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As this article goes live onto the interwebs, American EV automaker Lucid Motors is pulling the cloak off its second model and first-ever SUV – the Gravity. Today’s unveiling at AutoMobility LA is years in the making and represents the next chapter for Lucid, who looks to garner a larger audience of American consumers with its encore EV. Lots to unfold here, including some video footage you can peep below, so let’s dig in.

Today’s public milestone puts a bookend on Lucid Motor’s first production chapter and opens up an entirely new… space… in the market of larger EVs. We at Electrek have been following Gravity’s evolution ever since its makers teased its arrival at the end of the launch video of its flagship Air sedan back in 2021.

Since then, we’ve speculated on what Lucid’s sophomore model would look like, taking cues from patent filings and brief updates during quarterly reports. However, Lucid had remained quite mum about the Gravity SUV – at least until nearly a year ago to the day, when it shared its first official images.

By spring, we got video footage of public road testing and our best look at the overall exterior styling of the Gravity, albeit camouflaged. In August, Lucid shared it had about 30, three-row SUVs built, as it finalized development which remained on track for a launch in November.

That brings us to Los Angeles today, where for the first time ever, the general public gets its first full look at the Gravity inside and out. I got the chance to see it up close yesterday (more on that later), but to begin, check out these exterior images before we dig into the SUV’s specs.

Lucid’s Gravity SUV has arrived on Earth and its a sight

Upon first glance, you’ll notice this is a Lucid EV through and through. That’s interesting to type, as the automaker has only delivered one other model to date, but the Air sedan originally set the brand’s tone for a design language that is inherently lux and it has only been sharpened in Gravity.

It may be tough to distinguish from the images above, but one of the first details you’ll notice from the outside is how low the SUV rides (155 mm height in pre-production specs). That said, it still offers a wheelbase that’s only slightly shorter than the Rivian R1S, offering plenty of room for its third row.

To demonstrate its interior space (112 cubic feet of total usable cargo space with seats folded down), Lucid recruited some of its more vertically gifted team members to climb into the SUV and showcase how much room they had. Some people that were 6′ 4″ or taller sat comfortably in the second and third rows.

Although there is plenty of legroom in the interior thanks to Lucid’s long 900V platform, the Gravity does sacrifice a bit of “greenhouse” above to maximize its range and efficiency. There’s still plenty of headroom, but less compared to other SUVs on the current market – but we’d argue most consumers would forego a glass dome above their heads if it means better aerodynamics and range.

Speaking of which, official numbers aren’t in yet, but Lucid shared it is targeting a drag coefficient below 0.24 with the Gravity SUV, which would usurp the Tesla Model X as the production SUV with the lowest Cd on the planet. Lucid’s senior vice president of design and brand, Derek Jenkins spoke to the elements that went into bringing Gravity to fruition on today’s LA stage.

At Lucid, we believe in pushing the boundaries of design. We have leaned into this belief to  maximize spaciousness, aerodynamic efficiency, and utility, resulting in an electric SUV with a  previously unseen blend of attributes. Whether it’s a cargo-swallowing SUV for family camping trips or a long-range  grand tourer covering hundreds of miles between stops, Gravity is designed to be versatile. Our  team’s dedication to creating an SUV that seamlessly fuses form and function has resulted in a  vehicle that’s visually striking, incredibly versatile, and provides an elevated luxury driving  experience.

One last cool little tidbit I learned about the Gravity yesterday is that all models will come with two different wheel sizes between the front and rear. Options are 21″ and 20″, or 22″ and 21″.

Next, let’s check out the interior, where you’ll noticed some exciting changes compared to the Air sedan.

While a first look will probably trigger a nod to the minimalist yet purposeful tightrope of luxury Lucid continues to masterfully toe, the dashboard of its first SUV introduces some welcomed changes.

For instance, Lucid has moved its display panel up above the steering wheel. Referred to as the “Clearview Cockpit,” this 34-inch curved OLED display now sits uninterrupted (the Air has three separate screens) above a new steering wheel design.

