Automotive startup Lucid Motors has signed a long-term partnership with electric vehicle (EV) battery supplier LG Chem for its upcoming Lucid Air all-electric sedan.
Full production of the Lucid Air is expected to start in late 2020 at Lucid’s factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, with LG Chem battery cells powering standard versions of the EV through 2023. The deal allows Lucid to lock into a core volume of batteries for its EVs for the next several years and additional agreements could be made for special versions or new future vehicles that are developed.
Lucid is one of numerous automotive startups that have emerged due to the increased consumer interest in EVs and the lack of these types of vehicles on the market. Tesla Motors was the first company to branch off into the electric space completely. Due to the popularity of these vehicles along with a rise in concern over the environment and increased gasoline prices, consumers have taken an active interest.
Lucid said it will optimize the LG Chem cells to meet or exceed all target goals for range, energy density, recharge/discharge rates and more. This will allow Lucid Air access to the necessary energy density and cell availability for a long range.
Lucid has already been very active in early 2020 with the company building its own production facility in Arizona, which is on track to be completed later this year. The company also started accepting preorders for the Lucid Air and will unveil a production version of the vehicle in New York in April.
Lucid is building the production vehicle outside of its Arizona facility in its in-house development center in Silicon Valley. In total, the company plans to manufacture 80 beta prototypes, which will be used for testing and validation for key vehicle dynamics as well as crash testing.
