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Lucid Motors is one of the most exciting automotive startups since Tesla, and the big claims continue rolling in ahead of its first production car – the Air – hitting the market. We already know the base model will be cheaper than the base Tesla Model S, but a recent chat with the company has shed light on the crazy performance you can expect from its range-topping cars.
The performance potential on offer from electric cars is clear: the Tesla Model S P100D will hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than three seconds, putting it on pace with exotic hypercars, while offering seating for five and room for all their luggage. In an attempt to one up the Ludicrous best from Elon Musk, you can expect the flagship Air to hit 60 mph (98 km/h) in 2.5 seconds on its way to a top speed beyond 200 mph (322 km/h). In testing, the company has apparently seen 217 mph (349 km/h).
[...] Whereas the largest battery pack on offer in the Model S is 100 kWh, the Air will be offered with 65, 100 or 130 kWh options, delivering a maximum range of 400 miles (644 km).
[...] At the cell level, we have worked together with Samsung SDI to develop a cell chemistry that is far more tolerant of repeated fast-charging than the chemistries found in existing EVs. This means the Air will be able to fast charge repeatedly with minimal loss of battery capacity...
Would a serious competitor for the electric car crown hurt Tesla?
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Tuesday May 02 2017, @11:17PM (5 children)
I've got a fast car that goes 0-60 pretty quick, and will supposedly get up to 210 MPH. I've hit 100 in it a couple times driving from San Diego to Vegas, anything faster than that scares me.
Did I say it does 0-60 pretty quick? That's fun.
Years ago someone said "Torque is what presses you back in your seat when you hit the gas, horsepower is what gets you up to 200 MPH". I think he was dead on.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 03 2017, @12:38AM
Just in case you ever decide to get up toward the 200 mph range, make sure and check your owner's manual to prepare the car. Usually it's required to raise the tire pressures (or even install special high speed rated tires) and there may be other changes required as well.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 03 2017, @12:45AM
> Years ago someone said "Torque is what presses you back in your seat when you hit the gas, horsepower is what gets you up to 200 MPH". I think he was dead on.
She forgot to tell you that by shifting to a lower gear you can increase the torque delivered to the wheels, and thus the force in F=ma that accelerates the car. Torque measured at the engine (crankshaft or motor output shaft) won't press you back in the seat very much if you are in a high gear...
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Wednesday May 03 2017, @02:12AM
Yeah, like the fascist control-freaks in state and federal government will actually legally allow this thing to exceed 110* out of the box, and if these guys had half a brain on them they would hardware-encrypt the shit out of their system so that people wouldn't be able to enable the higher speeds.
And even if the thing became viable and did allow full speed, the types who could afford it would be the same types who would sue the shit out of them when one of their dumbass yuppie drivers inevitably enables self-driving mode at full speed on a windy mountain road and ends up killing a busload of kids on a field-trip.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 03 2017, @09:24AM
Torque alone does nothing. Horse power is torque multiplied by rpm, and most cars have a gearbox converting between these.
If torque alone was what you want, you'd be driving a farm tractor. Modern tractors have a ton of horse power, but the gear box converts just about all of it into torque. Old tractors have very few horse power, but still enough torque to pull a plow.
Meanwhile a jet engine has tens of thousands of horse power, but so little torque that they can stand still with the brakes on and engines close to maximum power. Release the brakes, and you get pushed back in the seat like very few cars can do it.
(Score: 2) by el_oscuro on Thursday May 04 2017, @04:42AM
I've got an old 3rd generation Camaro. All GM did with it is drop a Suburban motor into it. Boat hauling torque hooked up to a 3,000 pound car with a stick shift. 25 years ago, had a throttle response of a Suzuki VX800. Still fast today, even though it was from an era when cars couldn't get out of their own way.
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