Lucid EV Shutdown Highlights a Major Flaw in High-Tech Vehicles

Electric vehicles have transformed into high-tech luxury machines—more akin to smartphones on wheels than traditional cars. Packed with features like app-based keys, remote diagnostics, and over-the-air updates, EVs such as the Lucid Air promise state-of-the-art convenience wrapped in premium performance. But when these digital systems fail, owners can find themselves powerless—locked out of their own six-figure machines.

That’s exactly what happened to one Lucid Air Grand Touring owner, exposing how a seemingly minor component—the humble 12-volt battery—can cripple a complex, tech-heavy, six-figure EV. It’s a problem not unique to Lucid; Ford faced similar backlash with the Mustang Mach-E, even prompting a lawsuit from frustrated owners. In the Lucid’s case, the affected driver aired their grievances publicly through the Lucid Owners Club on Facebook.

Locked Out of a $110,000 Lucid Air Grand Touring

The trouble began earlier this week when a Minneapolis-based owner found himself completely locked out of his $110,000 Lucid Air Grand Touring—the top-tier trim beneath the flagship Air Sapphire. Neither the smartphone app, key fob, nor key card could unlock the vehicle. Even Lucid’s customer service team was unable to access the car remotely. Despite showing an 85% charge at the time of the incident, the vehicle refused to wake up, leaving the owner stranded.

As it turns out, without a functioning 12-volt battery—the same type used in traditional gas-powered cars—the Lucid Air becomes completely unresponsive. With no mechanical key slot or emergency override, there was simply no way to access the vehicle. To make matters worse, the local Lucid mobile service technician was on vacation, leaving the owner with no immediate assistance. The only option was to have the car towed to a partner facility, just to attempt something as basic as a jump-start.

There Was a Fix, But It Appears to Be Temporary

Eventually, the car was towed to a service facility, where technicians were able to jump the 12-volt battery. That brief spark of life was enough to unlock the doors and allow the owner to retrieve personal belongings—including a set of golf clubs needed for the weekend. But the relief was short-lived. As soon as the doors were closed, the Lucid Air shut down again. According to the owner, the car “went back to sleep” and once more refused to wake up.

At the time of reporting, the vehicle was still awaiting a technician’s full investigation. It’s unclear whether the issue has since been resolved, but the 12-volt battery jump-start appeared to provide only a temporary fix rather than a lasting solution.