AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[In bankruptcy, Coda asking for permission to conduct airbag recall]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/bankrupt-coda-asking-permission-to-conduct-airbag-recall/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/bankrupt-coda-asking-permission-to-conduct-airbag-recall/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/20/bankrupt-coda-asking-permission-to-conduct-airbag-recall/#commentsFiled under: ,

coda sedan

Following its official bankruptcy filing, Coda Automotive is back with more not-so-good news. In Delaware bankruptcy court, the automaker has filed a motion to "conduct a voluntary recall of Coda Sedans to replace roof-mounted side curtain airbags."

Last August, Coda recalled 78 vehicles for improper installation of side-curtain airbags. The new filing doesn't specify a number of vehicles affected - but it does say Coda sold less than 100 vehicles, total - just that it expects the recall will not cost more than $40,000.

Coda is not undertaking the recall just for the safety of Coda drivers (though that is a prominent reason). The filing says, "the Coda name is an asset in which the Debtors have invested heavily and is likely to represent a valuable asset to a buyer" and that "the Debtors submit that taking appropriate steps to avoid negative associations with the Coda name that may arrive from failure to address a known potential safety issue in a Coda product makes good business sense."

You can read the court documents below.

Continue reading In bankruptcy, Coda asking for permission to conduct airbag recall

In bankruptcy, Coda asking for permission to conduct airbag recall originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 20 May 2013 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagbankruptcycodacoda sedanelectric vehiclerecallMon, 20 May 2013 16:27:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20576691/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20576691/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/20/bankrupt-coda-asking-permission-to-conduct-airbag-recall/20576691/article-detail.xml 20576691 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2012-coda-sedan-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2012-coda-sedan-628.jpg <![CDATA[Coda hit by WARN Act lawsuit after bankruptcy]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/coda-hit-by-warn-act-lawsuit-after-bankruptcy/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/coda-hit-by-warn-act-lawsuit-after-bankruptcy/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/coda-hit-by-warn-act-lawsuit-after-bankruptcy/#commentsFiled under: ,

coda automotive store

Following bankruptcy proceedings over at Coda Automotive, we can't say we're surprised by talk of a WARN Act lawsuit. After all, US Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) Act proceedings were taken against Fisker Automotive in April. So we kind of know the drill.

The WARN Act's purpose is to give workers and their families "some transition time to adjust to the prospective loss of employment, to seek and obtain other jobs, and, if necessary, to enter skill training or retraining that will allow these workers to compete successfully in the job market."

In Coda's case, a lawsuit was filed by former employee Tony Bulchack, and alleges that the mass layoffs that took place in December 2012 happened without giving the 125 workers laid off then the required 60-day notices. Discussions of a WARN act lawsuit against Coda has been in the works for a while over at Girard Gibbs law firm as well. Bulchack's complaint is embedded below.

Coda announced two weeks ago that it will no longer sell electric vehicles and will instead restructure as an energy storage business.

Continue reading Coda hit by WARN Act lawsuit after bankruptcy

Coda hit by WARN Act lawsuit after bankruptcy originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 13 May 2013 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codaelectric vehiclewarn actMon, 13 May 2013 14:36:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20567016/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20567016/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/13/coda-hit-by-warn-act-lawsuit-after-bankruptcy/20567016/article-detail.xml 20567016 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/coda-sedan-electric-vehicle-628-river_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/coda-sedan-electric-vehicle-628-river.jpg <![CDATA[Coda officially files for bankruptcy, shifts focus to energy storage]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/coda-bankruptcy-energy-storage/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/coda-bankruptcy-energy-storage/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/coda-bankruptcy-energy-storage/#commentsFiled under: ,

coda electric sedan

Anyone who had Coda Automotive in your office pool for the next electric vehicle maker to declare bankruptcy, go on and collect your winnings. Coda announced today it will restructure as an energy storage business after voluntarily filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of Delaware. The automaker said it expects the sale process to last 45 days.

