Tesla Model S vs Lucid Air Touring: charging cost, time & specs in United States
A side-by-side comparison of the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air Touring for buyers in United States: battery, charging speed, realistic range and what each costs to charge at home and at a public DC station.
Specifications side by side
Units
| Specification | Tesla Model S | Lucid Air Touring |
|---|---|---|
| Usable battery capacity | 95 kWh (best) | 92 kWh |
| DC fast-charge power (peak) | 250 kW (best) | 250 kW (best) |
| Real 10-80% DC time | 30 minutes | 27 minutes (best) |
| AC charge power (onboard) | 11 kW | 19.2 kW (best) |
| Manufacturer-claimed range | 410 mi (EPA) | 431 mi (EPA) (best) |
| Realistic range estimate | 410 mi | 431 mi (best) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
Charging cost comparison
| Scenario | Tesla Model S | Lucid Air Touring |
|---|---|---|
| At home (AC) 20% → 80% | $10.26 | $9.94 (best) |
| Public DC 20% → 80% | $27.36 | $26.50 (best) |
Key differences
- Tesla Model S carries the bigger battery (95 kWh vs 92 kWh), about 3% more capacity.
- Lucid Air Touring drives farther, about 21 mi more on a realistic range basis.
- Both use NMC batteries, so their charging behaviour and care are similar.
- Lucid Air Touring has a stronger onboard AC charger (8.2 kW higher), so it charges faster at home.
- Lucid Air Touring is more energy efficient, by about 54.6 mi/kWh.
What the numbers say
- Faster to 80%: Lucid Air Touring (about 3 minutes ahead of Tesla Model S).
- Goes further on a charge: Lucid Air Touring (about 21 mi more than Tesla Model S, realistic).
- Cheaper to charge at home: Lucid Air Touring (about $0.32 less than Tesla Model S).
- Cheaper at a public DC charger: Lucid Air Touring (about $0.86 less than Tesla Model S).
As of 2026-05-29
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to charge, the Tesla Model S or the Lucid Air Touring?
- At a public DC charger (20-80%), the Lucid Air Touring is the cheaper of the two at about $26.50.
Which charges faster, the Tesla Model S or the Lucid Air Touring?
- The Lucid Air Touring reaches 80% sooner, taking about 24 minutes on DC fast charging.
What is a BEV, and how is it different from an EV, PHEV, and HEV?
- EV (electric vehicle) is an umbrella term for any vehicle driven by an electric motor. A BEV (battery electric vehicle) is a fully electric car powered entirely by its battery and charged from the electricity grid, with no petrol engine. This is the type this calculator is built for. A PHEV (plug-in hybrid) pairs a petrol engine with a battery you can charge from the grid. An HEV is an ordinary hybrid that can't be plugged in; its battery recharges itself while you drive. There are also FCEVs, which run on hydrogen fuel cells. This calculator is for cars you charge from the grid (BEVs, and PHEVs in electric mode), so ordinary hybrids like the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid or Nissan Kicks e-Power aren't included.