Another electric car maker aims for California market

Add Coda Automotive to the list of companies that want to sell electric cars in California.

The Santa Monica-based company said today that it plans to begin selling a mid-size, all-electric sedan called — what else? — the Coda in California by the fall of 2010.

 Built in China by state-owned automaker Hafei, the car will sell for $45,000 and have a range of 90-100 miles on a single charge.

The list price is cheaper than the $57,400 Model S sedan that Tesla Motors Inc. is developing, although the Model S is designed to travel up to 160 miles per charge (higher-priced versions will have greater range) and is slated to be built in California. (Tesla has already delivered about 500 of its $109,000 Roadster sports cars.)

Buyers of both the Coda and the Model S would be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Coda Chief Executive Kevin Czinger said he hoped his car’s lower price would help put an electric vehicle within reach of more buyers.