The writing has been on the wall for a long while now, with store closings and layoffs following low sales of the startup's all-electric Sedan. The official restructuring also makes a sort of sense, since Coda's plan for at least the last 15 months has been to offer an energy storage business called Coda Energy. In today's press release announcing the bankruptcy, Coda says:

Coda Energy's products are based on the same core technology, which includes its proprietary battery management and thermal management systems, found in CODA's vehicles adapted for stationary energy storage applications. The Company designs and builds scalable, custom energy storage solutions optimized for generation, distribution and behind-the-meter applications for commercial, residential and industrial end users. The Company is currently shipping product, and has a robust pipeline of new customers and existing installations in the field.

So, Coda is dead. Long live the Coda?

Continue reading Coda officially files for bankruptcy, shifts focus to energy storage

Coda officially files for bankruptcy, shifts focus to energy storage originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 May 2013 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 coda sedanbankruptcycodacoda automotivecoda bankruptcycoda sedanelectric vehicleenergy storageWed, 01 May 2013 10:16:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20554554/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20554554/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/01/coda-bankruptcy-energy-storage/20554554/article-detail.xml 20554554 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/coda-sedan-electric-sunset_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/coda-sedan-electric-sunset.jpg <![CDATA[Coda's LA store is closed, re-opening "soon" as a Tesla shop]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/02/codas-la-store-is-closed-re-opening-soon-as-a-tesla-shop/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/02/codas-la-store-is-closed-re-opening-soon-as-a-tesla-shop/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/02/codas-la-store-is-closed-re-opening-soon-as-a-tesla-shop/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

coda automotive store
coda automotive storeTroubled EV car maker Coda has closed its Los Angeles showoom. In a twist that you're welcome to read meaning into, the space in the high-traffic Westfield Century City shopping center will re-open "soon" as a showroom for ... Tesla Motors.

According to the business magazine LA Observed, Los Angeles-based Coda closed the store after laying off much of its staff. The company also is facing court battles from investors including former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Limited Brands CEO Les Wexner, who invested more than $200 million into the fledgling company.

Coda announced its four-door, five-passenger sedan, in the end of 2010, and the first vehicles rolled off the production line in March 2012 It features a Coda-designed 33.8-kWh lithium-ion battery system with 40 percent more usable energy that other electric vehicles in its class, and proprietary battery and thermal management systems for enhanced safety and durability. Coda claims a 120-mile range per full charge across all US weather conditions.

Coda's LA store is closed, re-opening "soon" as a Tesla shop originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 02 Mar 2013 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codacoda storeelectric vehicleevphevsedanteslatesla storeSat, 02 Mar 2013 09:05:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20483742/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20483742/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/02/codas-la-store-is-closed-re-opening-soon-as-a-tesla-shop/20483742/article-detail.xml 20483742 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/coda-sedan-electric-vehicle-628-river_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/coda-sedan-electric-vehicle-628-river.jpg <![CDATA[Off radar, Coda now dealing with multiple supplier lawsuits]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/off-radar-coda-now-dealing-with-multiple-supplier-lawsuits/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/off-radar-coda-now-dealing-with-multiple-supplier-lawsuits/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/off-radar-coda-now-dealing-with-multiple-supplier-lawsuits/#commentsFiled under: ,

coda sedan

Another ominous sign for Coda Automotive: multiple lawsuits filed by suppliers who claim they are owed money. This comes after Coda laid of about 50 employees in December and then furloughed a few more in January; news has surfaced of four lawsuits filed since June of last year.

EDAG Group, an engineering firm, filed its lawsuit last June and said Coda owed it $608,770. RLE International, a vehicle and component product development company, filed in late October and claimed Coda owed it $356,500; its affiliate, RTECH, filed suit in December for an unspecified amount stating Coda failed to pay for contract workers. Vehicle testing company FEV filed in December and said Coda owed it $268,200.

Three of the cases have been agreed to be dismissed by the parties who filed them. The RTECH case was dismissed after Coda filed papers stating that the contract in question forced RTECH to resolve the issue through arbitration. Two other cases may have been settled the same way, Giga Om reports, and the FEV case is ongoing.

