Richard Klein from Advanced Battery Systems has Batteries available for Sparrow owners at special prices that are too cheap to publish! Contact him by phone or visit online: 1-800-464-4796 / www.ABSbattery.com. Be sure to give Richard your VIN# and the color of your Sparrow.

Understanding Battery technology is crucial in the efficient operation of your Sparrow. Below are tips and 'tricks of the trade' to help you acheive the best performance from your battery packs.

To date, most of Optima's string battery data has been from bench testing. Corbin Motors' Sparrows represent the largest fleet of high speed/high voltage electrical vehicle operation in the world for Optima batteries.

We have learned a great deal about batteries. Here's a general overview.

1. The Zivan battery charger has a finishing charge that lasts one hour.
   
   Rule of Thumb: it is best to run this finishing charge every tenth time. So when you are at the end of your charge cycle and your E-meter reads 2 amps, this is the time to unplug the Sparrow because the pack is full and the finishing charge is kicking in. However, at every 10th charge the finishing charge kicks in. TIP: Reading the E-meter, click here.
   
   
2. If your batteries sit for a long time without use, lead sulfates can build up on the plates of the battery. This is sulfation. This is a natural occurrence during lead acid battery charging and discharging. As the batteries get older sulfation builds and slowly reduces the amount of energy the battery can store. Note: we are working on a Smart Battery Charger that will substantially minimize sulfation buildup; and when it does occur, the charger will work to remove it.
   
   
3. When batteries are in a series some batteries naturally get weaker than others. This seems fine on the surface, however, over time, the weaker batteries have difficulty accepting a charge and the battery charger works harder to give it more electricity thus weakening the weak battery even more. Also, when operating your Sparrow the weak battery in the 156 volt system will work harder to keep up with the other stronger batteries. As the weak battery voltage drops it pulls a great deal more amps causing the battery to get very hot.
   
   WARNING:   In some extreme cases of overextended use, a weak battery can melt or catch fire.

Rule of Thumb: If any battery in the string is 3/10 of a volt less than the others it could use an individual 16-hour 4-amp charge.

A common symptom of weak batteries in a string is when a battery pack that usually gets a 25-mile range suddenly gets a 17-mile range, then an 11-mile range within a few uses.

Some Sparrow owners are experiencing limited range and short battery life. Action items:

1. Contact Mark Phelps at 831-635-1033 ext. 120. Mark can discuss your particular situation and may be able to walk you through a self-help procedure.
2. If your vehicles is close to the Corbin Motors' factory, it can be brought in for pack testing. Weak cells can be swapped to get back in balance.
3. If voltage is not optimum, a special charger can be used to perform a deep discharge and deep charge to remove the sulfate deposits and increase battery capacity.
4. Some Sparrow owners may need to purchase a new battery pack.

Long-term goal:

We are working with the battery companies in developing a Smart Battery Charger that monitors each battery individually and identifies the weak batteries early on so a corrective charge can be administered. For example, a battery that is registering 3/10 volt below the rest of the batteries receives a 16-hour 4-amp charge from the battery charger early on before the battery is "stressed" too much.

The Smart Battery Charger will be available as an upgrade available for purchase by Sparrow owners.

Also, new batteries from Optima will now involve cycling the battery pack 6 to 10 times to match the batteries and get them up to 95% capacity prior to shipping the batteries to Corbin Motors. This will ensure the best balanced battery pack possible.

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