Tesla Supercharger access granted to Lucid Air owners, yet significant condition imposed
The Lucid Air, a high-performance electric sedan, has recently gained access to Tesla's Supercharger network, expanding charging options for its owners. However, the charging speed of the Lucid Air at Superchargers is capped at 50 kW, significantly slower than the network's typical rates.
To connect to Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) network, Lucid Air owners will need a Lucid-approved CCS-to-NACS adapter. This adapter limits the charging speed to 50 kW, far below the Lucid Air’s peak charging capacity of around 350 kW that it achieves with compatible CCS fast chargers.
While this arrangement provides Lucid Air owners with increased access to the broad Tesla Supercharger network as a backup option, it is not optimized for full fast-charging performance. In comparison, third-party 350kW chargers allow the Lucid Air to add close to 20 miles of range per minute, a significant improvement over the Supercharger network.
The Lucid Air's own 900-volt system can handle much faster charging rates, but when using the Tesla Supercharger network with the adapter, the vehicle’s charging performance is deliberately throttled. This is due to Tesla’s current software and infrastructure limitations when servicing vehicles that are not equipped with a native Tesla NACS port.
The Lucid Air's charging speed at Superchargers is capped at 50 kW, allowing for roughly 200 miles of range per hour of charging. This is a significant reduction in charging speed compared to the rates Superchargers typically offer. The system now allows up to 80 amps when connected to a Supercharger.
Notably, Lucid's Gravity SUV supports a higher charging speed at Tesla Superchargers, reaching over 225kW. Other electric sedans, including those from Hyundai, GM, and Ford, use voltage-splitting methods to allow more power through the same equipment, enabling faster charging speeds.
Despite this limitation, the change improves access to charging stations for Lucid Air owners. Lucid enabled Tesla Supercharger access by modifying the vehicle's onboard AC charging unit. The company has not yet implemented a strategy to improve charging speed on Tesla's network.
In a positive development, the 2026 Lucid Air Touring model offers a 6% increase in EPA-rated range compared to the outgoing version. This improvement, alongside the expanded charging network, should provide Lucid Air owners with greater range and convenience on their electric journeys.
References:
- Electrek
- Green Car Reports
- The Drive
- Teslarati
- Autoblog
- The Lucid Air's electric vehicles now have expanded charging options through Tesla's Supercharger network, but the charging speed is capped at 50 kW, below the vehicle's peak capacity.
- The collaboration between Lucid Air and Tesla's Supercharger network provides increased access to charging stations, but the charging performance is intentionally throttled due to Tesla's current software and infrastructure limitations.
- In the future, advancements in AI and technology might lead to improved charging speed on Tesla's network for electric vehicles like the Lucid Air, enhancing their lifestyle and driving experiences.
