Corbin Sparrow

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Corbin Sparrow
Manufacturer Corbin Motors
Production 1999–2003; 2005-Present;
Class Battery electric microcar
Body style(s) 2-door coupe (Pizza Butt)
1-door (Jelly Bean)
Wheelbase 72 in (1829 mm )
Length 96 in (2438 mm )
Width 48 in (1219 mm)
Height 57 in (1447 mm )
Curb weight 1350 lb (612 kg)
Fuel capacity 6.24 kW·h [1]
Related Commuter Cars Tango
Fuji Cabin
Messerschmitt KR200

The Corbin Sparrow is a single-passenger, three-wheeled, battery electric vehicle designed specifically for commuting and city driving. It was produced by Corbin Motors.

  • The Sparrow is powered by a 20 kW (continuous) 156-volt DC or 3-phase AC electric motor and has a range of 32 to 64 km (20 to 40 miles) and a top speed of 112 km/h (70 mph). Fuel efficiency is approximately 130 W·h/km (4.8 mi/(kW·h 0) which is equivalent to 162 mpg (1.45 l/100 km) using the DOE conversion. [2]

Two models were produced: the original "jelly bean" model and then a hatchback model, which was nicknamed "pizza butt" because it was designed for use by Domino's Pizza. The vehicles are so eye-catching that Hollywood star Mike Myers featured a group of them in the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember.

Contents

[edit] History

In January 1996, Corbin Motors began work on developing an electric vehicle. The Sparrow passed final testing for Department of Transportation certification in April 1999. In September of that year, the Sparrow production line began manufacturing multiple vehicles in Hollister, California.

Fewer than 300 Sparrows were produced. Corbin Motors filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on March 31, 2003, effectively killing the immediate future of the Corbin Sparrow. A bankruptcy court passed the Corbin assets to Ron Huch's company, Phoenix Environmental Motors, which tried to revive the Sparrow. On August 5, 2004, Ohio businessman Dana Myers bought the Sparrow interests from Ron Huch. The new company, Myers Motors, has upgraded the Sparrow, renamed it the MM NmG ("No more Gas"), and started selling it on October 1, 2005, for US$35,000. As of April 2008 the website lists a price of $45,000 without taxes or shipping.

[edit] Electrical system

The Sparrow electrical systems in a Corbin Sparrow VIN28 is composed of three isolated sections. "Defanging" is the process of changing the circuit to disconnect the high voltage from the low voltage [3].

[edit] Line voltage

110 / 220 V AC

[edit] High voltage

156 V DC

[edit] Low voltage

13.5 V DC

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Myers Motors. NmG : Electric Drive System : Batteries. Myers Motors OneCARE SMARTManuals. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
  2. ^ U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (2000-07-12). "Federal Register Vol. 64 No. 113" (PDF). . U.S. GPO Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
  3. ^ Enviromotors Wiki | Sparrow / Defanging
  4. ^ Enviromotors Wiki | Sparrow / OtherCharger
  5. ^ Advanced DC Motors
  6. ^ Enviromotors Wiki | Sparrow / Batteries

[edit] External links

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