So I was searching around some more, and I know Lucid actually has some models with higher range. I looked a little closer and found these current offerings:
Model | EPA Range Estimate | Price |
---|
Air Pure | 410 mi | $83,975* |
Air Touring | 411 mi | $88,275 |
Air Grand Touring | 516 mi | $139,075** |
Also notable is the Hummer EV which I think can do 330 highway miles. Nice, but I really don't want a Hummer.
The Air Pure and Air Touring are interesting, but I would need to find some reviews where they do real world highway range testing to see if they reach a real 350 miles on the highway at around 70 MPH (fair weather). That's my personal target.
The Air Grand Touring would clearly meet my target (I believe the guy from State of Charge got 500 miles at 70 MPH from a Lucid Air Dream, which I would guess is the same battery and drivetrain), but the price is pretty hefty.
So for Lucid, I'm not especially keen on the brand and styling, the Air Grand Touring is just too expensive, and the Air Pure and Air Touring I'm not confident have enough range to bother switching to a less desirable vehicle style and brand.
If you look at the size of these cars and range (especially the Air Grand Touring), it's clearly possible to make longer range EVs. IMO, Tesla is stupidly and stubbornly trying to hold on to their current battery sizes instead of offering something better. It's especially sad on the new Cybertruck where it's clearly big enough that they could have put a much bigger battery option and provided what could have been the first EV truck capable of long distance towing. Tesla is always pushing the limits, but not on range, where they act like legacy manufacturers. Why? Why throw away that potential competitive edge? Why not push the limits like they do everywhere else?
Tesla is already losing sales. My wife and I just bought a F-150 Lightning. Had Tesla offered a true 350-400 mile Model S, Model 3, Model Y, Model X, or Cybertruck, I'd most likely be driving (or at least ordering) one of those today instead. We wanted a truck. I actually use trucks for truck things. But I would have gone car or SUV if someone offered better range on an EV. And frankly, with the Cybertruck not offering better range, I think the F-150 Lightning is the better truck.
* I added $7,500 to price to account for whatever credit they listed on their pricing page.
** I added $21,900 to the price to account for whatever credits they listed on their pricing page.