Iran Press/Iran news: Vahid Isfahanian, a professor at the University of Tehran's Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the project manager, highlighted the benefits of electric buses.
He stated that electric buses operate at low speeds for most of their routes and have moderate acceleration. They also spend a significant amount of time idling and stopping at the start and end of routes, which provides an excellent opportunity for battery recharging.
Efficient Charging and Technical Advantages
Isfahanian explained that these buses can easily incorporate overnight charging infrastructure, allowing for efficient battery charging.
Additionally, the bus design offers ample space for integrating electrical components, making it technically, economically, and environmentally advantageous to prioritize this technology in the transportation sector.
A Decade of Research and Development
The university-affiliated company, Mana Innovative Energy Management, in collaboration with the University of Tehran's Research Institute of Vehicle, Fuel, and Environment, completed its first research prototype of a hybrid electric bus in 2010.
The bus was unveiled at the Science and Practice Exhibition that year in the presence of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Localized Production and Future Prospects
Isfahanian added that unlike traditional buses, where the majority of costs are associated with the bus structure and body, more than 60% of the costs for an electric bus are tied to the powertrain. As a result, if electric powertrain systems are developed domestically, the production of fully electric city buses with a high percentage of local components becomes achievable, given the existing bus body manufacturing companies.
Strategic Collaboration and Technological Advancements
Since the beginning of 2020, the development of fully electric city buses has been a joint effort between Mana, the University of Tehran, and Shahid Shahmoradi Industries (Zarrin Khodro Isfahan), with support from the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology.
Zarrin Khodro, known for its technical capabilities and experience in producing military vehicles and city buses, has implemented the powertrain designed by Mana in its low-entry bus model.
Successful Localization and Testing
Isfahanian noted that more than 70% of the electric powertrain components in this project have been localized, including the traction motors, auxiliary power inverters, electric power distribution systems, battery management systems (BMS), battery cooling systems, and protective systems.
These components have been domestically produced and tested, with the research and engineering prototypes of the electric city bus undergoing extensive testing to demonstrate the success of this knowledge-based product.
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