Gizmo vs Sparrow

A COMPARISON OF THE GIZMO AND THE SPARROW

Both the Sparrow and the Gizmo are 1-person, 3-wheel electric vehicles, built by small American companies struggling with a new technology. Both vehicles tested have low VINs (meaning that they still have bugs). Other than that, the 2 vehicles differ considerably. In this table I attempt to compare them. In a way, the comparison is unfair, because the Gizmo is a NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle), while the Sparrow is a commuting vehicle.

Of course, these are only my opinions.

Pictures

Sparrow and Gizmo, side-by-side

User entering the gizmo

Controls and devices

General comparison

* terrible
** bad
*** OK
**** good
***** excellent Gizmo
(Nevco) Sparrow
(jellybean VIN28)
(Corbin Motors) Notes

Passenger space * ** Sparrow has a bit more elbow room.
Gizmo has more foot room.
Head-room is similar

Innovative ***** *** The Sparrow is innovative in that it's a 1-person electric vehicle.
The Gizmo goes much further, by reinventing the user interface.

Storage space * * Both can only hold a few grocery bags.

Comfort * * Sparrow's suspension leaves a lot to be desired, but the Gizmo's is just awful. On the other side, the Sparrow's seat is worse.

Speed, pick-up * **** The Gizmo is a NEV, so its speed is limited.
The Gizmo has mediocre acceleration, while the Sparrow has a nice pick-up.

Quietness * ** The Sparrow's belt is audible, and may squeak.
Gizmo's chain is quite noisy. This particular Gizmo's suspension squawks loudly

Ease of use * **** The Sparrow is only slightly different from a standard automatic car. The Gizmo is radically different from standard models; even after you're used to it, you still risk confusing the brake and the throttle, which are operated similarly by the same hand!

Looks * **** I think the Gizmo is fugly!
Sparrow may look funny, but it's cute.

Construction ** ** Both suffer from poor design, but Gizmo is really richedy. For both, each vehicle built is different. But Nevco is going slow and learning as they go, and keeping a record for each vehicle's particular details.

Instrumentation *** *** The Sparrow's E-meter's many functions are useful, though may be confusing.
The Gizmo's Battery meter is very simple, though only partially useful.

Entry ease ** ** The Sparrow is tight to get into, and you have to move the steering wheel.
The Gizmo is far easier to get in (the front opens up). But the procedure is complex.

Controls * *** The Sparrow's reverse switch is confusing, takes some getting used to, and could be dangerous, as its action is identical to the windshield wiper switch, next to it.
EVERY control in the Gizmo is confusing...and even dangerous. It's hard to start on a hill, as your right hand controls both the brake and the throttle, and you can't go quickly from squeezing to squeezing the other. To turn on-off the blinkers, your left hand must let go of the steering handle.

Back-up visibility **** ** Sparrow has no rear window, giving you a feeling that you're backing-up blindly. In reality, as the rear is tapered, that is not really an issue.

Range ** * Both have about the same range, but the Gizmo does it with fewer batteries.

Cost *** * Sparrow is 12 to 16 K$.
Gizmo is 6 to 8 K$.

Ease of use * **** The Sparrow is only slightly different from a standard automatic car (albeit a British one). The Gizmo is radically different from standard cars; even after you're used to it, you still risk confusing the brake and the throttle, which are operated similarly by the same hand.

Ease of training * **** It takes 2 minutes to learn to use a Sparrow.
It takes 1/2 hour to get used to the Gizmo's peculiarities.

Body ** ** Both are lightly built. Sparrow is fiberglass, which doesn't inspire confidence (though it DOES protect you). Gizmo has a visible metal roll bar. Gizmo looks and feels more flimsy. Both suffer from alignment problems.

Windows * ** Sparrow's rear window is flimsy plastic; windshield's curvature makes the windshield wiper ineffective; side windows don't fit well; opening/closing windows dims lights and may shut down radio.
Gizmo has flimsy vinyl windows with zippers and velcro straps.

Technical comparison.

Gizmo
(Nevco) Sparrow
(jellybean VIN28)
(Corbin Motors) Notes

Batteries 4 Trojan, 48 V 13 Optima, 156 V

Charger Zivan NG1 Zivan NG3

Controller Curtis DCP Sparrow may also use Curtis, Kilovac

Drive Chain Belt Sparrow's belt is prone to snapping, and may squeal. Gizmo's chain is quite loud.

Motor Advanced DC

Steering Directly, through bars on either side of driver Steering wheel, rack and pinion Gizmo's steering response is more positive, and it's more direct.

Battery instrumentation Offset analog voltmeter marked with color bands E-meter (Voltage, Current, Ah or KWh, % remaining)

Brakes. - Hydraulic, disk brake, operated by squeezing a lever on the right steering bar (looks like a bicycle brake handle).
- Emergency brake, operated by squeezing a lever on the left steering bar (looks like a bicycle brake handle). It doesn't spring back.
- Parking brake, operated by rotating a lever on your left 90 degrees. - Standard, pedal-operated, hydraulic, disk brake
- Standard, lever operated parking/emergency brake In the Gizmo, because the brake and and the throttle are both operated by squeezing the right hand, it's hard to quickly switch from one to the other, and novices may be prone to errors. (Then again, the side-by-side pedals in standard cars may be just as problematic.)

Throttle On the right steering bar, trigger style, operated, with right-index-finger. A safety mechanism locks the throttle if the right palm is not gripping the steering bar. Standard pedal. See note above.

