My Gas-Car-Lover Brother Took My Lucid Air for a Spin, But His Reaction Was Nothing I Expected

EVs face harsh skepticism and criticism, especially among die-hard petrolheads in the USA. One Lucid Air Pure owner's recent experience shows that nothing quite beats the convincing power of a test drive.

At a family gathering, the owner let his mechanic brother, known for his lukewarm reception to EVs, take the Lucid Air Pure for a spin. After a few launches and sweeping turns, the brother's hesitation melted away, replaced by pure enthusiasm.

The owner recounted the experience in a post on Reddit:

"My mechanic brother, a speed shop tech, took my Pure out for a drive at our early Xmas get together, and he had a ton of questions which surprised me, as he is a known 'meh' for EV's. After a few launches and quick sweeping turns he declared that he was already used to the one pedal full regen drive, and is the best suspension set up he has experienced...we were still on the smooth setting;)"

A Change of Heart

This transformative experience sparked a lively discussion among Lucid enthusiasts, with many echoing similar sentiments about the car's exceptional driving dynamics and spacious interior. "I've been saying it ever since I took delivery of mine—the best attribute of the car is not that it's an EV, it's that it drives amazing (and has a ton of room inside)," noted one owner.

• Lucid Motors is an American electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2007, with headquarters in Newark, California.
• Their debut luxury electric sedan, the Lucid Air, launched in 2021 to critical acclaim for its range, performance, design, and technological features.
• The company plans to expand its product lineup with the upcoming Lucid Gravity SUV, aiming to make high-end EV technology more accessible and redefine the all-electric vehicle ownership experience.

The incident underscores the importance of authentic, first-hand experiences in winning over skeptics. As numerous commenters pointed out, traditional advertising methods may not be as effective as simply letting people experience the magic of EVs like the Lucid Air for themselves.

"I think petrolheads are car lovers, like a lot of us here probably are. I think they're [concerned] they'll lose the freedom of driving with electric, or it will be a worse experience, which is not any experience of electric I've had: it's better," summarized one enthusiast.

Test Drives Are The Way

For Lucid, this anecdote serves as a reminder that grass-roots, word-of-mouth marketing may be their most potent tool in winning over both EV newcomers and lifelong car enthusiasts alike. "The best advertisement is word of mouth and test drives! A TV ad would probably not have worked to convince your brother," as one user aptly observed. 

By focusing on the things that unite all driving enthusiasts - handling, responsiveness, and sheer driving joy - EVs may stand a better chance of finding acceptance among even the most ardent ICE enthusiasts.

What do you think? Can personal recommendations and test drives be the secret weapon EV manufacturers need to sway die-hard skeptics? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments.

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.