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Where will your dealerships be?

Innovation is central to our entire business model and that includes sales and service.  We're working to transform the traditional car sales and service model to be truly customer centric with an ecologically friendly retail footprint.   To do this, we plan to have two flagship CODA retail and education centers in California: in Santa Monica and San Francisco.  These locations will be places where people can go to learn about EV technology and infrastructure as well as test drive a CODA.  They will not be your typical dealership with salesmen trying to "sell" you.  Rather, they will be a place to learn and discover if the CODA electric car is right for you.  CODA will have similar "satellite" locations where you can go to test drive a CODA if you cannot get to one of the flagship locations.

Who is Lio Energy Systems? 

Lio Energy Systems, a joint venture between CODA and Lishen Power Battery, was formed in 2007. Leveraging Lishen's microelectronics lithium-ion cell design and manufacturing capabilities, and CODA's automotive-grade battery engineering proficiency, the partnership has created a safe, durable and affordable battery system built for automotive and utility applications. The company's one-million square foot facility in Tianjin has the capacity to produce more than 20,000 battery packs per year. CODA is in final discussions with several states to replicate this facility in the U.S., a move which could create more than 1,000 skilled manufacturing jobs.

What is the range and how long does it take to recharge?

The average range of the car is 90-120 miles* on a single charge, sufficient to satisfy 94% of daily driving routines.  The battery system will take 6 hours for a complete charge from a 220V outlet. Charging for a 40-mile commute can take as little as 2 hours. The CODA is also being engineered to take advantage of fast charging stations, which will be publically available down the road. Fast charging stations reduce charging times from hours to minutes.

Can I be put on a waiting list and are you taking deposits?

A priority waiting list became available on our website in June 2009. Pre-sales will begin in late Summer 2010. We will notify members of our priority list first when our online pre-sales program launches.

Why are the prices of electric cars so high?

It is expensive to bring any new technology to market. While our battery price per kilowatt hour is significantly lower than the competition's, industry-wide the cost will only drop as demand and battery production scales up.

What type of batteries will it have, and are they warranted?

The CODA is powered by a 333V Lithium-Ion (Iron Phosphate) battery with 134hp. The batteries will be warranted for eight years/100,000 miles.

How safe is the CODA?

The CODA will fully conform to meet or exceed all U.S. NHTSA standards.  We are engineering for a five-star NCAP rating. The CODA is equipped with both active and passive safety systems, including six airbags, an occupant detection system, Anti-lock Brakes, Electronic Stability Control and an emergency call center that will be notified if you've been in a crash, and notify emergency response services.

When and where can I test drive one?

The car will be available for test rides at events in select markets beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009. We will be kicking off a "Ride and Drive" tour in the Fall 2010 in California. Be sure to join our mailing list to find out dates and locations of future test drive events. Also, follow us on Twitter @CODAautomotive for the latest news and event information.

Don't charging stations need to be built before people will adopt EVs?

No. While charging stations will make it more convenient for people to charge on the go, this infrastructure does not need to be built out before people can buy and use electric cars. People with garages or another place to plug in can simply charge at home overnight like you would charge your cell phone. CODA will be using the Sears/Kenmore electrician network to audit your home and ensure that you have the appropriate 220V charging infrastructure in your garage before your CODA is delivered. If you live an apartment and don't have access to a charging station close to home or work, you might not be an immediate candidate for an electric car.

What purchasing incentives are there for buying a CODA?

CODA owners are eligible to receive a $7,500 Federal tax credit, and other state and local incentives may apply.

When will the CODA be available for purchase?

Pre-sales willbegin via our website in late Summer 2010. We anticipate the first models being delivered in the California market in late 2010. Join our priority waiting list to be one of the first to reserve a CODA sedan.

Where can you charge it and how much does it cost to charge?

The CODA can be recharged at any standard outlet, but we recommend charging from a 220V outlet for the quickest home charging.  Based on the average nighttime cost of electricity in the U.S., the cost to fully charge at night is under $3 (~$0.07/kWh).

Won't the grid crash if millions of plug-ins charge at once?

This is unlikely considering that most people will be charging at night when the grid is being utilized the least. However, there is some concern that large clusters of electric vehicles in certain areas could overtax local grids if those vehicles were all plugged in at the same time during peak energy usage times of the day. Utilities throughout California are actively working to find solutions to ensure the grid will not be overtaxed if this situation arose as electric vehicles become more prevalent in the next few years.

Who is Lishen and why did you choose them as a JV partner?

Lishen is China's leading producer of rechargeable lithium-ion cells and currently supplies cells to Motorola, Samsung, Apple and many other electronics manufacturers. Working with Lishen as our joint venture partner will allow us to address the issue of long-term battery supply. The JV will also enable us to rapidly industrialize CODA's battery system for commercial volume production and to scale the business.

Does it have a regenerative braking system?

Yes. The CODA utilizes a regenerative braking system to recoup energy. Instead of wasting kinetic energy every time you brake, the system feeds that energy back into the battery, thus storing it for future use.

Where is the CODA sedan manufactured?

The CODA sedan is a global car, in every sense of the word. 30-40% of the vehicles' components are manufactured by tier-one American suppliers including UQM Technologies (motor), Delphi (DC to DC converter), BorgWarner (transaxle), Nexteer Automotive and more. Building our own manufacturing facility from the ground-up would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take years, so we leased an existing manufacturing facility in where we are able to oversee quality control and safety. Following the process in China, we ship a rolling chassis to the U.S. where we install key electric power-train components such as the battery system into the chassis and complete vehicle assembly. This allows us to directly control installation of the vehicles' most critical components.

What are the core features of the car?

The CODA is an all electric, zero emissions, four-door car that seats 4 passengers. It will achieve up to 80 mph with an average range of 100 miles per charge and comes fully equipped for comfort, convenience and safety. Factory-standard equipment includes navigation with turn-by-turn directions, GreenScreen^TM that monitors driving efficiency, roadside assistance with an emergency button, a Bluetooth® system with an embedded microphone, satellite-ready AM/FM/XM radio, MP3/USB connectivity, iPod dock, security system, aluminum wheels, and power windows, doors and mirrors. Safety equipment includes Anti-lock Brakes with Electronic Stability Control and advanced airbags with an occupant detection system. The vehicle is backed by a three-year/36,000 mile warranty and the battery is guaranteed for eight-years/100,000 miles.

What is the price of the CODA?

The CODA will be comparably priced with other mid-size sedans in its class. And unlike some other electric cars we won't name names – the CODA battery IS included! Official pricing announcements will be made in early 2010. When you sign up as a CODA insider, you will be the first to know pricing when it's announced.