Direction Mechanical switch, operated by rotating a lever on your right 90 degrees. Electrically controlled (contactors), operated with a rotary switch in the dashboard. Neither control is intuitive. The Sparrow's is easily confused with the windshield wiper switch (dangerous!). The Gizmo's requires you to reach with the left hand over to the right side, because your right hand is busy squeezing the brake handle.

Side windows Vinyl flaps, with zippers and velcro straps. Glass, electrically operated.

Horn Operated by pressing a button on the top of the left steering bar. Standard, in center of steering wheel. I hit the horn by mistake all the time in the Gizmo.

Sound system Radio/ CD player Radio/ CD player Sparrow's radio reception is bad.

Seat belt Standard, from behind the left shoulder. Standard, from behind the right shoulder.

Seat / steering adjustment None Fixed seat. Steering wheel is adjustable.

Door Front and top lifts up, you back-up into seat, sit down, lower the top/front over you, lift your feet from the road, place them in the nose, and a flap closes the hole through with your legs used to go. Right side, standard door Gizmo's approach is its best feature. You can park facing the curb with absolutely no space on either side, and walk straight onto the curb. It's very easy to get in and out, though it takes getting used to the steps involved.
Sparrow's approach allows you to parallel park, and your door opens onto the curb.

Range ~30 miles ~30 miles Some Sparrows achieve a range as high as 55 miles

Top speed 40 mph 80 mph Most Sparrows are limited to lower speeds

Cost 6 to 8 K$. 12 to 16 K$.

Quantity built tens ~350 The Sparrow is, in practice, no longer produced.

Conclusion:

This is not a fair comparison: the two vehicles have different markets.

The Gizmo may be cheesy, but I find that acceptable given that it's an NEV and it cost 1/2 as much as the Sparrow.

The Gizmo's approach to the user interface is unique, but not well thought out, and could even be dangerous.

The Gizmo will appeal to the person who wants something very unique, while the Sparrow if for people who don't want to relearn how to drive.

The Gizmo may be appropriate for the typical NEV market, but I don't think that much of that market wants to relearn how to drive, or be seen is something with such ... shall we say... particular looks.

Davide

* terrible bad * OK ** good *** excellent	Gizmo (Nevco)	Sparrow (jellybean VIN28) (Corbin Motors)	Notes
Passenger space	*	**	Sparrow has a bit more elbow room. Gizmo has more foot room. Head-room is similar
Innovative	*****	***	The Sparrow is innovative in that it's a 1-person electric vehicle. The Gizmo goes much further, by reinventing the user interface.
Storage space	*	*	Both can only hold a few grocery bags.
Comfort	*	*	Sparrow's suspension leaves a lot to be desired, but the Gizmo's is just awful. On the other side, the Sparrow's seat is worse.
Speed, pick-up	*	****	The Gizmo is a NEV, so its speed is limited. The Gizmo has mediocre acceleration, while the Sparrow has a nice pick-up.
Quietness	*	**	The Sparrow's belt is audible, and may squeak. Gizmo's chain is quite noisy. This particular Gizmo's suspension squawks loudly
Ease of use	*	****	The Sparrow is only slightly different from a standard automatic car. The Gizmo is radically different from standard models; even after you're used to it, you still risk confusing the brake and the throttle, which are operated similarly by the same hand!
Looks	*	****	I think the Gizmo is fugly! Sparrow may look funny, but it's cute.
Construction	**	**	Both suffer from poor design, but Gizmo is really richedy. For both, each vehicle built is different. But Nevco is going slow and learning as they go, and keeping a record for each vehicle's particular details.
Instrumentation	***	***	The Sparrow's E-meter's many functions are useful, though may be confusing. The Gizmo's Battery meter is very simple, though only partially useful.
Entry ease	**	**	The Sparrow is tight to get into, and you have to move the steering wheel. The Gizmo is far easier to get in (the front opens up). But the procedure is complex.
Controls	*	***	The Sparrow's reverse switch is confusing, takes some getting used to, and could be dangerous, as its action is identical to the windshield wiper switch, next to it. EVERY control in the Gizmo is confusing...and even dangerous. It's hard to start on a hill, as your right hand controls both the brake and the throttle, and you can't go quickly from squeezing to squeezing the other. To turn on-off the blinkers, your left hand must let go of the steering handle.
Back-up visibility	****	**	Sparrow has no rear window, giving you a feeling that you're backing-up blindly. In reality, as the rear is tapered, that is not really an issue.
Range	**	*	Both have about the same range, but the Gizmo does it with fewer batteries.
Cost	***	*	Sparrow is 12 to 16 K$. Gizmo is 6 to 8 K$.
Ease of use	*	****	The Sparrow is only slightly different from a standard automatic car (albeit a British one). The Gizmo is radically different from standard cars; even after you're used to it, you still risk confusing the brake and the throttle, which are operated similarly by the same hand.
Ease of training	*	****	It takes 2 minutes to learn to use a Sparrow. It takes 1/2 hour to get used to the Gizmo's peculiarities.
Body	**	**	Both are lightly built. Sparrow is fiberglass, which doesn't inspire confidence (though it DOES protect you). Gizmo has a visible metal roll bar. Gizmo looks and feels more flimsy. Both suffer from alignment problems.
Windows	*	**	Sparrow's rear window is flimsy plastic; windshield's curvature makes the windshield wiper ineffective; side windows don't fit well; opening/closing windows dims lights and may shut down radio. Gizmo has flimsy vinyl windows with zippers and velcro straps.