Aston Martin on Monday announced a long-term strategic partnership and supply agreement with the Lucid Corporation of California, through which Lucid will provide the UK high-performance carmaker with “the “selective powertrain components” for upcoming electric vehicles.
Aston says it will continue to look to Mercedes-Benz AG for internal combustion engines, hybrid systems and electric/electronic architecture, so this could effectively allow Aston Martin to choose whatever is best for a given situation. But it has been confirmed that Lucid’s “advanced powertrain technology” will be combined with Mercedes’ electronic architecture in a line of electrified Aston Martins in the near future.
Specifically, Lucid details, the deal includes the company’s twin-motor actuators, battery technology and Wunderbox charging hardware, plus technical support from the company in integrating it all — with aggregation. VND 450 million USD. As detailed by Aston Martin, Aston Martin’s parent company, Lagonda Global Holdings, the deal actually gives Lucid a 3.7% stake in Aston Martin.
Lucid . modular twin motor drive unit
The UK niche carmaker is in the midst of a pivot that will make its core range of vehicles “fully electrified” by 2030, with 20% of their fleet to be electrified by 2024. Aston has indicated its upcoming platform will underpin its entire line of future electric vehicles, including grand-touring models, SUVs, sports cars and supercars, with the first models on that platform. will launch in 2025. Before that, Aston was expected to offer its first plug-in hybrid, a supercar called the Valhalla, in 2024.
Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll said: “The supply agreement with Lucid is a game changer for Aston Martin’s future electric vehicle-led development. “Based on our strategy and requirements, we chose Lucid, gaining access to the industry’s most advanced and highest performing technologies for our future BEV products.”
Transparent Air Sapphire
Aston Martin’s deal marks the first high-profile deal in which a long-established automaker is jumping on Lucid’s technology, centered around the company’s in-house development. a very energy efficient EV powertrain with a focus on efficiency and the systems around it. Propulsion technology is one of the core values of the company and it can be suggested that many companies have expressed an interest in using it. Lucid Engine Design particularly striking for its compactness, efficiency, and energy density — even compared to Tesla — and the company has said it can scale production.
The battery pack was supplied by Lucid for previous seasons of Formula E and it now offers front engine for Gen 3 Formula E vehicle of the current season, making it lighter and more agile.
Aston Martin Rapide E 2020
Aston Martin has had a number of false starts when it comes to electric vehicles over the past decade. It planned to launch an all-electric model, called the RapidE, aimed at performance and lightness rather than emphasizing large batteries and long range. But difficult the first time cooperation with China’s LeEco, a supporter of Faraday Future, delayed the project. Although later switched to Williams Advanced Engineering, the project was abandoned. Aston’s current electric vehicle production effort has been announced for 2021.
Lucid is due to deliver the Air Sapphire electric performance sedan, claimed to be the world’s most powerful sedan, later this year. That model boasts a 0-60 mph time of under two seconds, a 0-100 mph time of under four seconds, and a top speed of over 200 mph—potentially enough to overtake. Tesla Model S Plaid on the track, let alone handling.
