Lucid Air Grand Touring Charging Slower Than Expected at DC Fast Chargers

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Kevin B. · rep 0 · May 22, 7:38 AM · 1 replies · solved · Question

Vehicle: 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring

Hey everyone, I've got a 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring and I've noticed a frustrating issue with charging, especially at public DC fast chargers. Lately, it seems like my car is charging much slower than it should be, often maxing out at significantly lower rates than what the charger or the car's specs suggest.

For example, at a 350kW Electrify America station, I'm lucky to see anything above 150kW, and sometimes it's even lower, around 80-100kW, even when the battery is low (e.g., 20-30%). I've tried different stations and even different brands of chargers, but the problem persists. It's making long trips a real hassle.

Is anyone else with a 2022 Lucid Air experiencing this? Could it be a software issue, or something more serious with the battery or charging system? Any tips or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated!

✓ Accepted solution

ClearTheCode Admin

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ClearTheCode admin answer:

Slow charging in your 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring can be a frustrating experience, especially given the vehicle's advanced charging capabilities. Here are common causes and troubleshooting steps:

  1. Battery Preconditioning: For optimal DC fast charging speeds, the Lucid Air's battery needs to be at an ideal temperature. If you navigate to a DC fast charger using the car's built-in navigation, the vehicle should automatically precondition the battery. If you just pull up to a charger without navigating, the battery might be too cold (or too hot) to accept maximum charge rates.
  2. Charger Availability & Health: Public DC fast chargers can vary significantly in their actual output. Even a 350kW charger might be derated due to grid demand, shared power with other vehicles, or internal faults. Try multiple chargers at different locations to rule out a specific faulty station.
  3. Software Glitches: EV charging protocols are complex and rely heavily on software communication between the car and the charger. A minor software bug in the vehicle's charging management system could limit charging speeds. Ensure your Lucid Air's software is up to date. Check for any pending over-the-air (OTA) updates.
  4. Battery State of Charge (SoC): Charging curves for EVs are not linear. Charging speeds typically taper off significantly as the battery approaches 80% SoC. While you mentioned charging at lower SoC, it's worth noting that the fastest speeds are usually seen between 10-50% SoC.
  5. External Temperature: Extreme ambient temperatures (very cold or very hot) can also impact charging efficiency and speed, as the battery management system works to protect the battery.

When to See a Shop:

If you've tried the above troubleshooting steps and the issue persists across various reliable chargers, it's time to schedule a service appointment with Lucid. They can perform a diagnostic scan to check for any fault codes related to the charging system (e.g., issues with the onboard charger, battery management system, or high-voltage contactors). While there might not be a specific OBD-II code for 'slow charging,' a service center can access deeper diagnostic codes that indicate a hardware or software malfunction affecting charging performance.