It's tough to pay debts if you're not selling any cars. Official numbers have not been released, but Coda may have sold fewer than 100 of its all-electric sedans since the car went on sale in March 2012. Since then, there's been a recall and a two-out-of-five star frontal crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Off radar, Coda now dealing with multiple supplier lawsuits originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coda automotivecoda sedanelectric carelectric vehicleevlawsuitslayoffssedanMon, 04 Feb 2013 10:08:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20446894/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20446894/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/04/off-radar-coda-now-dealing-with-multiple-supplier-lawsuits/20446894/article-detail.xml 20446894 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/coda-sedan-road-trip_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/coda-sedan-road-trip.jpg <![CDATA[California Coda dealer drops all-electric Sedan price to $25,000]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/california-coda-dealer-drops-all-electric-sedan-price-to-25-000/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/california-coda-dealer-drops-all-electric-sedan-price-to-25-000/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/california-coda-dealer-drops-all-electric-sedan-price-to-25-000/#commentsFiled under: ,

Coda Sedan

Retail experts have long said that the best time to get discounts is right after Christmas. That's apparently the case for prospective Coda Sedan electric vehicle buyers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Coda Silicon Valley, which is located in Santa Clara, CA, was recently offering the EVs for a low, low price of $24,995, or about a $14,000 haircut off of Coda's MSRP of $38,145, according to Green Car Reports. The offer expired earlier this week.

Still, the promotion hints that dealers may be having a hard time moving models, even in EV-mad regions such as the Bay Area. It's hard to know for sure, since Los Angeles-based Coda has never released sales figures, but we're guessing the layoffs don't inspire buyer confidence. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also didn't help matters last month when it give the Sedan a two-star rating in its frontal-impact crash tests. Neither did Inside Line, which in December critiqued the model for its braking, tire noise and vehicle-control system (check out Autoblog's own first drive review on the car here).

Last year, the US Environmental Protection Agency said the Coda had single-charge range of 88 miles.

California Coda dealer drops all-electric Sedan price to $25,000 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiacodadiscountelectric vehiclesan franciscosilicon valleyFri, 18 Jan 2013 14:35:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20432368/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20432368/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/18/california-coda-dealer-drops-all-electric-sedan-price-to-25-000/20432368/article-detail.xml 20432368 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/coda_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/coda.jpg <![CDATA[More layoffs at Coda Automotive]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/coda-lays-off-more-staff/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/coda-lays-off-more-staff/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/coda-lays-off-more-staff/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Coda Sedan

Details are sparse, but it appears the bad news is continuing at Coda Automotive. The company sent the following statement to AutoblogGreen today:

On Friday, January 4th CODA furloughed a number of employees as the Company takes necessary action to bolster its financing and better position the business going forward. The Company has kept in place a sufficient number of staff to keep the Company operational and remains committed to the continued development and distribution of its products. During this period, CODA will continue to provide service to its dealers and customers. While unfortunate, we are confident this temporary action will allow the Company to strategically direct resources towards critical operations and put the Company on a more sustainable path.

In mid-December, Coda laid off around 15 percent of its workforce, or about 50 people. At the time, Coda said the layoffs were intended to "better position our business going forward" and that "We remain committed to the continued development and distribution of our products." Apparently, and we await more details on today's action, the company did not let enough people go to reach this "better position."

More layoffs at Coda Automotive originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codaelectric vehicleevlayoffssedanFri, 04 Jan 2013 17:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20417491/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20417491/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/04/coda-lays-off-more-staff/20417491/article-detail.xml 20417491 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/coda_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/coda.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Inside Line</i> wishes for more from Coda Sedan in road test]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/inside-line-wishes-for-more-from-coda-sedan-in-road-test/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/inside-line-wishes-for-more-from-coda-sedan-in-road-test/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/06/inside-line-wishes-for-more-from-coda-sedan-in-road-test/#commentsFiled under: ,

Coda Sedan

We gave the Coda Sedan electric vehicle decent enough marks when we took an early prototype for a Quick Spin last year. It looks like the performance-minded folks at Edmunds's Inside Line weren't so charitable, however.

Inside Line found that the EV, which started deliveries in March, beat the competing Nissan Leaf in both 0-to-60 miles per hour acceleration time (9.7 vs. 10.2 seconds) and quarter-mile time (14.6 vs. 17.5 seconds). Not too surprising, since the Coda has more horsepower than the Leaf. It also costs a few thousand more.

That's the good news. The bad news is that Inside Line found the Sedan's tire noise "remarkably loud," discovered the brakes weren't great (and got radically worse with successive stops) and said its vehicle control system, which cuts power and applies the brakes when the car is about to go into a slide, was "crude."

