Corbin Sparrow I Electric Car Driver's Battery Guide

Introduction:

This information is specific to the Corbin Motors Sparrow I Electric Car. The data is subjective. It is based on estimates of battery pack lifetime and driving characteristics collected from thousands of postings in the Sparrow EV Group at Yahoo.

Beware:
  • This is Draft 1 !!!
  • The chart is CONSERVATIVE.
  • The chart is based on observations and experiences, not "science."
  • The chart may change!

How to use the chart:

  1. Left axis is Amp reading from E-meter while driving
  2. Top axis is percent of charge left in the battery (not yet used)
  3. For a given Percent of Capacity Remaining, note the corresponding recommended maximum for Amp draw.

    Legend:
       Normal Pack Lifetime (more than 3,000 miles)
       Reduced Pack Lifetime (between 1,000 and 3,000 miles)
       Short Pack Lifetime (under 1,000 miles)

    Percent of Capacity Remaining
    100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 00
  20                      
  40                      
  60                      
A 80                      
M 100                      
P 120                      
S 140                      
  160                      
  180                      
  200                      
  220                      
  Over                      

I own a Sparrow, and I have driven it thousands of miles. I have also had the battery pack replaced, and I believe there is a correspondence between the lifetime of the pack and the current draws while driving at different levels of charge. My personal experience has been that drawing large currents at LOW states of charge appears to damage the batteries and reduce range. I have no proof that this is true, but there appear to be enough examples in the group postings to suggest the theory.

Disclaimer: It's just a personal web page! I do not work for Corbin Motors or Optima. Apply the information contained in this chart at your own risk! PLEASE get second opinions before taking any action based on the contents of this chart.

If you have data to incorporate in to the chart, or need clarification on anything presented here, or feel that anything is incorrect, please mail me: davidbuATwww.los-gatos.ca.us (use @ instead of AT, of course...).

Note: "Estimate" is typically another word for "Guess" ;-)

Thank You.

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