Coda to convert Great Wall vehicles into EVs
Coda Holdings, a California-based battery system and electric car startup, says it has signed a letter of intent with Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor Co. to develop electric vehicles from Great Wall's products.
Coda says it will sell those EVs worldwide.
"Our collaboration will enable us to provide our respective customers with a broad selection of high-performing and affordable electric vehicles globally," said Phil Murtaugh, CEO of Coda Holdings, in a statement.
The California-based company's EV propulsion system includes a 36 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack and a 134-horsepower motor. Coda's electric sedan has a range of 193 to 306 kilometers per charge.
With its onboard charger, the EV takes about 6 hours to get a full charge, or 2 hours to charge for an average 40 mile commute, according to Coda.
The company plans to sell 50,000 units by 2015, mostly in the United States. The car's price is expected to start at $44,900 (287,360 yuan) before government incentives.
Great Wall, which is headquartered in Baoding in north China's Hebei province, exports cars, SUVs, and pickups to more than 120 countries worldwide.
The Chinese automaker sold 119,113 vehicles in the first seven months of this year, up 44 percent from a year earlier.
