Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Corbin Sparrow
The Corbin Sparrow was a single-passenger, three-wheeled electric vehicle designed specifically for commuting and city driving. It was produced by Corbin Motors.
Powered by thirteen 12-volt batteries, the Sparrow had a range of 30 to 60 miles and a top speed of 70 mph.
Shaped and painted like giant jelly beans, the vehicles were so eye-catching that Hollywood star Mike Myers featured a substantial group of them in the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember.
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.
Despite widespread enthusiasm about the Sparrow, the car had major design flaws. The Sparrow was easily able to flip over and would even catch fire on the road if brake lines shorted out against a battery post.
On March 31, 2003, Corbin Motors filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, effectively killing the immediate future of the Corbin Sparrow. However, on August 5, 2004, Corbin was bought by Ohio businessman Dana Myers . The new company, Myers Motors, will restart production and sales.
See also
External links
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