How to build an electric car

Building an electric car is no mean feat and to create something that is cutting edge and will take on the best in the business takes something special. This includes taking on market leaders, Tesla, who dropped the price of its Model S Long Range to compete with the Lucid Air.

The upcoming Lucid Air, which is a zero-emissions luxury saloon, uses a single-motor powertrain with an optional dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration. It will deliver 480 horsepower and offer an impressive 406 mile (650km) range. This includes the company’s most affordable luxury electric car to date, simply named the Lucid Air, costing $69,900 after the US Federal Tax Credit.

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Lucid’s higher-end Lucid Air Touring model offers yet another paradigm in luxury, performance and efficiency. This model, which will start from $87,500, delivers 620 horsepower and once again has a 406 mile (650km) projected range. Interior choices for this model include a canopy roof, the Lucid glass cockpit display and a wide range of interior materials and finishes.

When it comes to production Lucid care about the entire process. Once a shell emerges from the paint shop, it then moves into general assembly. This is where they marry the body and powertrain before expertly crafting the interior. Each zero-emissions car is then quality-tested to ensure electric vehicle perfection. At this stage in the process, it’s less about the robots and more about the hands-on human element. It’s all carefully choreographed.

Art Schlaud, director of manufacturing, said: “We do have some robots and we do have automation but this vehicle is put together by humans. And it takes real craftsmanship.”

Jason Regelski, product operations manager, said: “GA is pretty amazing because it’s the culmination of everything that makes Lucid special. We take the beautifully painted sleek body, all of the powertrain technology with the drive units and the battery packs, the expertly crafted interior components, the software technology, and we bring that all together and we send it out as a finished product.”

Once each Lucid Air is complete, it undergoes an inspection that consists of 180 attributes before being approved.

Federico Tapia, director of manufacturing of quality, said:  “The handoff with general assembly starts in the roll test area. We take the unit, start with the handle lock mechanisms, and we take the car to the water test, squeak and rattles. Then to the pre-delivery line. We are evaluating eleven subsystems, powertrain, body, interior, exterior, chassis, and more.”

The Lucid Air electric car will be available this spring in the USA.

Ian Osborne
Ian Osborne
Editor-in-Chief at ElectricDrives

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