In March, the US Environmental Protection Agency said the Coda Sedan has a single-charge range of 88 miles, about 15 miles more than the Leaf. Los Angeles-based Coda says the EV can get up to 125 miles from a full battery pakc.

Inside Line wishes for more from Coda Sedan in road test originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codaelectric vehicleinside linereviewroad testsedanThu, 06 Dec 2012 11:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20395716/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20395716/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/06/inside-line-wishes-for-more-from-coda-sedan-in-road-test/20395716/article-detail.xml 20395716 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/coda_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/coda.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place's battery-swapping Coda taxis coming to California in 2014]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/02/better-place-battery-swapping-coda-taxis-california-2014/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/02/better-place-battery-swapping-coda-taxis-california-2014/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/02/better-place-battery-swapping-coda-taxis-california-2014/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Better Place

San Francisco will get a treat of a different kind in 2014 when battery-swapping network builder Better Place starts serving a fleet of electric-powered taxis in the Bay Area, Forbes reports.

Using funds from a $3 million grant from the California Energy Commission, Better Place will launch the project with four Coda Sedan EVs that will be customized by FEV to allow their batteries to be switched out in a matter of minutes. Ultimately, Better Place looks to support a fleet of 60 electric taxis between San Francisco and San Jose with six battery-swapping stations along the way.

Better Place, which already serves electric taxi programs in Tokyo and Amsterdam, began its battery swapping systems in Israel and Denmark with Renault EVs. Then, word came out in October that Better Place and Coda were working together on a battery-swappable taxi program for airports, though few details emerged beyond that.

In early October, Better Place replaced founder Shai Agassi with Better Place Australia chief Evan Thornley. While the company has raised about $750 million since its 2007 founding, it has also lost more than $400 million since then.

Better Place's battery-swapping Coda taxis coming to California in 2014 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery swappingbetter placecodaelectric vehicleevsan franciscosan josesedantaxiSun, 02 Dec 2012 09:18:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20391508/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20391508/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/02/better-place-battery-swapping-coda-taxis-california-2014/20391508/article-detail.xml 20391508 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/betterplace-1354260950_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/betterplace-1354260950.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Motor Trend</i> names Coda Sedan a 2013 Car of the Year Contender]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/motor-trend-names-coda-sedan-2013-car-of-the-year-contender/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/motor-trend-names-coda-sedan-2013-car-of-the-year-contender/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/motor-trend-names-coda-sedan-2013-car-of-the-year-contender/#commentsFiled under: ,

Coda Sedan

Well this ought to help things a bit.

The Coda Sedan all-electric vehicle was put on Motor Trend's short list for its 2013 Car of the Year award, marking a much-needed victory for the fledgling Los Angeles-based automaker.

Motor Trend praised the sedan's "subtle but undeniable intelligence" and added that the car "overdelivered in performance." While the publication acknowledged the car's less-than-stunning styling, it reasoned that Coda's decision to put more resources into the battery technology was a good one.

Coda's been trying to spur sales in the US and last month said it'd give a $552 rebate, or about a year's worth of recharges, to new buyers. The company sold its first cars in March.

The Sedan receiving an 88-mile single-charge rating from the EPA, which is about 15 miles more than that of the Nissan Leaf. Coda has said it's looking to broaden its dealer network to about 30 outlets for 2013.

Motor Trend names Coda Sedan a 2013 Car of the Year Contender originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013car of the yearcodaelectric vehiclemotor trendsedanSat, 03 Nov 2012 15:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20369549/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20369549/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/03/motor-trend-names-coda-sedan-2013-car-of-the-year-contender/20369549/article-detail.xml 20369549 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/coda_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/coda.jpg <![CDATA[Coda offers a 'year' of free charging for all-electric Sedan buyers]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/17/coda-offers-a-year-of-free-charging-for-all-electric-sedan-buy/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/17/coda-offers-a-year-of-free-charging-for-all-electric-sedan-buy/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/17/coda-offers-a-year-of-free-charging-for-all-electric-sedan-buy/#commentsFiled under: ,

Coda Sedan

Electric-vehicle maker Coda Automotive is offering buyers a free year (roughly) of recharging, which sounds good no matter how you slice it. Specifically, Coda is giving a $552 rebate for folks who buy Coda Sedans this month.

