Lucid's V2H Feature: A Slow-Moving Promise
Lucid, the Saudi-backed electric vehicle manufacturer, has been promising its Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) capability since 2020, with the initial goal of releasing it in the first half of 2026. However, this deadline has been quietly extended, and now it seems the feature might not arrive until 2026 at the earliest. This delay is just the latest in a pattern of slipping software deadlines for Lucid.
The V2H capability, which would allow an EV to power a house during an outage by sending energy from its battery back through the home's electrical panel, was first teased in 2020. Since then, it has been a slow-moving promise, with various dates and deadlines being set and then quietly extended. The initial target date of the first half of 2026 was set after a video review of a leased 2025 Lucid Air Touring by Jason Fenske, which prompted a response from Lucid, including a preview of upcoming features.
However, by the time the V2H kit was discussed with investors, the first-half pledge had already been widened to a full-year release. This wider window is now nearly gone, with no V2H launch materializing as of mid-June. The only major over-the-air update Lucid has shipped to the Gravity recently delivered hands-free driving, but not home backup.
The pattern of slipping software dates is not unique to V2H. Hands-free highway driving for the Gravity was also set to arrive in 2026, but was later narrowed to a few weeks away, only to arrive weeks past that promise. This backdrop is a software organization under strain, having weathered repeated layoffs and a wave of leadership departures, including the recent exit of Emad Dlala, the product chief who had given Fenske the V2H preview.
The delay in V2H's release is a significant setback for Lucid, as it has been a slow-moving promise for years. The company has repeatedly described V2H and its grid-feeding version, V2G, as in development, and it was set to be a standard feature on the upcoming Cosmos midsize SUV. However, the delay raises questions about Lucid's ability to meet its software deadlines and deliver on its promises.
In my opinion, the delay in V2H's release is a concerning trend for Lucid. It highlights the challenges the company faces in managing its software roadmap and delivering on its promises. As a consumer, I would be disappointed if I had to wait much longer for a feature that was initially promised for 2026. Lucid needs to address these issues and provide more transparency and clarity on its software development timeline.
The future of V2H at Lucid remains uncertain, but the delay is a reminder of the challenges that electric vehicle manufacturers face in delivering on their promises. It will be interesting to see how Lucid addresses this setback and whether it can regain the trust of its customers and investors.
