Zilidium
4 months ago
As an owner of an EV, getting a type II charger at home is money well spent, pull into the garage , plug 'er in, every morning your topped off for the day ahead...easy peasy. Way easier than filling up with gas. I will say from experience, EV's do not like cold weather, Range goes down considerably, so a charger at home is a must if you live up North.
TucsonPhil
4 months ago
I pulled the 200 mile range out of the air. Just picked a number for grocery getters, and running around town.
The average American commutes 42 miles per day, so based upon a 5 day workweek, they will need 210 miles of range, plus a 20% reserve of 42 miles, so let's say 250 miles. Allows for charging on the days off.
Since the batteries make up the majority of cost for EV, and the luxury model glamor accessories, are a draw on power, if they cut the power hungry options down and downsized batteries, they should be able to get an everyday $35K car to market.
KMC-1
4 months ago
I think the range needs to be more than 200 - but I always think in terms of ICE vehicles being the competition and not necessarily Tesla. If they can get the Gravity out with 400+ and then a model 3 / Model Y competitor with 400 I think they will turn the corner. I think Rawleson is following the template of Tesla because that's his experience - watching Model S bring them into the mainstream - but as you say I don't think he really understands the current market where Model 3 and Model Y are the models making actual revenue for Tesla since he left before they were introduced. It is also the brand image maker he wanted it to be - it truly is an amazing car (the Air), it's just not the right product at the right time in my opinion. If they had done the Gravity first, then a van / pickup based off the same skateboard, then the 3rd model - I bet this would be a very different story right now.
I'm sure if he could get a mulligan he'd do things differently - just look at Rivian. That said, they've got the cash, they've got the products, they've got the capacity (and the plan for more), now it's just about execution - which they have truly excelled at so far. I think we just need to be patient and let this grow, but I'm not above admitting there is a good chance I'm totally wrong lol...
TucsonPhil
4 months ago
Let's hope they can keep an Area-51 type tight lid on development projects. Keep the shorts in the dark until good news pops it over $5.
The Tesla business model, of selling high priced luxury sedans to fund development of smaller vehicles, worked for Musk, but it is not working for Lucid.
The smaller, lower priced, 200ish mile range, sedan needs to happen today. That will be the bread and butter that brings in revenues and brings up the stock price.
With Saudis funding this, not sure why they think production money is needed from sales of luxury. Do they just want a luxury car company to supply themselves?