Lucid Air and Tesla Supercharger Access: What You Need to Know

Lucid Air Owners Gain Access to Tesla Supercharger Network

Starting July 31, owners of the Lucid Air sedan will be granted access to utilize thousands of Tesla Supercharger stations across North America. This development follows an agreement reached between the two automakers almost two years prior.

Charging Speed Limitations

A key consideration for Lucid Air drivers is that charging speeds will be limited compared to Tesla vehicles. The Lucid Air will not be capable of leveraging the full charging potential of the Supercharger network.

Lucid announced on Tuesday that all Air sedans, irrespective of their production year, can connect to Tesla’s fast-charging infrastructure. This requires an approved adapter, priced at $220.

Technical Constraints and Charging Rates

Tesla V3 (and newer) Supercharger stations are compatible with the Lucid Air adapter. However, the maximum charging rate achievable will be 50 kW.

This reduced rate is due to a voltage incompatibility. Lucid’s 924-volt charging system differs from the 400V standard utilized by Tesla Superchargers. As noted by Consumer Reports, EVs with 800-volt systems experience slower charging speeds when connected to 400V chargers.

Wunderbox Repurposing

Lucid spokesperson Andrew Hussey clarified that engineers adapted existing hardware within the Air’s integrated charging system, known as Wunderbox, to enable 50kW boost charging when using a Supercharger.

Lucid positions this 50kW charging capability as a supplementary option for owners during road trips or for those with convenient access to Supercharger locations.

Charging Standards Evolution

The Lucid Air currently utilizes the Combined Charging System (CCS), previously the dominant EV charging standard in North America.

Tesla, however, developed its own proprietary charging standard, encompassing both the vehicle’s integrated charging port and the associated EV charging connector.

NACS Adoption

In 2022, Tesla publicly released its EV charging connector design, encouraging wider adoption and aiming to establish it as the new North American standard.

This standard is officially termed the North American Charging Standard (NACS). In May 2023, Ford was the first automaker to secure an agreement with Tesla, granting its EV owners Supercharger network access via an adapter.

Subsequently, numerous other automakers – including GM, Rivian, Honda, Mercedes, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota – have also committed to integrating the NACS charging port into their future EV models.

Lucid’s Future Plans

Lucid was among the final companies to finalize a deal with Tesla. The company has announced that its upcoming Gravity SUV will feature a built-in NACS charging port.