Sitting in the driver’s seat myself yesterday, I can say the wheel is positioned in such a way that appears quite low before you sit down, but is actually perfectly placed to provide comfort and stability to your arms, while offering a complete line of sight to the display and road ahead.

You’ll also notice the center console display has been turned horizontally compared the vertical screen in the Air. Earlier this month, we surmised we might see this screen rotation in the Gravity after Lucid announced the addition of streaming apps like Apple and Amazon Music with “more media apps to follow.” How are you going to watch videos on a vertical screen? Exactly.

As you can see in the image above, Lucid’s Gravity SUV also features a new glass center console that slides open for additional storage and wireless phone charging. But wait, what about that frunk we mentioned? Lucid describes it as “substantial,” but that’s a bit of an understatement. The specific design of the hood and its latches leave plenty of room up front. In fact, the frunk can be used as a lounge if desired. Check it out.

How about that? Just casually lounging inside the hood of your new SUV? What a time to be alive. While the front FRONT seat may be slightly gimmicky, it does showcase the overall space of the Gravity’s frunk and Lucid’s expertise in maximizing every square inch in its vehicles.

Another factor Lucid is excellent is maximizing is range and efficiency – so last but certainly not least, let’s break down the performance specs, pricing, and when you can drive the SUV yourself.

Lucid Gravity specs, pricing, and availability

Alright, time for the juicy stuff. To begin, we’ve learned that Lucid will roll out trims to match its Air sibling, meaning the launch version of the SUV is called the Dream Edition (seen above), followed by a GT, Touring, and the most price-friendly – Pure.

During this morning’s debut, Lucid rolled out the Dream Edition version of the Gravity in silver (although there is not an exclusive exterior color this go around like there was for the Air launch). Joining the Dream Edition on stage was a “Stealth” version of Gravity, complete with blacked out wheels, trim, and a new color for the Lucid configurator called “Aurora Green.” Lucid CEO and CTO Peter Rawlinson also spoke to its next iteration of electric mobility in front of the crowd in LA:

The Gravity SUV represents a significant leap forward for Lucid’s world-leading technology and  design. Customers will find an unprecedented combination of space and maneuverability,  luxury, and versatility, all seamlessly integrated into one remarkable vehicle with the driving  experience and range of a true Lucid. Lucid’s  innovative proprietary EV powertrain technology and our holistic approach to vehicle  engineering already enabled the Air sedan to redefine what was thought possible from a luxury sports sedan. With Gravity, these innovations evolved and our next generation technology is applied with even greater effect, resulting in an electric SUV that can achieve over 440 miles of  range with a battery pack a little more than half the size of some of our battery-hungry  competitors.

Please note, the specs shared today pertain to the top tier launch trim of the SUV and remain pre-production model specs that are subject to change. We are certain to learn more as we get closer to the official start of Gravity sales next year. Here’s what we know:

  • Platform Architecture: 900V
  • Battery Capacity: “About the same size as Air” (113 kWh)
  • Range: Up to 440 miles (Lucid Motors’ estimate)
  • Charging: Up to 200 miles in 15 minutes (on 350kW DCFC)
  • Horsepower: Over 800 hp
  • 0-60 mph Acceleration: Under 3.5 seconds
  • Payload Capacity: 1,500 lbs.
  • Towing Capacity: 6,000 lbs.
  • Cargo Capacity: 112 cubic feet
  • Drag Coefficient: <0.24 (targeted)

As for pricing, our best idea of MSRPs begins with the aforementioned Pure trim, which Lucid says will start below $80,000. That could mean potential federal tax incentives, since it’s built in the US. Like the Air, Pure is almost certainly the last version of the Gravity we will see on the assembly lines… except perhaps, for the tri-motor Sapphire model you can most certainly expect to see announced someday.

