Here comes the Coda electric car
 

Hello -

Just started to notice web ads for the Coda :

Affordable Electric Cars, All-Electric Vehicles (EV) | CODA Automotive
http://www.treehugger.com/coda-autom...r-photo-01.jpg
Here's a video says that it's about $30K after incentives :

THE WSJ?s JOE WHITE TAKES A SPIN IN THE ALL-ELECTRIC CODA AND PROVIDES THOUGHTS ON AUTO INDUSTRY INNOVATION CODA Clearing the Air

CarloSW2

So, what is the range they are claiming? It costs a lot more than the Leaf, and it seats 4 vs 5, and it's made in China. I'm thinking they are not going to compete well against the Leaf...

It has a much larger pack than the leaf though. 24kWh vs 33.8 for the coda. That is an attractive feature, although the car itself is very blah IMO.

Right, I forgot that -- the aero is pretty blah, too.

It's the most "car" looking electric I have seen, which I think is a real plus. Every time I talk to people about my electric car, they tell me they see them all the time, and start to describe a Smart car they have seen. They find it hard to believe that the Smart is not an electric; so my question is always the same "Why do you think it's electric, because it's small and stupid looking??"

Hopefully the Coda is a shameless copy of a Cobalt or something, because I doubt Pep Boys will have ball joints in stock otherwise. Also, imagine trying to import a windshield from China if yours gets broken.

They should drop that Chinese powertrain into a proven platform like a Yaris or maybe a Versa with some aero tweaks. ;)

vpoppv, you're right. People ask me all the time whether "hybrid" means I have to plug it in. Sometimes I don't feel like explaining how it allows engine downsizing and easier EOC.

Daox -

I think that's the goal. One way or another, they will find out if there is a "blah electric car" market. If nothing else, one of us could go to town on it with aero-mods, ;) .

Hmmmmm, I wonder if it has a bellypan?

CarloSW2

Yep, seen them too. On the Honda-Tech forums of all places!

That is a big pack yielding not-so-big range.

Neil -

Yeah, it looks like the "mule" is a standard issue car (already being produced under name "X" in China?!?!?). Probably the trade-off for a "normal stuff" car.

CarloSW2