Lucid is recalling hundreds of new Air sedans to address mechanical issues that can lead to loss of traction. This EV startup, believe it or not, has an app for it, so it’s likely only some of their vehicles are likely to have problems (99.999% confidence in) said. We’re a little flirtatious, but like Tesla and many of the mainstream automakers that followed, Lucid has beefed up its over-the-air (OTA) update system to help fix the problem.
As I said above, the problem here is really the moving part, the spring. It is built into a component called a contactor, an electrically actuated switch that controls the flow of power to the electric drive system. When the contactor is open, the Lucid Air is equivalent to ICE’s “accessory” mode. You can use things like the radio, but not the car’s electric motor. The spring above keeps the contactor open (off). When the car is turned on, the computer (running from the accessory power supply) activates the electromagnet and closes the switch (on). In some cases, the force of the spring can overcome the force of the magnet, causing the contactor to remain in the open (off) position without warning, says Lucid.
“If the contactor unexpectedly opens while driving, the vehicle’s electric motor will lose power. This can lead to a loss of propulsion without prior warning, increasing the risk of a collision.” The Lucid defect report states: “The driver will not receive a warning prior to the unexpected contactor opening as a result of this condition. If the unexpected contactor opens, the driver will receive a system fault notification and reduced drive power. Vehicle display, power steering , and the power brakes are not powered by the high voltage system and will continue to function.”
This is where Lucid’s OTA trick comes into play. The company’s software team has included a diagnostic tool in a recent update. This tag-along can detect the electronic signature created when the spring overwhelms the magnet in the contactor. Using this data, Lucid knows which cars need a technician’s attention. The only exceptions are those that for some reason have not been updated to the latest version of Lucid’s onboard software. As the first step in implementing the recall, you will be asked to update your vehicle.
Some owners have already been notified of this issue. Those whose vehicles are identified later in the process will be notified starting in April.
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