In his quest to lead Lucid into the automotive mainstream, CEO Peter Rawlinson believes that a “myopic” focus on battery cost will be less important than making EVs more efficient.
Speaking at the SMMT Electrified conference last week, Rawlinson outlined his company’s plan for the future and how he believes Lucid can get there. Despite the high price of the Air, Rawlinson wants his company to enter the mainstream space.
“I have a clarity of vision to get to the mythical $25,000 electric car,” he said, per Autocar. “And it’s going to take on thing to drive it: technology.”
In order to develop that technology, Rawlinson is depending on buyers of the expensive and luxurious Lucid Air.
“We’re taking this model: start with a high-end product and gradually make it more affordable,” he said. “Our factory in Arizona is capable of being expanded from its current guise of 34,000 units per annum.”
Also Read: Lucid Closes Order Books For The Flagship Air Dream Edition
Although he agrees that lowering the price of batteries will be an important step in getting to that “mythical” pricepoint, Rawlinson believes that other automakers are too focused on simply making batteries cheaper. Lucid’s focus will instead be on increasing efficiency.
Getting more miles per kWh of energy will be crucial to creating more affordable EVs, in Rawlinson’s view. The most efficient Tesla Model 3s get about 4 miles per kWh (per the EPA), and Lucid claims that the Air can achieve 4.5 miles per kWh, but Rawlinson is looking for 6.
“Just imagine if we can get to 6mpkWh with a more affordable car,” he said. “I believe this figure is going to be the enabler which is going to drive that pendulum swing towards widespread mass adoption.”
His argument is that if batteries are more efficient, they can be smaller. That means less of the vehicle’s price and weight need to be dedicated to batteries, creating a virtuous cycle.
“Surely that’s better than just carving battery costs,” he said.
Production of the Lucid Air is expected to start in the second half of 2021. The car is capable of up to 1,065 hp with prices starting at $72,500 and rising to an MSRP of $169,000 for the Dream Edition.
