All-Electric Coda Sedan Hitting CA In 2010: $45K

With the classic automakers struggling to make ends meet in America, it's clear that the time has come for a new regime to usher in a new wave of automobiles. With companies such as Tesla and Lightning doing their best to produce affordable, reliable electric cards, neither has actually shown an ability to craft a vehicle that the layperson could afford. Coda Automotive, however, is hoping to add a real option at the lower-end in the electric car space.


Introduced this week, the simply named Coda -- a four door, five passenger sedan with an all-electric drive train -- has been pegged with a 2010 ship date in California. The car was originally designed by one Miles Rubin, and he's remaining an integral part of the launch. Unfortunately, it seems as if the Coda will be restricted for sale in CA for the near term, though if business hits big, we can't imagine the company not expanding its reach.


The electric family car includes enough battery power to travel between 90 and 120 miles on a full charge, and it can regain 40 miles of range with just two hours of charging. It supports energy from any 110 or 220V socket, and a full charge (from 0% to 100%) can be accomplished in as little as six hours. Kevin Czinger, President and CEO, Coda Automotive, had this to say: "The Coda sedan is an all-electric vehicle for everyone. It's a practical revolution for real drivers who need reliable transportation."


The cost of the car is expected to be around $45,000, but the actual cost of ownership will dip much lower after a $7,500 federal credit along with other incentives. Coda Automotive estimates that it will cost less than $3 (on average) to drive 100 miles, whereas a comparable gas-powered sedan would eat up around $17 in fuel costs to drive that same distance. Amenities are everywhere as well, with the factory list of equipment including navigation, Bluetooth, AM/FM/XM radio, USB connectivity and aluminum wheels. The car's even backed by a 3-year, 36,000 mile warranty. So, who's moving to California?