It hasn’t been long since we reported that the Lucid Air might beat out the best Tesla Model S with up to 442 miles of range. Considering that the Air starts out at just $60,000 this could put it in a position to effectively dethrone the Tesla Model S. Now, however, a new report from Ars Technica claims that independent testing has confirmed an estimated range of more than 500 miles on a single charge. If this report is true, and the EPA agrees, the Lucid Air could become the first production EV to cross that threshold. How likely is it that the EPA will give the air a similar rating? Well, the chances might actually be pretty good.

An EV With 500+ Miles of Range? The Lucid Air Might Be the First

Until a widespread and easily accessible charging infrastructure for EVs becomes available, there will always be a little warning flag in the back of most peoples minds that waves and flaps to the tune of range anxiety. This is, of course, despite the fact that few Americans travel more than 70 or 80 miles per day on average. Be that as it may, and as Ars Technica points out, limited range and the inability to just “full-up” in a matter of minutes is a commonly used justification for why the world isn’t ready for EVs and why they will never really catch on. Range anxiety is real, no doubt, even if it’s largely unfounded and even silly, but Lucid Air could go a long way in combatting that anxiety.

Long story short, the Lucid Air was put through a rigorous testing procedure that’s similar to what the EPA does, and it turned out a surprising results of 517 miles (832 km) of range on a single charge. This is a big step forward from the company’s goal of 400 miles, which would have put the Air on par with the best Tesla Model S that you can buy today. So, how is this possible? Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson believes it has to do with the company’s 900-volt architecture, race-proven battery packs, miniaturized motors, and a number of other factors:

Of course, there’s a possibility that this could all be smoke and mirrors, but it certainly doesn’t seem likely. The Lucid Air was tested by FEV North American, an engineering company based in Michigan that followed the EPA’s multitest cycle. If that turns out to be true, there’s a good chance that sometime after the Lucid Air launches on September 9th, it could become the first electric car to be officially rated at more than 500 miles of range.

So, what do you think? Is 500 miles of range enough to eliminate your range anxiety?