The all-new CODA is a small revolution since it breaks all the mechanical rules we know today. First shock: there is no exhaust pipe! Underneath the vehicle there is a huge lithium battery that has an 8-year warranty and triggers the 134hp for the electric engine, which produces astonishing 300 Nm of torque.
All the torque is only liberated after 25 MPH, otherwise not even the traction control would be able to secure the car. This new battery is a state-of-the-art piece of technology that enables the CODA to ride for 150 miles without needing to be recharged. The battery is also suppose to not loose any power for months, so you can forget about your car in the garage and have it ready to go when you get back. It only takes 6 hours to have the pack totally recharged and the process can be done out of any 220v outlet.
The manufacturer says that the full recharge should only add 3.00 dollars to your electricity bill. You can also charge for 2 hours and arrive safely home, since it would mean an extra 45 miles.
The car handles like a sporty coupe since the weight of the battery makes for a low force, therefore it super stable. So, even though it looks like a French Renault from the early 1990s, it corners like the latest Porsche. Another interesting new rule is how the entire concept of accelerating and braking as we know it is changed, because CODA recharges the battery as soon as your foot stop pressing the gas pedal, giving the feeling that the brakes are being pressed, even if you haven’t touched them. To avoid that, one has to keep softly pressing the gas to find the real neutral point. It requires quite a bit of sensibility to get it right.
The manufacturer argues that they tried to design a vehicle that would be as traditional as possible, coming up with this not very impressive sedan. They did not want “the spaceship feel”. However, the result is quite Spartan considering the price tag of over 30 thousand dollar, even if you get the 7,500 back that California State offers.
Only the absolutely necessary is there, including power windows and mirrors, air conditioning, and that is about it. The Alpine sound and navigation system and the LED headlights are the only really futuristic things. The seats are very comfortable and ergonomically superb, but the armrests are badly positioned. And the cargo space is limited.
Nonetheless, this is a big step in constructing a way out of the petrol dependence with a viable and cleaver system that has close to zero maintenance costs and a 100% green engine.