The Los Angeles-based company came up with $552 as an estimate for how much it costs to recharge the car and then go 10,000 miles. When compared to California high gas prices, drivers can be looking at savings of around $2,000 during that first year, as is explained in Coda's press release below.

Coda, which sold its first cars in March, got a single-charge rating from the EPA of 88 miles (about 15 miles more than the Nissan Leaf). The company has said it's looking to boost both production and sales as it widens its dealer network to about 30 outlets next year.

Continue reading Coda offers a 'year' of free charging for all-electric Sedan buyers

Coda offers a 'year' of free charging for all-electric Sedan buyers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiacodacoda automotiveelectric vehiclefreeincentiveincentivesrebaterechargingWed, 17 Oct 2012 08:07:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20351796/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20351796/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/17/coda-offers-a-year-of-free-charging-for-all-electric-sedan-buy/20351796/article-detail.xml 20351796 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/coda_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/coda.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place, Coda an unexpected partnership for airport taxi battery swaps]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/better-place-coda-partnership-airport-battery-swap/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/better-place-coda-partnership-airport-battery-swap/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/better-place-coda-partnership-airport-battery-swap/#commentsFiled under: , ,

coda electric sedan

Our friend David Herron recently discovered that charging infrastructure supplier Better Place has added another automaker to its international network - Coda - though the company had yet to announce it. Better Place is known for partnering with Renault overseas to expand its network of charging stations and battery swapping locations.

Herron, a former Silicon Valley software engineer with a passion for transportation alternatives and fossil fuel reduction, now writes for online publications including his blog The Long Tail Pipe. He did research on a public filing from California Energy Commission on $20 million grants for clean transportation. The grant project is managed by Better Place and covers taxis serving the San Francisco and San Jose Airports. The goal is to deploy two battery swap stations and six battery-switchable electric taxis there and then collect data on the operations. While reading through the CEC filing, he stumbled across a PDF with more details on three involved parties. Their names:
  • Better Place Mobility Services, Inc.
  • FEV, Inc.
  • Coda of Silicon Valley
FEV Inc. is an automotive engineering company and Better Place is obvious. But what about the third? Did this mean Coda Automotive? While the electric automaker has had a slow start in the market, yes, it is in fact providing these six electric cars. We asked, and John Proctor, director of global communications at Better Place, provided this response to AutoblogGreen:

As you may know, we're developing an electric taxi program in the Bay Area. To fulfill our program commitment to demonstrate switchable-battery taxis, Better Place, CODA and FEV are moving forward with a collaboration to convert six CODA electric cars with fixed batteries into switchable-battery cars. It's another example of our ongoing efforts around the world to develop more makes and models of electric cars with switchable batteries.

For Herron, understanding the relationship between Better Place and Coda didn't make much sense at first - Coda isn't in a good place to make use of the alliance, especially since Coda doesn't distribute electric cars in countries where Better Place has swap stations in place.

There could be a global alliance that makes sense down the road though, Herron wrote. Coda announced a deal in April with Great Wall Motors. China would be a good market for a global electric car distribution system to expand for Better Place and Coda.

Better Place, Coda an unexpected partnership for airport taxi battery swaps originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airportbattery swapbattery switchbetter placecharging stationcoda automotivecoda battery swapcoda better placeelectric vehiclesevtaxiMon, 15 Oct 2012 11:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20349121/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20349121/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/15/better-place-coda-partnership-airport-battery-swap/20349121/article-detail.xml 20349121 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/coda-sedan_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/coda-sedan.jpg <![CDATA[Coda ready to increase production, sales in 2013]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/24/coda-ready-to-increase-production-sales-in-2013/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/24/coda-ready-to-increase-production-sales-in-2013/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/24/coda-ready-to-increase-production-sales-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: ,

coda sedan

Could it be possible that around one in seven of the non-luxury electric vehicles sold in the U.S. will be made by Los Angeles-based startup Coda Automotive?

That's what CEO Phil Murtaugh told Plug In Cars recently, despite the fact that the company has delivered a mere 100 Coda Sedans to the general public.

