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Auto CODA EVs Sent to First Customers in California
Tiffany Kaiser - March 20, 2012 9:15 AM

10 comment(s) - last by JediJeb.. on Mar 21 at 10:51 AM

2012 CODA EV

CODA delivered the first three all-electric sedans to customers yesterday

CODA Automotive released its first CODA all-electric vehicles yesterday to three customers in the state of California.

CODA Automotive is a privately held EV and lithium-ion battery systems company based in Los Angeles, California. California customers finally got their hands on the company's first entry into the EV market, the all-electric CODA.

The 2012 CODA is an all-electric four-door, five-passenger sedan. It's powered by a 31 kWh lithium ion iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery system that delivers a range of 88 miles per charge. EPA rated the CODA's combined fuel economy at 73 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent. The EV also has 6.6 kW onboard charging capabilities where a full charge can be obtained in six hours on 240 V, and it comes with a three-year, 36,000 mile limited warranty/10-year, 100,000 mile limited battery warranty.

CODA previously selected early reservation holders based on the vehicle specifications they were interested in. The first 500 early reserved vehicles contain a numbered plaque and a custom keychain to show that they are the first CODA's to be released.

"Watching our dealers deliver the first vehicles to customers is an incredibly fulfilling milestone," said Phil Murtaugh, CODA Holdings CEO. "All three customers share our conviction that advances in technology can help solve the energy challenges that have weighed down our economy and our environment for decades, and we're thrilled to have them help bring us one step closer to fulfilling our founding vision."

The very first customer to reserve a CODA was Randy of Redwood City, California, who ordered a silver CODA.

"We're delighted to offer the all-electric CODA to Randy and many more Northern California drivers in the near future," said Shaun Del Grande, President of Del Grande Dealer Group. "As the first dealership in the area to offer the CODA, we're excited to provide Northern California drivers with what they want: a reliable range, zero emission sedan and ultimately, the option to be independent from fossil fuels.”

The state of California has been pushing for greater EV adoption for some time now, with efforts like Chevrolet Volt drivers receiving a $1,500 rebate and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) traffic lane stickers, and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approving 15.4 percent of new autos sold to be green by 2025.

Sources: EV World, MSN Autos

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Data From hybredcars.com

By mlmiller1 on 3/20/2012 11:58:27 AM , Rating: 2

Coda Basics
100 miles driving range
Top speed above 80 miles per hour
The sticker price will be just below $40,000, depending on options (minus federal tax credit of $7,500)
Zero-to-60 time of 8.5 seconds
Eight year, 100,000 mile warranty
Options: power seats and windows, a sunroof, electronic stability control, a GPS navigation system, and Bluetooth connectivity

RE: Data From hybredcars.com

By Samus on 3/20/2012 12:56:27 PM , Rating: 2

The casting dies were purchased from Daewoo Korean Automotive when they went bankrupt and downsized in 2004, great if you want a 15 year old Laganza platform from the 90's that wasn't very good in the first place.

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RE: Data From hybredcars.com

By JediJeb on 3/20/2012 3:25:57 PM , Rating: 3

For something to drive back and forth to work, I wouldn't mind the look so much. At least it doesn't have the rear end of the Prius that looks like someone smashed into it.

I also like that power windows are optional, which to me makes sense on an EV since they would only burn more power from the battery. Now if they could manage to knock about another $10k off the price or more in the future that would be what we need to finally make EVs a little more palatable to the average public for what they should be, economical transportation to and from work or errands, nothing more.

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RE: Data From hybredcars.com

By Spuke on 3/20/2012 6:28:26 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Now if they could manage to knock about another $10k off the price or more in the future that would be what we need to finally make EVs a little more palatable to the average public for what they should be, economical transportation to and from work or errands, nothing more.

$30k is still WAY too much money for that and I'll go out on a limb and say that the general public STILL won't buy them in appreciable numbers even at that price point. I sure won't.

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RE: Data From hybredcars.com

By JediJeb on 3/21/2012 10:51:19 AM , Rating: 2

Well $20K would be an even better price point, but until the battery tech can catch up I think that is really dreaming. Short term I do believe advancements in tech should allow for a $30k or less EV to be produced, but right now at $40K and above they will have to make them luxury vehicles to ever get any buyers.

Of course regular gasoline vehicles started the same way, the first ones were expensive luxury items, but once Ford began mass producing them they became an average person's item. For EVs we are still in the pre-ModelT period of development, but maybe soon someone will hit on that perfect combination of price and performance that will make them viable to a fairly large segment of the public.

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LiFePO4?

By Spuke on 3/20/2012 11:45:37 AM , Rating: 2

Aren't LiFePO4 batteries less energy dense than lithium cobalt or whatever else they use in the Leaf and Volt?

RE: LiFePO4?

By Pirks on 3/20/2012 3:22:45 PM , Rating: 2

They do not burn or explode when damaged though. These days you either go for something expensive, light, very energy dense like LiPo, or you go for less energy dense, heavier but burn/explosion proof chemistry like LiFePO4 (I have two of those in my 72V 12Ah high-speed electric bike).

Gotta wait 30-40 more years for those magic nano-batteries to appear in our vehicles, may be then we'll have high energy density AND fire safety in the same package.

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RE: LiFePO4?

By Spuke on 3/20/2012 6:26:36 PM , Rating: 2

Thanks for the reply. OT but I want to use LiFePO4 in my RV once the price comes down some (and the supply chain is less shady).

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Something is not right

By semo on 3/20/2012 12:04:45 PM , Rating: 2

31 kWh battery with a range of below 100 miles and 66mpge figure. Either that electric motor is seriously inefficient or that battery capacity is wrong. Maybe it has a very limited usable range of 40-80% SoC?

Also I prefer efficiency figures to be quoted in a more universal way (Wh per kilometer or mile would be nice).