If you thought Lucid Motors’ 1,234 tri-motor Air Sapphire was elite, threat mitigation specialist US Armor Group has taken the luxury sedan to an entirely new echelon. Today, the company unveiled an armored version of the Lucid Air Sapphire, described as being indestructible. Designed for heads of state and high-ranking executives, it can be equipped with features like bulletproof glass, poison gas protection. Wait until you see the price tag.
If you’re an avid reader of Electrek (you should be), you’re very familiar with our coverage of American automaker Lucid Motors, and its flagship BEV, the Air sedan. In the summer of 2022, Lucid announced a new tri-motor variant of the Air called Sapphire, which can accelerate 0-60 mph in 1.98 seconds (from a standstill), 0-100 mph in under 4 seconds, and a reach top speed of 205 mph – all while delivering over 400 miles of all-electric range.
We got a chance to take the Sapphire for a spin this past April, and it’s hands down the fastest passenger vehicle we’ve ever driven. Its instant torque is not for the faint of heart but a true exercise in the clear benefits of all-electric performance.
Sapphire is outside most people’s price range, at $250,000 fully equipped. However, affluent customers and political leaders can now opt for an armored version of Lucid Air designed to circumvent any threats to the safety of its passengers.
This armored Lucid Air Sapphire costs $475,000
Today, US Armor Group unveiled an “indestructible” armored version of the Lucid Air Sapphire, complete with ballistic windows and lightweight laminated, transparent armor that replaces the factory-installed glass. The armor is capable of stopping a round from a .44 magnum.
US Armor also added lightweight composite armor to the doors, and the rest of the EV provides 360-degree protection inside. The military-grade armor is ten times stronger than ballistic steel yet five times lighter, enabling the speedy sedan to still do its thing on roads without any loss of performance (the upgrade only adds 385 lbs. of weight). US Armor Group founder and CEO Jeffrey Engen spoke about the capabilities of the new armored Lucid Air Sapphire:
At US Armor Group, our mission has always been to protect our clients against any andall potential threats, however we did not want to sacrifice in terms of performance or amenities. With the armored Air Sapphire, our company has taken one of the world’s fastest production vehicles ever built and transformed it into the fastest armored car onthe planet. While the original vehicle was already exceptional, we’ve further enhanced it for clients looking for modern day security solutions. Armoring is important, but for our clients, digital security is also an integral part of their modern-day needs as c-suite executives and business owners. They want to travel in style securely. In today’s modern world, that means full protection from cyber attacks, tracking, and other digital age threats, which are just as dangerous to them in many cases as a physical attack on the vehicle itself.
The armored Lucid Air Sapphire interior features the same luxury materials, with some added security measures. For instance, US Armor Group added an impenetrable internet/WiFi security package to safeguard all sensitive data from hackers, as well as scanners that gather intelligence from over a million sources, including local Police and Fire stations, to stay aware of any potential threats on the road.
The security specialist has also added a one-touch outreach feature that instantly connects them with US Armor Group for assistance using an integrated communication system.
In addition to ballistic glass and a bolstered exterior, US Armor Group says it can add several custom countermeasures to ensure the safety of its customers, including electric-shock door handles, pepper spray dispensers, concealed gun ports, and poison gas protection/detection. It can also add upgraded armor to stop high-powered rifles, grenades, and explosive devices.
Such peace of mind costs a pretty penny, however. Driving off in one of these armored Lucid Air Sapphires will cost at least $475,000. That’s before all of the Batmobile add-ons mentioned above. What do we think? Could we see the POTUS being transported around in a bulletproof Sapphire someday?
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A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
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Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
XCMG battery swap crane; via Etrucks New Zealand.
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.