Murtaugh said he hoped Coda would eventually account for at least 15 percent of non-luxury (read: non-Tesla) electric vehicle sales, adding that about 1,000 more cars have been ordered. He called the period from March, when the Coda Sedan went on sale, through July a "soft launch." Murtaugh recently made similar claims of sales growth in an interview with Bloomberg News, saying that the company planned to broaden its U.S. dealership network to about 30 next year, including locations in Oregon and Florida.

While the Coda Sedan has been rated by the EPA to have a single-charge range of 88 miles - 15 miles more than the Nissan Leaf - it's also about $2,000 more expensive. Coda opened its LA headquarters late last year and is said to have raised more than $300 million in private funding.

Coda ready to increase production, sales in 2013 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codacoda automotivecoda sedanelectric vehiclemarket sharemurtaughphil murtaughplug in carssedanMon, 24 Sep 2012 12:38:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20330124/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20330124/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/24/coda-ready-to-increase-production-sales-in-2013/20330124/article-detail.xml 20330124 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/coda0921_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/coda0921.jpg <![CDATA[Coda will expand dealer network to 30 next year, from Oregon to Florida]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/14/coda-will-expand-dealer-network-to-30-next-year/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/14/coda-will-expand-dealer-network-to-30-next-year/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/14/coda-will-expand-dealer-network-to-30-next-year/#commentsFiled under: ,



Talk about extending your range.

Coda Automotive, which sold its first battery-electric sedan in March, is looking to expand its U.S. dealership network to about 30 next year, Bloomberg News reports, citing an interview with Coda CEO Phil Murtaugh.

The Los Angeles-based company will add dealers in locales ranging from Oregon to Florida next year in a longer-term effort to capture as much as 15 percent of the non-luxury EV market in the U.S.

Coda has delivered about 100 cars since March, though says it has orders for about 1,000 more. The Coda Sedan has been rated by the EPA to have a single-charge range of 88 miles, or about 15 miles more than the Nissan Leaf. The Sedan is priced at $37,250 before the $7,500 federal tax credit many EV buyers in the U.S. can qualify for.

Coda, which opened its L.A. headquarters late last year, has raised $320 million in private funding and said in April that it was moving forward with its efforts to work with China-based Great Wall Motors to build what it says would be the world's least expensive mass-produced EV.

Coda will expand dealer network to 30 next year, from Oregon to Florida originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codacoda salescoda sedandealershipelectric vehicleevfloridamurtaughoregonsedanFri, 14 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20322984/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20322984/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/14/coda-will-expand-dealer-network-to-30-next-year/20322984/article-detail.xml 20322984 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/coda_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/coda.jpg <![CDATA[Coda, NHTSA issue recall for faulty side curtain airbags in 78 Sedans]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/27/coda-nhtsa-recall-faulty-side-curtain-airbags-sedans/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/27/coda-nhtsa-recall-faulty-side-curtain-airbags-sedans/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/27/coda-nhtsa-recall-faulty-side-curtain-airbags-sedans/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Los Angeles-based electric-vehicle maker Coda Automotive is recalling 78 of its Sedan models for what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says may have been improper installation of side-curtain airbags.

NHTSA said that the Sedan's side-curtain airbags may not deploy in an accident as designed and that the automaker will notify owners of the issue. Coda dealers will inspect the airbag installations, NHTSA said. The company confirmed the recall yesterday, adding that there are "no known injuries" stemming from the faulty airbags.

Coda, which opened its headquarters in L.A. in late 2011, sold its first production EVs in March and in April reached an agreement with China-based Great Wall Motors to make a vehicle for Europe, China and North America that should be less expensive than most other production EVs. The Coda Sedan was rated by the Environmental Protection Agency to get 88 miles on a single charge, 14 miles more than the Nissan Leaf.