As for pricing of the other Gravity trims, we were told to expect MSRPs to resemble those of the Air sedan, whose Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring trims are currently set at $74,900, $87,500, and $115,600 respectively. Expect the Dream Edition Gravity to eclipse all those numbers.

We are certain to learn more details of how these models will vary in specs and pricing in 2024, as Lucid moves closer to Gravity production in Arizona scheduled for late next year. That’s all for now. Lucid said it will upload a video of today’s unveiling at AutoMobility LA which we will add when it’s posted.

In the meantime, here’s a launch video showing the Gravity SUV in great detail. Enjoy!

Credit: Lucid Motors

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Tesla Robotaxi ‘safety driver’ caught sleeping on video

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Tesla Robotaxi 'safety driver' caught sleeping on video

A Tesla Robotaxi ‘safety driver’ in San Francisco was caught on video sleeping in the middle of a drive with a customer.

The good news is that the system did wake him up, but certainly a bit late.

Tesla currently claims to be operating its ‘Robotaxi’ service in Austin, Texas, and the Bay Area in California.

However, the services differ widely across markets, mainly because California has significantly stricter autonomous-driving laws than Texas. It requires companies to prove they can operate as a level 4 autonomous driving system – something Tesla is not prepared to do, as it has yet to even apply for the required permit.

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In effectiveness, it means Tesla’s ‘Robotaxi’ service in the Bay Area has ‘safety drivers’ in the driver’s seat, who are responsible for the vehicle at all times, just like any other level 2 ADAS system, such as Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving (Supervised)’.

In Austin, Tesla moved the ‘safety driver’ from the driver’s seat to the front passenger seat simply because regulators allow it. The monitor still has a finger on a killswitch at all times – ready to stop the vehicle.

We recently reported that Tesla has a worryingly high crash rate in Austin, with the safety driver in the passenger seat.

Now, in San Francisco, a Tesla Robotaxis ‘safety driver’ was spotted asleep at the wheel. A local Robotaxi user posted the video on Reddit:

The user wrote:

I took a Tesla Robotaxi in SF just over a week ago. I have used the service a few times before and it has always been great. I actually felt safer than in a regular rideshare.

This time was different. The safety driver literally fell asleep at least three times during the ride. Each time the car’s pay attention safety alert went off and the beeping is what woke him back up.

In the video, you can see that Tesla’s same FSD driver monitoring system appears to kick in during the Robotaxi ride and wakes up the safety driver.

However, the anti-drowsiness system is supposed to prevent this from happening and audibly warn the driver before they fall asleep with their head down like this, and suggest that they stop the drive.

The user says that he reported the issue to Tesla, but he hasn’t heard back:

I reported it through the app to the Robotaxi support team and told them I had videos, but I never got a response.

I held off on posting anything because I wanted to give Tesla a chance to respond privately. It has been more than a week now and this feels like a serious issue for other riders too.

The video went viral on Reddit, and another user said that the same thing happened to them, adding that they believe it was the exact driver.

Electrek’s Take

It is undoubtedly a tedious job. The system handles virtually all driving tasks, but the safety driver remains critical and must be ready to take control at all times.

As shown in Tesla’s ADS crash reporting in Austin, Tesla’s system still makes mistakes, and the safety drivers are there to correct them.

Tesla’s incidents in the Bay Area are harder to report because they fall under Tesla’s ADAS incident reporting, and since the automaker redacts most critical information, we don’t know whether they happened in the Robotaxi fleet or with regular FSD customers. They are dozens of those every month in the NHTSA reports.

In short, the job must be taken seriously. The driver-monitoring anti-drowsiness detector should have kicked in much sooner, especially since it was the third time he had fallen asleep on this ride, according to the user.

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This electric motorcycle folds down to the size of a carry-on suitcase

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This electric motorcycle folds down to the size of a carry-on suitcase

Electric motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes these days, but few take the idea of “small format” as literally as the new Icoma Tatamel Bike. Designed by Takamitsu Ikoma – a former toy designer who clearly never lost his taste for Transformers – this little EV doesn’t just shrink.

