Lucid Motors is voluntarily recalling certain 2022-2023 Air electric vehicles in the United States due to a potential power loss issue that could lead to the shutdown of the electric motors. The recall affects 637 Lucid Air vehicles, which may pose an increased risk of a crash due to a loss of drive power. The defect is estimated to affect only 6% of the recalled vehicles, according to the company.
The issue stems from electrically activated contact switches, or contactors, that may unexpectedly open, causing a power loss to the drive motors. As a result, Lucid Service Centers will update the vehicle software and replace the contactor switches free of charge. The automaker has said that it will send notification letters to customers on April 21, 2023.
Contactors are switches that transfer energy to the drive motors and open when a vehicle is shut down. Lucid investigated this issue in May 2022 when a vehicle was brought in for service following a loss of motive power. During testing, the company found that a double-dip closing signature in the contactor indicated a risk of opening, but many contactors with a double-dip signature did not have unexpected openings.
Lucid worked with supplier Sensata Technologies to determine that a small population of contactors had spring force that could overcome the magnetic holding force, resulting in an opening of the contactors. Replacement contactors have been redesigned to have increased magnetic holding force and have undergone additional quality screening to ensure they do not exhibit a double-dip current signature when closing.
Lucid has noted that vehicles experiencing a contactor opening may coast to a stop but should restart after a vehicle shutdown. The automaker also stated that these vehicles will continue to have functional driving displays, power steering, and power brakes.