Continue reading Coda, NHTSA issue recall for faulty side curtain airbags in 78 Sedans

Coda, NHTSA issue recall for faulty side curtain airbags in 78 Sedans originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagcodacoda automotivecoda recallelectric vehiclenational highway trafiic safety administrationnhtsarecallsafetyside curtainMon, 27 Aug 2012 07:49:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20309509/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20309509/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/27/coda-nhtsa-recall-faulty-side-curtain-airbags-sedans/20309509/article-detail.xml 20309509 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/coda0827_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/coda0827.jpg <![CDATA[Coda gets wrapped up in art, turns gas station into grass station [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/coda-gets-wrapped-up-in-art-turns-gas-staion-into-grass-station/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/coda-gets-wrapped-up-in-art-turns-gas-staion-into-grass-station/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/coda-gets-wrapped-up-in-art-turns-gas-staion-into-grass-station/#commentsFiled under: , ,

coda sedan art car

The first LA Mobile Arts Festival is in full swing and it seems the event has motivated Coda Automotive to get in touch with the right side of its brain. Following in the long tradition of artistically-altered automobiles, the California-based company has taken a layer of wraps off of the recently-wrapped Coda iPad Art Car.

Designed by artist Matthew Watkins by "finger-painting" on an iPad, the esthetically-improved all-electric Sedan will be on exhibit at the Santa Monica Art Studios until August 25th. Coincidentally, the airport hanger in which it is displayed is the same one where the Coda was founded and the first prototype built.

Cool, but that's not the only way in which the automaker has been getting its "funky" on recently. It's also undertaken something of an environmental art installation: the transformation of a Culver City, CA gas station into a grass station.

Over the period of several hours, Coda introduced all kinds of items - real grass, animals, people having fun - to a generic Super Petrol store. And, rather than uninstall the pumps, it left them in to allow gas-vehicle drivers the opportunity to think about the experience in a different, greener way. Nice. Subtle.

Scroll below for an excellent video of the installation and let us know what you think about this kind of marketing in the comments.

Continue reading Coda gets wrapped up in art, turns gas station into grass station [w/video]

Coda gets wrapped up in art, turns gas station into grass station [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coda Sedan

At least one person - a New York Times reviewer - has found that the Coda Sedan gets pretty impressive mileage out of a single charge. The tester reported reaching almost 110 miles on a single charge during a test drive.

The Coda was driven on a 79-mile round trip on one day, and had almost 20 percent of its battery power left over, and was driven 103 miles the following day, with "a few miles" worth of battery charge remaining, the Times reported. The Sedan had consistently better range than the Nissan Leaf the reviewer was leasing, though the car lacks amenities such as keyless entry, cruise control and a push-button starter.

The EPA in March estimated the Coda would get 88 miles on a single charge, the longest outside of Tesla Motors and 14 miles more than the Leaf. The Sedan was also given a 73-miles-per-gallon-equivalent rating.

Coda sold its first Sedans in March and opened its Los Angeles headquarters late last year.

Coda approaches 110 miles in Bay Area test drive originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bay areacaliforniacodacoda rangecoda sedanelectric vehiclereviewsingle-charge rangeThu, 05 Jul 2012 17:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20272435/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20272435/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/05/coda-approaches-110-miles-in-bay-area-test-drive/20272435/article-detail.xml 20272435 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/coda0705_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/coda0705.jpg <![CDATA[Whoops: Coda rep unplugs Ford Focus Electric driven by Forbes reporter]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/18/coda-rep-unplugs-ford-focus-electric-driven-forbes-reporter/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/18/coda-rep-unplugs-ford-focus-electric-driven-forbes-reporter/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/18/coda-rep-unplugs-ford-focus-electric-driven-forbes-reporter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ford focus electric plug outlet

And now a tale that could only take place in the 21st Century, complete with electric cars, Tweets and questionable actions.

Forbes staffer Todd Woody recently had a Ford Focus Electric to review and was in Berkeley, CA at a cafe waiting for the car to charge up when his phone buzzed. It was a notification that the charging had been interrupted. When Woody went to investigate, the cord was instead plugged into a Coda Automotive sedan. A Coda that was decked out in manufacturer license plates and very obviously a dealer demo car. Woody Tweeted his displeasure.

Turns out, the car belonged to the store manager for the Coda Silicon Valley dealer, who later emailed Woody to say he had assumed the Focus was finished charging since the light on the charger box itself was not on. The official Coda twitter account Tweeted a sort-of apology, saying "Didn't mean to cause any harm @CODASV must've been in a pinch. #needmorepublicharging."

