AEP Ohio First Fleet Customer to Receive CODA Electric Vehicle

AEP Ohio is the first fleet customer worldwide to receive the newest electric vehicle — the 2012 CODA — an all-electric vehicle manufactured by CODA Automotive, the all-electric car company based in Los Angeles.

Electric Fleet Vehicles
5PM News on WBNS-TV10 | Columbus, OH | 5-17-12

AEP adding a Coda to its fleet of electric vehicles
Columbus Dispatch | Columbus, OH | 5-18-12

AEP incorporates CODA EV into its smart grid initiative
Fierce Smart GRID | Columbus, OH | 5-17-12

AEP Ohio fleet gets new electric vehicles
Electric Light & Power | Columbus, OH | 5-17-12

WBNS-TV: Electric Fleet Vehicles

AEP adding a Coda to its fleet of electric vehicles

Columbus Dispatch | Columbus, OH | 5-18-12
By Dan Gearino

The electric-car company that recently withdrew a proposal to build a factory in central Ohio is announcing that American Electric Power is the first company in the world to buy one of the cars for its corporate fleet.

Coda Automotive’s debut sedan will be part of an AEP fleet that now includes 18 plug-in vehicles, the Columbus-based utility said yesterday.

AEP is using the all-electric vehicle to help understand how the use of such vehicles will affect the electricity system, said Karen Sloneker of AEP Ohio.

“This is an evolving technology that we would like to get some early experience with so we can more-effectively plan for the future,” she said.

AEP is adding one of the Coda vehicles to the fleet that has vehicles from several manufacturers. The decision to buy the vehicle was not directly related to Coda’s plan to locate in Ohio, although AEP might have been more familiar with Coda because of it, Sloneker said.

In March, Coda said it had withdrawn an application for a federal loan that would help build a battery plant in Columbus. The U.S. Department of Energy had been reviewing the proposal since the summer of 2010.

Central Ohio companies, including AEP, were part of the region’s attempt to attract the company.

Coda, based in Los Angeles, began selling its vehicle in California this year, following several delays. The battery and several major components are made in China. As production ramped up, Coda had hoped to have a battery plant in the United States.

“We’re thrilled to call AEP Ohio our first fleet customer and are excited to bring more Codas to fleets nationwide,” Bill Beasley, Coda’s vice president of sales, said in a statement.

Click here to view the story at dispatch.com

AEP incorporates CODA EV into its smart grid initiative

Fierce Smart GRID | Columbus, OH | 5-17-12

AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power, is the first fleet worldwide to receive the new all-electric vehicle (EV) from CODA Automotive.

AEP has incorporated various smart grid devices, products and technologies, including EVs, to its gridSMART initiative to test their impact on the utility grid.

“We are specifically interested in the potential impact electric vehicles may have to the local distribution system and how advanced technology, customer programs and rates may help mitigate those impacts,” said Karen Sloneker, Project Director, AEP Ohio gridSMART Demonstration Project. “Incorporating the CODA to our existing fleet of electric vehicles allows us to do this on an even broader scale.”

Click here to view the story on fiercesmartgrid.com

AEP Ohio fleet gets new electric vehicles

Electric Light & Power | Columbus, OH | 5-17-12

AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power, is the first fleet customer worldwide to receive new electric vehicles — the 2012 CODA — an all-electric vehicle manufactured by CODA Automotive, an all-electric car company based in Los Angeles.

Resulting from a partnership between AEP Ohio and CODA Automotive, AEP Ohio received a demonstration CODA in 2011 and tested its performance, suitability and technology for several months.

AEP and AEP Ohio are taking a holistic approach to the development of a smart distribution grid with the company’s gridSMART initiative, which is designed to provide customers greater energy control and improve electric distribution service and performance. AEP Ohio has incorporated various smart grid devices, products and technologies, including electric vehicles, to the project to test their impact on the utility grid.

The new 2012 CODA is the first all-electric four-door, five-passenger compact sedan with full-rear seating and trunk space that provides a range of up to 125 miles.

The CODA is currently available to consumers throughout California, with distribution in markets throughout the U.S. planned for the future.

Plug-in electric-vehicle technology promises benefits of fuel efficiency and economy, environmental responsibility and increased energy security. AEP Ohio has integrated 11 electric cars to its automotive fleet for this project, including the Chevy Volt, Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid and all-electric CODA, as well as four public electric-vehicle charging stations at the Walmart Supercenter/Sam’s Club at 3900 Morse Road and Easton Town Center in Columbus.

Click here to view the story on elp.com