Comments on: 1st Coda EV Has EV-Leading 88-Mile Range, EPA Says

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:34:00 +0000

I’m adjusting the sentence to be more specific, adding: “…for such a car and such a price (the 2-seat Tesla Roadster offers 244 miles per charge, but costs over $100,000… and is a 2-seater).”

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:34:00 +0000

adding: “…for such a car and such a price (the 2-seat Tesla Roadster offers 244 miles per charge, but costs over $100,000… and is a 2-seater).” to the article.

no word on when the SIM-LEI might come to U.S., right?

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:54:00 +0000

Patience Grasshopper.

Ingenuity lowers costs….

By: Joe M. Wesson

Joe M. Wesson — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:38:00 +0000

shoulda, coulda, woulda; it never goes as planned.
“costs the same” is the problem.
we can’t save the environment if nobody will buy the blasted things because the out of pocket expense is too high.
much as you’d like to rationalize it, sticker shock will kill the electric car.

By: juxta

juxta — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:40:00 +0000

I don’t think the cost can be justified just yet for hybrids and electrics but they’re still coming down in price. Most people pay the premium partly for the wow factor or to help the environment. Then again, anyone spending $30k-$50k on a brand new car shouldn’t be worried at all about gas prices.

By: Ross

Ross — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:04:00 +0000

Only a parent could love that ugly duckling but the more electric cars the better.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Calculate in operation cost.

A $32,500 Leaf using $0.08/kWh electricity costs the same to own and operate as a $20,000 30MPG gasmobile using $4/gallon gas over a ten year period.

Gas is probably going to go up faster than the rate of inflation. Electricity prices should rise slowly, if not fall a bit….

By: Joe M. Wesson

Joe M. Wesson — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:45:00 +0000

“price is right” my eye.
making a car the same OLD way and throwing electric drive at it is NOT acceptable with a price tag over $20,000.
get off your soap box and stop trying to convince us otherwise.
unreal!!!

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:27:00 +0000

Coda
88 miles w/31kW battery = 2.8 miles/kW

Nissan Leaf
73 miles w/24kW battery = 3.0 miles/kW

Mitsubishi-i
62 miles w/16kW battery = 3.9 miles/kW

Tesla Roadster (small two seater)
244 mile w/53kW battery = 4.6 miles/kW

SIM-LEI (4 seater – not in production)
186 miles w/24.9kW battery = 7.5 miles/kW

The Sim-Lei is very aerodynamic. A coefficient of drag of 0.19.

By: Smith1

Smith1 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:51:00 +0000

The article mented Tesla. The roadster gets about 250 miles per charge. The Coda at 88 miles – is far from the best available.

By: JP White

JP White — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:42:00 +0000

20% more range is significant for the current crop of early EV’s, given they all have small ranges. It does this by sporting a 29% bigger battery, so something got lost in translation between these two vehicles, probably the extra battery weight limits gains.

No mention of fast charge capability. I agree its good to see another option available.