Now, Woody agrees with the need for more public charging, but he was in a pinch, too, with only 12 miles left in his pack. He writes that there needs to be more than just politeness to stop charging rage from happening more often:

Twice in the past week I've rolled up to parking spots reserved for electric cars in San Rafael in Marin County that were occupied by gas-guzzlers, including a BMW blocking an electric car charger in an otherwise nearly empty parking garage on a Sunday afternoon.

Coda isn't issuing an official statement on the matter, but Larkin Hill, the director of corporate communications for Coda Holdings, sent AutoblogGreen a comment, which you can find below.

Continue reading Whoops: Coda rep unplugs Ford Focus Electric driven by Forbes reporter

Whoops: Coda rep unplugs Ford Focus Electric driven by Forbes reporter originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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coda electric sedan

Well, it can't be a bad thing to be mentioned in the same breath as the Green Bay Packers, though last year would've been better timing.

Electric-vehicle maker Coda Automotive was named in an IBM-led survey as one of 40 so-called "GOOD" companies for its innovations, environmental emphasis and social responsibility.

Coda was recognized among mid-sized (that is, 100 to 1,000 workers) companies as representing a combination of sustainable and creative business practices that further diversity and social good. Other notable companies on the list include Cascade Engineering, Patagonia, Zipcar and, yes, the Green Bay Packers, winners of the 2011 Super Bowl.

Coda, which opened its Los Angeles headquarters late last year, sold its first Coda Sedan EVs in March. The company sells the Sedan with an official 88-mile single-charge range for $39,900. Coda late last month reached a deal with China-based Great Wall Motors to make a vehicle for Europe, China and North America that would undercut most other electric vehicles, pricewise.

Continue reading IBM names Coda a 'GOOD' company

IBM names Coda a 'GOOD' company originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 27 May 2012 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium is taking place in Los Angeles, CA this week and the biggest news items are the details on the new Toyota RAV4 EV and the SAE-approved DC fast charging combo plug. But there is much more here on the show floor, and things got off to a good start during the opening session hosted by EDTA president Brian Wynne.

Wynne claimed EVS26 is the largest EVS ever held in North America. That's not all that surprising, since it's been many years since the last time an EVS was held on this continent (EVS23 in Anaheim in 2007). Since then, EVS has traveled to Norway and China, and moves on to Barcelona, Spain next year and Seoul, Korea after that. As that Wynne made clear, electric vehicles are a global movement. Nissan has sold more than 28,000 Leafs worldwide (including 1,000 in Norway, where EVS24 was held). Other signs Wynne mentioned that EVs are making inroads into the public consciousness are China's ambitious plan to sell five million EVs by 2020, the Ford Focus Electric acting as pace car for NASCAR and BMW's huge fleet of plug-ins at the Olympics in London this summer.

EVS organizers then gave an E-Visionary award to the city of Los Angeles and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (pictured). The mayor said he was glad to receive the award, but quickly added that Angelinos still need to be encouraged to do more. "If we're the car capitol of the United States, we should be the electric vehicle capitol of the United States," he said. To that end, he talked about how BYD and Coda Automotive are located in the city, then announced that Boulder Electric Vehicle will establish a west coast manufacturing facility in a state enterprise zone in the city. From there, the company will be able to make up to 1,000 clean trucks a year, with an eye to exporting vehicles to Asia.

Then there was a wide-ranging panel on the state of the electric vehicle industry called "Electrified Transportation: A Path to Economic Prosperity and Energy Security." This was moderated by Chris Woodyard of USA Today and featured Ted Craver, the chairman, president & CEO of Edison International, Daryl Dulaney, president & CEO of Siemens Industry, Tony Posawatz, the vehicle line director for the Chevrolet Volt, and JB Straubel, the CTO of Tesla Motors. You can listen to or download the whole thing down below.

Continue reading EVS: Why LA is the right place for this year's biggest electric vehicle conference

EVS: Why LA is the right place for this year's biggest electric vehicle conference originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 09 May 2012 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evsevs26jb straubeltony posawatzWed, 09 May 2012 15:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20232763/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20232763/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/09/evs-why-la-is-the-right-place-for-this-years-biggest-electric/20232763/article-detail.xml 20232763 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/la-mayor-antonio-villaraigosa-at-evs26_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/la-mayor-antonio-villaraigosa-at-evs26.jpg -1 2