20,000 Mile Charging Tests

[ClevelandBeemer]

Just traded my Polestar in toward a Lucid Air Grand Touring over the weekend. I've only been roaming around SoCal since but I'm excited to take the family on an actual road trip. They weren't lying when they said their benchmark was an e39 M5! This thing eats freeways like my TDI Wagon used to do.

I’ve had my eye on Lucid but I’m concerned if they will be around in the next 5 years….. I genuinely like the Air, especially the Grand Touring, but they really need to get all the bugs sorted.

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[ExCivilian]

I’ve had my eye on Lucid but I’m concerned if they will be around in the next 5 years

I can't see them going anywhere. I knew the Saudis were wealthy but wasn't sure by how much. They make about 375 *million* dollars a day. The Saudis rake in enough oil profit in four minutes to cover a million dollar a day loss for an entire year! The Crown Prince just took a 5% personal stake in the company.

The main bugs I've encountered are related to the infotainment system. I've had to do a few reboots to get the cameras and CarPlay working properly. I've had to do the same with my Lightning and my Polestar had its own quirks.

I prefer the Lightning's regeneration and braking more than the Lucid's so far but I'll get used to it in time (the Lucid doesn't have blended brakes like our trucks). The Polestar always had regenerative braking unless the car was in neutral but turning it to "off" allowed it to coast. The Lucid feels heavy in comparison but it's also much larger (and quieter and nicer). The Polestar was a fun go-kart but it's effectively gone from the US market now after the recent decision to disallow them to sell their upcoming vehicles next year.

Lucid is coming out with their midsize next year (Cosmos) from what I understand. They don't have the luxury Tesla had of having first-mover advantage and copious government subsidies but Lucid has deep pockets and their own government advantages. But time will tell. In the meantime, a fully loaded Grand Touring is an absolute beast and pleasure to drive.

 

[BigLeagueChoo]

Haha, baby life has made me hustle. Typically at a charging stop (pre-baby) I’m hitting the restroom, grabbing a snack, and walking my two dogs. This is always completed in less than 20 minutes. My typical charging stops are 20 to 30 minutes on my frequent multi-charging stop trips.

Baby life is actually perfect for us Lightning drivers ha.

With all bags and suitcases Tetris'd in the bed, we leave frunk open for diaper changes and a quick Bluey episode (5yrs, 2yrs, 3mos) while wife and I take turns going in and out whatever Sheetz or Wawa we are charging at.

Timing usually works out to be spot on and we're on our way.

Lightning > Minivan

 

[PJnc284]

Out of Spec was able to deliver more power in their 10% challenge run in a 2023 Lightning, 40.3kWh, however their testing was done at 49°F. This is also why they managed 63 miles at 1.6mi/kWh.

All in all, not horrific, but also the absolute worst in class performance. What’s frustrating is there seems to be thermal headroom to push higher amps longer. I wish Ford held 500A for the first 50% or 60% of SoC. Other manufacturers allow another 20F into the pack before reducing current.

Looks like you definitely hit some derating in both sessions. @tommolog pulled about 42kWh in 15min in the charging test after the 500 amp boost update with 10-80 coming in just under 40min. @branden can probably comment more.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Looks like you definitely hit some derating in both sessions. @tommolog pulled about 42kWh in 15min in the charging test after the 500 amp boost update with 10-80 coming in just under 40min. @branden can probably comment more.

A few questions. Do we know if HVAC was in use during those sessions? We the chargers entered into the nav for preconditioning? What was ambient temperature?

 

[branden]

These sessions appear to be representative for warm-weather charging with no meaningful derate on the vehicle side (no derate at all on the charger side). The blips are the vehicle overreacting to power modules being removed from the session as they are no longer needed.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Looks like you definitely hit some derating in both sessions. @tommolog pulled about 42kWh in 15min in the charging test after the 500 amp boost update with 10-80 coming in just under 40min. @branden can probably comment more.

Quick follow up. I do have a charging session with a curve that’s similar to the one State of Charge logged. Ironically it was also in warm August weather. I believe HVAC was off for this session so I wonder if that’s the difference? This session was at a Tesla V3.

 

[PJnc284]

Quick follow up. I do have a charging session with a curve that’s similar to the one State of Charge logged. Ironically it was also in warm August weather. I believe HVAC was off for this session so I wonder if that’s the difference? This session was at a Tesla V3.

Out of curiosity, look in Car Scanner and see if you have any DTCs set. Below was one that I got back in February. Granted I was using the Tesla adapter.


===SOBDM DTC P1A3E:98-68===
Code: P1A3E - Battery Charger Output Limited - Battery Charger Coupler Temperature 'A' Too High

Additional Fault Symptom 98):
- Component Or System Over Temperature

Status (-68):
- Previously Set DTC - Not Present at Time of Request
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp is Off for this DTC
- Test not complete

Module: Secondary OBD Control Module A

Freeze Frame #1:
-EVENT_TIME: 67631818 s (Sat Feb 07 11:36:17 2026) - Event time
-TOTAL_DISTANCE: 33756 km - Total Distance
-MODULE_VOLTAGE: 15.3 V - Control Module Voltage
-INCAR_TEMPERATURE: 0 °C - In car temperature
-OUTDOOR_TEMPERATURE: 2 °C - Outside temperature
-COOLPMP_B_STAT: Pump OFF - Coolant Pump -B- Control Diagnostic Status
-POWRPCK_STATE: Like KOEO - Power Pack NOT Available - Power Pack State
-GEAR: Park - Gear Commanded
===END SOBDM DTC P1A3E:98-68===

 

[branden]

For anyone curious, I recently posted thermal testing: https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...al-envelope-testing-optimize-your-dcfc.38711/

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Out of curiosity, look in Car Scanner and see if you have any DTCs set. Below was one that I got back in February. Granted I was using the Tesla adapter.


===SOBDM DTC P1A3E:98-68===
Code: P1A3E - Battery Charger Output Limited - Battery Charger Coupler Temperature 'A' Too High

Additional Fault Symptom 98):
- Component Or System Over Temperature

Status (-68):
- Previously Set DTC - Not Present at Time of Request
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp is Off for this DTC
- Test not complete

Module: Secondary OBD Control Module A

Freeze Frame #1:
-EVENT_TIME: 67631818 s (Sat Feb 07 11:36:17 2026) - Event time
-TOTAL_DISTANCE: 33756 km - Total Distance
-MODULE_VOLTAGE: 15.3 V - Control Module Voltage
-INCAR_TEMPERATURE: 0 °C - In car temperature
-OUTDOOR_TEMPERATURE: 2 °C - Outside temperature
-COOLPMP_B_STAT: Pump OFF - Coolant Pump -B- Control Diagnostic Status
-POWRPCK_STATE: Like KOEO - Power Pack NOT Available - Power Pack State
-GEAR: Park - Gear Commanded
===END SOBDM DTC P1A3E:98-68===

No DTC’s here.

 

[Anev]

Baby life is actually perfect for us Lightning drivers ha.

With all bags and suitcases Tetris'd in the bed, we leave frunk open for diaper changes and a quick Bluey episode (5yrs, 2yrs, 3mos) while wife and I take turns going in and out whatever Sheetz or Wawa we are charging at.

Timing usually works out to be spot on and we're on our way.

Lightning > Minivan

The frunk is the perfect diaper station! I have two in diapers and it works perfectly.

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