Why do most EVs appear to be fuel automobiles? Lucid designer blames horse-and-buggy pondering

Lucid Group Inc., a Silicon Valley upstart, made waves final yr within the more and more crowded electrical automobile market by delivering a luxurious sedan that one-ups Tesla.

The Lucid Air, the model’s first automobile, is a luxurious sedan with as much as 837 kilometres of vary and a dual-motor drivetrain, developed in-house, that may churn out a supercar-crushing 1,200 horsepower. In these two key measures, no less than, the Lucid beats Tesla’s venerable Mannequin S, to not point out each EV from each long-running automobile firm. Such efficiency comes at an eye-watering worth of $327,500, however even the entry-level $121,500 Air sedan has 480 horsepower and 660 kilometres of vary.

Overview: I’ve by no means pushed a automobile just like the Lucid Air

As Lucid’s senior vice-president of design and model, Derek Jenkins was, amongst different issues, chargeable for the Air’s slippery aerodynamic form, which helps it obtain these spectacular efficiency figures.

The important thing, Jenkins says over a video name from Lucid’s Silicon Valley headquarters, was to deal with effectivity.

“If I could make the automobile go farther on a kilowatt of energy, then we will begin to take out a number of the batteries after which we will cut back the burden,” Jenkins says.

Certainly, of all of the 2023 EVs rated by Pure Sources Canada, the Lucid Air is probably the most environment friendly, utilizing {the electrical} equal of simply 1.7 litres of gas per 100 kilometres. The Tesla Mannequin S is rated at 2.0, whereas some high-performance Mercedes and BMW fashions are within the 3.0 vary, and the Rivian R1T pickup averages 3.4.

“Our motors, you possibly can put it in a carry-on bag. It’s 650 horsepower that I can maintain in my palms – that’s the motor, transmission and the inverter,” Jenkins says. The corporate’s propriety design is compact and environment friendly, as MotorTrend journal defined. Lucid just lately revealed that its motors can be used within the race automobiles of this yr’s Method E, the world’s premier EV racing collection.

Effectivity isn’t one thing many individuals seemingly take into consideration when selecting an EV, Jenkins says, however it – together with good design and quick recharging speeds – will turn out to be extra essential as differentiators, he predicts.

Higher effectivity, he explains, permits smaller batteries, decrease weights, much less materials, higher dealing with and in the end decrease costs for shoppers – and that’s as true for high-end luxurious automobiles just like the Lucid as it’s for pickups, SUVs and sports activities automobiles.

The form of the automobile performs a key position in attaining the utmost power effectivity. The Air’s extraordinarily low 0.197 drag coefficient makes it slip by means of the air with much less resistance, making higher use of its battery energy than both the Tesla Mannequin S or Mercedes-EQS sedan. Conversely, the tall, blunt face of the Rivian R1T pickup has a 3.0 drag coefficient, contributing to its much less environment friendly efficiency.

Jenkins sees loads of room for enchancment the place EV design is anxious.

“We’re nonetheless designing the entrance of automobiles like they want huge quantities of air, and it’s the other. [EVs] must be like a jet, clear and quick,” he says. In contrast to EVs, gas-burning automobiles use gaping grilles to suck in air that cools and feeds the engine.

“I see this primary wave of mainstream electrical automobiles and I really feel prefer it’s the identical outdated stuff simply with electrical drivetrains. There’s a chance to be bolder than that,” he says. “Why ought to it appear to be a gasoline automobile? That doesn’t make any sense. In my guide, by definition, that’s unhealthy design. I equate it to the early days after we removed the horses, however the automobiles nonetheless seemed like buggies for a very long time. How lengthy are we going to maintain mimicking a gas-engined automobile till we actually break by means of?”

Within the close to time period, the following 10 years or so, Jenkins sees EV designs converging considerably. The necessity to accommodate compact electrical motors and underfloor battery packs – mixed with the need for aerodynamic effectivity – is resulting in extra rounded, cab-forward, capsule-shaped automobiles. For examples, have a look at the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Mercedes EQE and EQS sedans and SUVs, the Jaguar I-Tempo, Tesla Mannequin Y, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4 and, sure, the Lucid Air.

There’ll be extra alternative for experimentation down the highway, Jenkins says. “Over time, as electrification and the infrastructure turns into extra mainstream, that’ll open up the need and freedom for, let’s say, extra different layouts,” he predicts.

Following the Air sedan, Lucid will produce an SUV, dubbed Gravity, which is slated for 2024. Subsequent up is a 3rd, less-expensive mannequin, which Jenkins described as, “most likely a bit bit younger, and a bit bit extra sporty than the Lucid Air and Gravity.” He mentioned clients ought to count on to see that automobile across the center of the last decade.

Lucid Motors produced solely 7,180 automobiles final yr, which was according to its most up-to-date goal, however a far cry from the 20,000 items initially deliberate for 2022. The corporate cited supply-chain disruptions and logistical points as causes for the revised manufacturing outlook. This yr, the corporate goals to supply 10,000 to 14,000 automobiles, which can make the Air a (barely) much less uncommon sight on our roads.