Coda Automotive Unveils All-Electric Saloon (automobile)
2009-06-08 - Coda Automotive recently announced that it will be introducing a full performance all-electric saloon to the mainstream California (USA) market in 2010. Launched in June 2009, the Santa Monica-based company is a manufacturer and distributor of all-electric, highway capable vehicles. Scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2010 in California, the four-door, five-passenger, fully-equipped mid-size Coda saloon is powered by a 333-Volts lithium-ion battery with a range of up to almost 200 kilometres depending on individual driving habits. The onboard charger plugs into any 110 Volts or 220 Volts standard outlet and completes a full charge in less than six hours at a 220 Volts service. Charging the battery for a 65 kilometres commute can be completed in two hours.
Coda's internal team, along with specialised US and European engineering partners, oversee the manufacturing process to ensure that Coda vehicles are built to Western safety specifications and market expectations. This includes vehicle body design, safety engineering, the design and engineering of the battery pack, battery management system and power electronics, and additional engineering to integrate an electric vehicle drivetrain (comprised primarily of Tier 1 US-based supplier components) into the chassis. The Coda saloon is engineered to be compliant to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard and based on existing crash test results the company expects a four or five-Star New Car Assessment Programme crash rating.
Featuring a fraction of the moving parts of a gas-powered vehicle, the electric saloon is less susceptible to wear-and-tear and never requires an oil change. The company estimates that it will cost less than three dollars, on average, to drive 160 kilometres. A comparable gas-powered saloon that gets 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres costs about 17 dollars for the same range.
Factory-standard equipment includes a telematics package, navigation with turn-by-turn directions, a screen that monitors driving efficiency, and roadside assistance with an emergency button. Safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes with electronic stability control and advanced airbags with an occupant detection system. Coda Automotive employs a direct distribution model, and will sell the vehicle only in the state of California initially.
Additionally, the company, which has an existing long-term sourcing contract with Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock (Lishen) for lithium-ion batteries used in the Coda, announced the establishment of a global joint venture with Lishen to design, manufacture and sell transportation and utility power storage battery systems. Lishen is one of the world's largest manufacturers of lithium-ion cells and a key supplier to Apple, Motorola, Samsung and Vodafone, among others. The joint venture's manufacturing facility is located within Lishen's existing manufacturing complex in Tianjin (China), thus accelerating the company's ability to commercialise the battery system and bring an all-electric car to the mass market. Plans have been made to establish capacity in the US in partnership with a US battery company.
The new automotive company's focus will be on branding, designing and manufacturing fully safety compliant, all-electric cars capable of mainstream performance and highway use. Coda Automotive employs a creative, open and flexible variable cost/low capital expenditure business model. The company has a core team of engineers who work with a network of top-tier partners that provide engineering services and components. The company controls brand, design and IP while teaming with established large-scale manufacturers and assemblers to avoid the most capital intensive aspect of the car business. Coda's manufacturing partner is Hafei, an established state-owned Chinese manufacturer of automobiles and airplanes.
Author(s): Bettina Merkelbach
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