THE SPARROW STORY
The Sparrow's Enerdel Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
The modern Sparrow prototype carried an Enerdel lithium-ion pack using manganese cobalt chemistry, rated at 20 kilowatt-hours at 144 volts. The team described the pack cases as automotive validated and made in the United States, with a total pack weight of 377 pounds.
From the Sparrow archive. Product plans, events and availability described here belong to the original historical period.
Chemistry and provenance
Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide cells, often shortened to NMC, are widely used in electric vehicles because they balance energy density, power delivery and durability. Automotive validation refers to the testing regime cells and cases undergo for crash, vibration, thermal and abuse resistance before being used in road vehicles.
The team pointed out that the same energy storage system powered the Lightning LS-218 electric superbike, developed by Lightning Motors, which held land speed records and road racing championships. Corbin worked with Lightning during the Sparrow's development, and the Sparrow's battery management app came from that partnership.
Where the pack sits and why
The pack is mounted low and between the two front wheels, keeping its mass inside the triangle formed by the three wheels. A low, centered mass lowers the center of gravity and the roll center, which the team credited for the Sparrow's stable ride and handling. It also supports the low nose profile, since the tallest component sits below the hood line. The photograph on this page shows the pack being installed into the freshly painted chassis, with the wiring harness already in place.