Electric car announcements seem to be coming in from all sorts of directions these days. The latest news in the EV world is the unveiling of a new all-electric mainstream sedan by Coda Automotive, a U.S. company formed by Miles Rubin known for the distribution of low-speed, electric fleet vehicles under the Miles Electric Vehicles brand. Though it may appears at first some to be some kind of Ford mishmash, the Coda EV is in fact based on the Chinese Hafei Saibao sedan. The all-electric sedan is initially scheduled to go on sale in California in the fall of 2010 with prices set at $45,000 or around mid-$30,000s after a $7,500 Federal tax credit and additional state incentives.
That's about $15k less than Tesla's estimated price for the larger, faster, better looking and let's not forget, U.S. built, Model S sedan (see pictures and details here).
"The Coda sedan is an all-electric vehicle for everyone," said Kevin Czinger, President and CEO, Coda Automotive. "It's a practical revolution for real drivers who need reliable transportation."
Measuring in at 175-inches or 4,445mm in length, 69-inches or 1,752mm in width and 57.6-inches or 1,463mm in height, the Coda EV is about the same size as the U.S. market Ford Focus Sedan. The California-based importer claims that the EV sedan has been "engineered to be FMVSS complaint", and based on existing crash test results, the company expects a four or five-Star NCAP crash rating.
The Coda EV is equipped with an electric motor that develops an output of 100kW which is the equivalent of 134 horsepower and 300Nm or 221-lbs/ft of torque. The motor is powered by a set of Lithium-ion batteries that are built by China's Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd. The EV can accelerate from zero to 60mph (96km/h) in less than 11 seconds while its top speed is electronically limited to 80mph or 130km/h.
According to Coda, the EV sedan has a real-world range of 90 to 120 miles (145-193km) depending on individual driving habits. The car comes with an onboard charger that can be plugged into any 110 or 220V standard outlet and completes a full charge in less than six hours at a 220V service. Coda said that charging the battery for a 40-mile commute can be completed in two hours. The company estimates that it will cost drivers less than $3 on average, to drive the car for 100 miles.
When it goes on sale in California next year, the Coda EV Sedan will come equipped with several standard features including a telematics package, navigation with turn-by-turn directions, a "green screen" that monitors driving efficiency, roadside assistance with an emergency button, a Bluetooth system with an embedded microphone, Sirius radio, iPod dock, MP3/USB connectivity and alloy wheels.
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