It folds itself into a tidy rolling suitcase shape that can follow you into elevators, offices, and apartments, where full-sized bikes are a non-starter.

While the original Motocompo-esque prototype was more of a curiosity, the Tatamel Bike is now a real production vehicle with a 2–3 week lead time and a ¥498,000 (about US$3,300) price tag. And believe it or not, it actually works as transportation.

A motorcycle that becomes luggage

In its unfolded “bike mode,” the Tatamel is roughly the footprint of a compact seated scooter. But fold it down and the machine shrinks to just 69 × 69 × 26 cm (27 x 27 x 10 in), small enough to roll around like a piece of carry-on luggage. That’s fortunate, because at 63 kg (139 lb), you won’t be tossing it over your shoulder.

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The idea is simple: ride it through the city, fold it in the lobby, and bring it upstairs just like you would a suitcase. For urban apartment dwellers who’ve dealt with “no bikes inside” policies, this solves a major headache. It’s just a suitcase…with big wheels?

Small size, real specs

Despite the toy-inspired vibe, the Tatamel Bike is built like a legitimate (albeit small) scooter. It uses a 600W motor (with an actual 2,000W peak rating), runs on a 51.2V 12Ah LiFePO₄ battery (roughly 600 Wh), and is rated for 18.6 miles (30 km) of real-world range with a top speed of around 25 mph (45 km/h). The 10-inch front wheel, 6.5-inch rear wheel, and dual suspension setup – including a rear monoshock – give it surprising stability for something that can also masquerade as luggage.

Load capacity clocks in at 220 lb (100 kg), and the manufacturer quotes a long 2,000–3,000-cycle battery lifespan thanks to the LiFePO₄ chemistry. There’s even a USB port onboard for topping up devices.

Let your inner toy designer loose

One of the standout features is the customizable side panel system. The flat surfaces are removable and can be swapped or printed with your own graphics, letting riders effectively “skin” the bike however they want.

Think anime art, business branding, or just your favorite color – the idea is to make each Tatamel uniquely yours.

Electrek’s Take

I absolutely love seeing small-format EVs rethink what a motorcycle can be, and the Tatamel Bike might be one of the most creative examples yet due to its customization-encouraging design.

Sure, it’s not fast, and it’s definitely not light. But as a last-mile machine that you can literally roll into an elevator, it nails the task.

Between the compact folding design, the surprising build quality, and those fun customizable panels, this is exactly the kind of quirky micromobility innovation I live for.

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Wisconsin gets 26 new fast-charging stations with $14M of grants

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Wisconsin gets 26 new fast-charging stations with M of grants

Wisconsin is getting another boost in DC fast charging thanks to $14 million in recovered federal grants for 26 sites statewide. The funding comes through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, part of President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The award follows a legal battle earlier this year, when Governor Tony Evers (D-WI) joined other states in a lawsuit to force the Trump Administration to release over $60 million that Wisconsin was owed from the NEVI Formula Program. A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s illegal attempt to obstruct the NEVI program in June, clearing the way for planned NEVI EV charging projects to continue.

This round of sites fills in EV charging station coverage gaps following the initial awards announced in May 2024. Round one granted $22.4 million for 52 projects; 11 of those chargers are already online, and another 16 have been cleared for construction.

Across both award rounds, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has now allocated more than $36.4 million toward 78 total projects. The first NEVI-backed fast charging stations opened earlier this year at Kwik Trip stores in Ashland, Menomonie, and Chippewa Falls.

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The 26 new charging stations will be built along Wisconsin’s Alternative Fuel Corridor and sited at convenience stores, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and other travel stops. They’ll service the more than 37,000 EV drivers registered in the state, as well as road‑trippers and visitors, and will have a minimum of 150 kW per port.

Round two awardees include Tesla, Kwik Trip, and Universal EV. A full list of the 26 fast charging locations can be found here


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