Lucid Motors has confirmed that starting July 31, 2025 , owners of its Lucid Air luxury electric sedan will be able to charge their vehicles at Tesla ’s Supercharger network in North America — a development that comes nearly two years after the two companies reached an agreement . However, this access comes with significant technical limitations that may impact the charging experience .
“Brake” charging: Only up to 50 kW for Lucid Air
While Tesla Supercharger V3 chargers offer a maximum charging power of up to 250 kW, the Lucid Air will be limited to just 50 kW via a special $220 adapter. The reason is a technical incompatibility between the Lucid Air's 924V charging system and the 400V Tesla Superchargers.
See also: Advantages and disadvantages of electric cars
According to the company, Lucid engineers leveraged the built-in “Wunderbox” charging system to enable basic compatibility with Tesla chargers. Despite the limited charging rate, Lucid emphasizes that this feature is an alternative for long-distance trips or for drivers who are near Tesla Superchargers.
CCS vs. NACS: The Battle of Charging Standards
The Lucid Air still supports the conventional CCS (Combined Charging System) standard, which until recently was used by most automakers in North America — with the exception, of course, of Tesla, which went its own way with the development of the North American Charging Standard (NACS).
Tesla opened its model in 2022, in a strategic effort to establish NACS as the de facto standard on the continent. In May 2023, Ford became the first automaker to reach an agreement with Tesla to access the Supercharger network. Existing owners of Ford electric vehicles would use an adapter, but Ford — and soon all automakers, including GM, Rivian, Honda, Mercedes, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota — agreed that future electric vehicles would have the NACS charging port built in.
See also: Hyundai: Free NACs adapters to electric vehicle owners
Lucid Gravity: The company's first EV with NACS
Although Lucid is among the last "players" to join NACS, it has already announced that the Lucid Gravity SUV will feature a built-in charging port compatible with Tesla's network, avoiding the need for external adapters.
This transition marks a broader acceptance of NACS as an industry standard, which has both strategic and technological implications. On the one hand, it ensures infrastructure and user experience simplification, but on the other hand, it leaves behind millions of CCS vehicles that are now dependent on adapters or reduced charging speeds.
What does this mean for users?
Despite the progress in interoperability, the fact that the Lucid Air charges at a fifth of the maximum speed offered by Tesla's Supercharger network somewhat undermines the usability of the new feature. Essentially, Air owners gain the convenience of access to Tesla's network — but not its performance.
This makes it clear that charging infrastructure remains technologically fragmented, especially for EVs with higher voltage systems (800-900V). The solution may only come when Tesla launches next-generation chargers with support for faster voltages or when manufacturers – like Lucid – start to fully integrate NACS.
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On the other hand, Lucid's decision to expand access to the Supercharger network strengthens the electric mobility and makes it easier for drivers to travel long distances.
The next chapter in the journey of EVs in North America appears to be written around NACS — and manufacturers that are slow to adapt may find themselves at a competitive disadvantage, especially in a market increasingly judged by charging speed and availability.
Source: techcrunch.com
