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| Electric car remains tucked away in substation By Greg Thomas [ greg@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 2:13 PM PDT Inside the San Mateo County Sheriff’s substation in Moss Beach, partially concealed behind a five-foot cubicle wall, a small, electronic, three-wheeling, single-seat passenger vehicle awaits a reason to roam. The Sparrow, battery-powered brainchild of California’s own successful motorcycle accessories engineer Mike Corbin, is one of only 185 produced. Model number 101 was donated, in its original form, to the substation about a dozen years ago. At the time, officials thought it would be auctioned off, according to Property Officer Le Roy Derheim. A substation reserves officer “thought it would be a cute idea,” Derheim said, to turn the vehicle over to Public Relations for a revamping. The turquoise-colored Sparrow was transformed into a police car, painted the traditional Sheriff’s Office pattern, complete with lights and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s emblem on the door. Despite all that, it’s never been employed for police uses. “It’s mainly been used for car shows, alternative energy seminars, parades, school functions and other events,” Derheim said. “It’s an attention-getter.” Sparrows were originally designed as one-passenger commuter vehicles — Personal Transit Modules, with zero emission — and came in a variety of off-beat colors and polka dot patterns. They are, however, freeway legal and can drive in carpool lanes. Derheim said that the times he’s taken the plastic pod out on the road he’s gotten it up to almost 70 miles per hour. But with a reported limit of about 50 miles, the Sparrow isn’t the most practical substitute for today’s gasoline-powered vehicles, though Derheim said it’s great for around-town use. “You have to recharge the batteries for about 12 hours after each use (in a regular 110-volt outlet), so it’s pretty impractical for any police use,” Derheim said. “But they’ve come out with new batteries, which should extend the range to about 150 miles.” Sparrows were discontinued by Corbin Motors in 2003 when the company filed for bankruptcy. But with today’s emphasis on green living, the Sparrow won’t soon be forgotten. According to the Corbin Web page, “many of the original Sparrows are still on the road and have a very loyal group of owners and enthusiasts. Development of the Sparrow concept continues to this day through various companies and individuals whose efforts are true to the belief that the Sparrow can change the world.” |