineers have torn down the onboard charger lately. There are other limiting factors in this equation though - the charger itself needs to be capable of reverse flow as well as the house. Otherwise, you're stuck buying a special cable that charges one Lucid from another, a scenario that probably will almost never happen.
     
    • Like x 2
  18. qingshan

    qingshan 18 lr rwd fsd

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    Don't know Peter but glad Tesla keeps the SC system theirs - great to have more ev's but less congestion at chargers without other makes.

    I'm sure it's a great vehicle but I'd still be in a volt without all that the m3 is and costs
     
  19. SUN-day Driver

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    #219 SUN-day Driver, Oct 13, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2020
    But you are not stuck with EA or their prices. Unlike Tesla, every other EV and charging network uses industry standard plugs and interfaces so you can go anywhere except to a Tesla supercharger. EA has the worst prices but also 350 kW charging stations. After the 3 years of free EA charging I would probably choose EVgo or EV Connect when I have to pay.
     
    • Informative x 1
  20. MXLRplus

    MXLRplus Active Member

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    Folk on this board discussing CCS charging in the US are on par with 16 year old inexperienced boys talking about sex.

    Just sayin' ;)
     
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