Lucid Air Gains Tesla Supercharger Access Starting July 31
▼ Summary
– Lucid Air sedan owners can access Tesla Superchargers in North America starting July 31, but charging speeds will be limited to 50 kW due to voltage incompatibility.
– A $220 adapter is required for Lucid Air vehicles to use Tesla V3 (and above) Superchargers, with all model years being compatible.
– The slower charging speed (50 kW vs. Tesla’s 250 kW peak) results from Lucid’s 924-volt system clashing with Tesla’s 400V Superchargers.
– Lucid’s Gravity SUV, unlike the Air, will feature Tesla’s NACS charging port, aligning with most automakers adopting Tesla’s standard for future EVs.
– Lucid was among the last automakers to partner with Tesla, following Ford, GM, Rivian, and others in granting access to Superchargers.
Lucid Air owners will soon gain access to Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network, though with some limitations on charging speed. Starting July 31, drivers of the luxury electric sedan can plug into thousands of Tesla fast-charging stations across North America using a $220 adapter. This marks a significant expansion of charging options for Lucid customers, though the experience won’t match Tesla’s blistering charging rates.
The adapter works with Tesla’s V3 and newer Superchargers, but the Lucid Air will max out at 50 kW, far below the 250 kW peak capability of these stations. This bottleneck occurs because Lucid’s advanced 924-volt electrical architecture isn’t fully compatible with Tesla’s 400-volt charging infrastructure. While other EVs with 800-volt systems face similar constraints, the slower rate still provides a practical solution for drivers needing mid-journey top-ups or those living near Supercharger locations.
Lucid engineers modified the Air’s Wunderbox charging system to enable this functionality, activating a 50 kW boost mode specifically for Tesla stations. A company spokesperson emphasized this offers added convenience, particularly for road trips or areas where Superchargers are more accessible than CCS-compatible chargers.
The Lucid Air currently uses the CCS charging standard, which until recently dominated North America’s EV landscape. Tesla bucked this trend by developing its proprietary NACS (North American Charging Standard), which combines the charging port and connector into one streamlined design. After opening its technology to other automakers in 2022, Tesla’s NACS gained rapid adoption. Ford led the charge in 2023, followed by nearly every major automaker, all pledging to integrate NACS ports into future models.
Lucid joined this wave later than most, announcing its upcoming Gravity SUV will feature a native NACS port. For now, Air owners must rely on adapters, but the Supercharger access, even at reduced speeds, significantly broadens their charging options. As the industry shifts toward NACS, Lucid’s move ensures its customers won’t be left behind in the evolving EV infrastructure landscape.
(Source: TechCrunch)
