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2001 Corbin Sparrow

Inventor/designer Mike Corbin is a long time veteran of electric vehicle development. In 1974, at the Bonneville salt flats he set the land speed record for an electric powered vehicle on a custom built motorcycle at a round trip average of 165.367 mph with a top speed of 171.102 mph, a speed record that stands unbroken to this day. Since that time he has wanted to develop an energy efficient vehicle that could change the face of transportation as we know it. Enter the Sparrow.

The Sparrow Personal Transit Module (P.T.M.) is a new kind of 3-wheel vehicle. This single passenger car is an electric vehicle that can be driven with a motorcycle license. The light weight monocoque chassis is constructed of high-tech composites for strength and passenger safety, and the low center of gravity makes the Sparrow very stable. With a range of 30 to 60 miles, the Sparrow can fill the bill for almost 87% of commuters in the US and do so very efficiently. The motorcycle designation is less expensive to insure and allows Sparrow drivers to use the carpool lane, thus avoiding the gridlock of rush hour traffic. The Sparrow features all of the amenities of a standard automobile except that it's not hauling an extra three or four unused passenger seats along for the ride.

As Corbin has been a long-time supplier of aftermarket seats, the interior is well-crafted. Because of its 8 foot length and 4 foot width it requires only a small parking space, a big advantage in urban conditions.

Manufacturer: Corbin-Pacific Inc., Hollister, California , U. S. A.

Model: Sparrow 2000

Motor: Brush DC Body: Fiberglass
Years Built: since 2000 No. Cylinders: N/A Chassis: Steel Subframes
No. Produced: Displacement: N/A Suspension Front: Coil
No. Surviving: Horsepower: 13 kw Suspension Rear: Coil
Length: 8' Gearbox: Automatic Steering: Rack & Pinion
Width: 4' Starter: None Brakes: Hydraulic
Weight: 612 kg Electrics: 220 or 110 v 3 Wheels: 155R13
Interior: Single Seat Ignition: N/A Top Speed: 70 mph

© 2002