Lucid Motors (LCID) launches UX 2.0, its largest software update across an entire EV to date
Lucid Motors is rolling out its largest software update yet, introducing UX 2.0, which includes improvements throughout the entire vehicle – its flagship Air sedan. New features include “instant-on” glass cockpit and panel displays and the launch of Highway Assist. Check out the full list below.
Lucid Motors ($LCID) is celebrating one year since it officially began production of its first-ever EV model, the Air sedan. While the American automaker has seen its fair share of growing pains and supply chain issues since this time last year, it is finally beginning to bolster Air production and expects to reach its (revised) production target of 6,000-7,000 EVs by year’s end.
For those Air sedans that are already out accelerating faster and driving further than pretty much any other EV on the road, they’re due for a software update, and it’s a big one. We are starting to hear the term “Software Defined Vehicle” (or SDV) more and more these days, especially as EVs and their working components become less and less mechanical and more and more computer-based.
Lucid Motors states it designed the Air as a true software-defined vehicle with “future-ready hardware” to help the EVs evolve and improve over time, through over-the-air (OTA) updates. Evidence of this potential is present today as Lucid has begun rolling out its UX 2.0 – a major software update.
What’s new in Lucid Motors’ latest software update?
According to Lucid’s press release announcing the software update today, it’s the most robust to date. The American automaker says the update includes enhancements to virtually every user touchpoint in the EV. Senior vice president of digital, Lucid Group Michael Bell elaborated:
This extensive software update, comprising tens of millions of new lines of source code across nearly every updatable computer in the vehicle, is achievable because the Lucid Air was engineered from the start with the capability to get better over time. Thanks to our integrated software and hardware engineering, Lucid has the in-house technical depth to enhance our vehicles long after they leave the assembly line.
Here are some highlights of Lucid’s UX 2.0 software update:
- Glass Cockpit and Pilot Panel Displays
- “Instant-on” displays – EV is ready to drive as soon as the driver sits and buckles up.
- New on-screen layout for the Glass Cockpit display, moving most-used apps like Home, Navigation, Media, and Phone to be more ergonomically friendly.
- Updated Navigation and maps, with turn-by-turn directions now appearing on the center display directly ahead of the driver.
- More-intelligent prediction of remaining range.
- More capabilities with Alexa Built-In voice control, such as changing the climate control settings in the rear.
- More user-friendly browsing for third-party media apps, making it easier to see options and start listening more quickly.
- DreamDrive and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
- Highway Assist with active lane centering and adaptive cruise control.
- Rear Pedestrian Collision Protection is now also enabled when the vehicle is in Drive and rolling backward.
- Improvements to visual cues for Park Distance Warning feature.
- Intelligent Micro Lens Array Headlights
- High Beam Assist that detects not only other vehicles but other sources of nearby light, automatically switching to low beams when appropriate.
- Automatic headlight leveling with sensor-based adjustments for height and vehicle angle in relation to the ground.
- Vehicle Entry and Exit
- New De-Ice Mode combines defrost, automatic wiper blade movement, and wiper fluid to clear ice that may be obstructing the view through the windshield.
- A number of measures to make automatic locking and unlocking simpler, more intuitive, and more responsive with both the key fob and Mobile Key.
Lucid states that the initial phase of the UX 2.0 rollout to Air drivers is already underway and will continue over the next several weeks.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
Read more: Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
Read: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens
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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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