Photo by David Herron
Coda's electric car is so normal looking (see First impressions of the Coda electric sedan) that the components under the hood are sort of remniscient of a gas engine compartment, until you realize there's no engine. Then you notice the "DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE" warning (333 volts to be exact) on this big black box. This under-the-hood compartment is definitely not an engine compartment. What will we call this compartment when it no longer contains an engine?
The car body is originally a gas car made in China, modified to Codas specifications. Many of the components are standard ones from various parts makers like Delphi Automotive. The controller is from UQM, a company with a long long history of very interesting electric vehicle design. The battery management system is from EnergyCS, another company with a long electric vehicle design history.
The battery pack is their design and produced in a joint venture with a Chinese battery manufacturer. The pack uses the lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry (LiFePO4) that's known to be relatively safe, environmentally benign and relatively easy to recycle. It is made of 728 battery cells, measuring a total of 333 volts, and 33 kilowatt-hours of capacity. The cells are prismatic shape which can be a challenge to keep cool during use, however the air conditioning unit is also used to cool the battery pack. The pack design has a tunnel down the middle specifically for cooling. The battery pack has an 8 year 100,000 mile warranty (coincidentally Toyota's RAV4-EV also had a 100,000 mile battery warranty) and their tests show the pack has 80% capacity after 1700 charge cycles, and 60% capacity after 2500 charge cycles. If used daily 2000 charge cycles is over 5 years of use (2000/356=5.6 years). The range is quoted to be from 90 miles (333 watt-hours/mile, in the US06 test cycle) to 120 miles (250 watt-hours/mile, in the LA04 test cycle).
Vehicle range: 90-120 miles (US 06 & UDDS)
Top Speed: 80 mph (Electronically Limited)
Acceleration: 0-60 mph - under 11 seconds
Charge Time: 6 hours from 220V (30AMP)
Occupancy: 4 passengers
Vehicle Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Battery Warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles
Motor Power: 100 kW/134 hp
Motor Torque: 300 Nm/221 lb-ft
Transmission: Single Speed Gear Reduction
Drive Ratio: 6.54:1
Suspension: Four-wheel independent with front and rear MacPherson strut
Steering: Rack-and-pinion with electric power steering
Air Conditioning: 2.0 kW cabin cooling
DC:DC Converter 2.2 kW @13 V output
Charger: 6.6 kW / 220VAC Input or 1.3 kW / 110 VAC Input (back-up charging)
Brakes: Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control
Air Bags: Intelligent 6 air bag system (two advanced frontal, two seat-mounted side, and 2 side curtain airbags), Occupant Detection System
Seat Belts: 3 point
Safety Compliance: All applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
Crash Safety: Anticipated 5-Star NCAP (New Car Assessment Program)
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