Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 14

ROAD
READY
Lucid Unveils Gravity Electric SUV with more than 440 miles of range
The Gravity rear hatch
opens wide like the Lucid
Air for large items.
higher than the 118 kWh found in the
higher-trim levels of the company's Air
sedan. Lucid has not shared an official
capacity number, but based on that
rough estimate, the company is targeting
an efficiency rate of roughly 3.7
miles (5.9 km) per kWh. For comparison,
the Rivian R1S electric SUV rolling
with a 149 kWh pack has 400 miles
(644 km) of range, which works out to
2.68 miles (4.3 km) per kWh.
To help it achieve those range numbers
from a pack smaller than those
seen in three-row models from GM and
Rivian, the automaker aimed for a drag
coefficient of less than 0.24. It helps
that the design essentially is a Lucid Air
stretched up and out, and the Air is already
a slippery vehicle.
Like the Air, the Gravity is built on a
Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson's focus on
efficiency permeates the automotive
startup. The boss doubles as the company's
CTO. That close connection to
vehicles coming out of the Newark,
California HQ is likely closer than that of
the average automotive CEO.
Rawlinson's obsession with efficiency
has paid off with the unveiling of the
company's second vehicle, the all-electric
Gravity SUV. With a targeted range
of more than 440 miles (708 km) from
a three-row SUV, the EV startup is putting
other automakers on notice.
During a presentation at Lucid's HQ
ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show,
Derek Jenkins, senior vice president of
design and brand, told SAE Media,
" there's still an opportunity to optimize
what an SUV is and can do. "
A luxury power
The automaker is eking nearly 450
miles (724 km) out of a battery pack
with a capacity that, according to a
Lucid spokesperson, is likely slightly
900-volt electrical architecture that
Lucid said supports DC fast-charging
that should add approximately 200
miles (322 km) of range in about 15
minutes at a suitable charging station.
Lucid didn't share the exact charge rate,
but based on data from the Lucid Air,
that should be about 250 kW.
Performance-wise, Lucid said the
Gravity will do 0-to-60 mph (0-to-97
km/h) in 3.5 seconds from its dual-motor
setup and has a payload capacity of
1,500 lb (680 kg) and can tow up to
6,000 lb (2722 kg).
The Lucid Gravity offers three-row space in an efficient package.
14 February 2024
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
BOTH IMAGES: ROBERTO BALDWIN

Automotive Engineering - February 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive Engineering - February 2024

Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - INTRO1
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - SPONSOR1
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - CVR1
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - CVR2
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 1
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 2
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 3
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 4
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 5
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 6
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 7
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 8
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 9
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 10
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 11
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 12
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 13
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 14
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 15
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 16
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 17
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 18
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 19
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 20
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 21
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 22
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 23
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 24
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 25
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 26
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 27
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - 28
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - CVR3
Automotive Engineering - February 2024 - CVR4
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE10B
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE09B
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/24AE02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AE12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AAVE11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AE10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AE09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AE08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AAVE07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AE06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AE05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AAVE04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AE04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AE03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AE02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/23AAVE01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AE12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AVE11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AE10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AE09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AE08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AVE07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AE06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AE05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AVE04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AE04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AE03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AE02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/22AVE01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AE12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AVE11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AE10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AVE09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AE09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AE08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AVE07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AE06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AE05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AVE05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AE04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AE03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AVE03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/sae/21AE02
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com