Some future variations of the Lucid Air and Gravity SUV could make their spectacular vary claims with U.S.-made batteries.
On Tuesday, Lucid Group and Panasonic Power Co. confirmed a multi-year settlement that can preserve Lucid provided because it ramps up the remainder of the Lucid Air lineup in 2023 and begins manufacturing of the Gravity SUV in 2024.
The Panasonic provide headed to Lucid will embrace lithium-ion cells from a facility in Japan, plus future manufacturing from the corporate’s upcoming plant in De Soto, Kansas, which has been claimed to be the largest battery plant in the world.
Evaluating 2170 vs. 1865 – Panasonic
Lucid already makes use of cells from LG Chem in some variations of the Air, together with the Grand Touring, whereas it is used cells from Samsung SDI in its preliminary Dream Version variations of the Air. A press launch issued by Panasonic Power and Lucid says that Panasonic batteries might be provided for Lucid’s “full automobile line-up,” so it’s unclear which variations may retain cells from these current suppliers, or whether or not they could be funneled towards one other venture—like vitality storage merchandise, for example.
Having U.S.-made battery cells in its autos could assist Lucid, because it produces extra lower-priced autos, to qualify for the revamped federal EV tax credit score, referred to as the Clear Automobile Credit score, and particularly its new U.S. sourcing requirements. The brand new credit score solely applies to vehicles that value $55,000 or much less, or to SUVs, vans, or pickups that value $80,000 or much less.
Nothing has but been stated about Gravity pricing, however presently, the Air lineup is not even near that. The bottom Air Pure prices $88,900 in the present day, together with the $1,500 vacation spot price, and it is laborious to think about the Gravity rising with a lower cost. However later this decade Lucid does intend to convey its efficiency-leading tech to extra inexpensive fashions.
Lucid Air manufacturing
The Lucid Air, which stays the longest-range EV available on the market, is produced in Casa Grande, Arizona, and the Gravity SUV is because of be produced there in addition to a part of a plant growth. Panasonic is a longtime Tesla provider, and the Kansas plant will reportedly additionally present a lot of its output to Tesla. Canoo is one other smaller-scale U.S. EV maker that’s confirmed the use of Panasonic cells, seemingly from the Kansas plant.
A change of cells for Lucid Air manufacturing may not be something the customer even notices. As a startup, Lucid’s Atieva group provided battery packs for Formulation E racing and has maintained a deep data base of accessible cell varieties, chemistries, and thermal components.
