EV club members get first rides in Coda Automotive electric sedan
Coda EV Sedan. Photo by Stefano Paris.
Oh, to live in Southern California, the emerging epicenter of electric car start-ups. This past weekend, one of those start-ups, Coda Automotive, offered a few test rides in the current prototype of the company's upcoming all-electric sedan to members of the Diamond Bar Electric Vehicle Association. No drives yet – steering wheel duty was left to Coda CEO Kevin Czinger – but now we have the first independent review of what Coda is cooking up for their first offering thanks to our friend Paul Scott of Plug In America.
Some details: the car will have a 100-mile range from a 33.7 kWh lithium ion battery pack. The sedan weighs around 3,500 pounds, including the 700-lb battery. Czinger told Scott that the next-gen Coda sedan will be several hundred pounds lighter. First deliveries are expected for August 2010. Coda hopes to sell 2,000 units in the first year and then 20,000 in the second.
Here's what Scott has to say about riding in the car:
What about the look, which hasn't been universally well-received? Scott writes:I didn't get to drive it myself, but [Czinger] wasn't afraid to put the car through it paces for us. Even with four full sized adults, the car performed very well. Acceleration off the line was decent and at about 40 mph going up a hill, the car was still able to accelerate strongly. 0-60 is just under 10 seconds and top speed is 85 mph.
One bit of news: Czinger told Scott that the sedan will likely sell for around $32,000 (after rebates), which is lower than the price announced in June of $45,000 (before incentives) that would have been in the mid-$30,000s in California. Read more over at EVs and Energy.The Coda's styling isn't going to turn heads on the highway, but since I often get asked why EVs have to look "so weird", I expect the vanilla styling will suit quite a few folks just fine. It's along the lines of a Toyota Corolla in size and looks.
Gallery: Coda EV live
[Source: EVs and Energy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Serge 6:43PM (8/18/2009)
Few questions:
1. Is that a radiator upfront? If yes, then why, since air intake is closed off?
2. Are those lead acid batteries I see?
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NeilBlanchard 7:20PM (8/18/2009)
Hi Serge,
It certainly looks like a radiator, and a lead acid battery. I'm unclear about what the radiator is for, but the battery is probably to power the electronics? Though, how does it get charged? Or, why isn't the main battery used to get this voltage?
Sincerely, Neil
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ksaltness 8:08PM (8/18/2009)
Serge & Neil,
The radiator, which is for cooling the electronics, is upfront because the air intake is closed off, and since we don't have an IC engine we use cooling fans. The lead acid battery you see is used to power the accessories and is charged by a DC/DC converter.
The Coda sedan is powered by a 33.7kWh, 333V lithium-iron phosphate battery system that is sealed underneath the car.
Thanks for your interest!
Kara*
(*disclosure: I work for Coda)
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Rich 9:47AM (8/19/2009)
Kara: thanks for explaining (although it was pretty obvious to me). Evidently it's never occurred to some folks that electrical systems can get hot, and a city car needs something other than free-flowing air for cooling.
David 1:47PM (8/19/2009)
I think the question is, if you have a radiator, how is it being cooled if there are no air intakes at the front? There is no airflow through the radiator.
Stew 9:06PM (8/18/2009)
Looks like a promising car, hopefully this will actually end up making it to the August 2010 target date with car sales to the general public.
The looks are ok, I would not let them distract me from buying one. The thing that worries me with the hood coming all the way down in front like that, is having to replace the entire hood in even the slightest parking lot bump.
Stew
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Nick 12:35AM (8/19/2009)
This is good news, and I wish Coda well!
Regarding the looks of the car, it could be sexier, but so could the Corolla.
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john 1:09AM (8/19/2009)
I suspect a good aftermarket custom shop could make this car look pretty good.
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alex 9:38AM (8/19/2009)
so assuming it qualifies for the same tax credit as the volt, it looks like it's going to come in at the same $40k price as the volt. i think i'd take the volt.
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Oh4Sh0 9:53AM (8/19/2009)
While the concept of the car is nice - considering the leaf offers the same "range", is from a mfgr with a bigger name, is rumored to be a considerably lower cost, and ultimately the blandness of this car is probably what will keep it from selling. Hell even the interior is bland.
While it's a great revelation that not all hybrids have to look retarded, it's not a good trade-off to make it look like it was designed for release in the year 2000.
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Alan 11:56AM (8/19/2009)
Since it's made from cheap parts and looks cheap, it really should be very cheap! Still if it makes it to market it will be good, more choice and competition can't be a bad thing.
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Stephan 12:00PM (8/19/2009)
$32,000 for a corolla/civic??? I know it is electric and that tech is still expensive but wow, that is a hefty premium. Granted if I made enough I might get it just because an electric car has basically 0 maintenance, and how great to never have to get an oil change! Hopefully enough people buy into the tech so in 3-5 years prices will come down to my level!
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Stephan 12:03PM (8/19/2009)
$32,000 for a corolla/civic??? I know it is electric and that tech is still expensive but wow, that is a hefty premium. Granted if I made enough I might get it just because an electric car has basically 0 maintenance, and how great to never have to get an oil change! Hopefully enough people buy into the tech so in 3-5 years prices will come down to my level!
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Rick 5:46PM (8/19/2009)
They just need to re-think that dorky front end. They looked confused at how to deal with a non-traditional grill and air intake section. And it's too curvy and soft compared to the rest of the car's lines. And lose the LEDs, or rethink the design, they look thrown in.
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