Iranian Company Designs Key Parts of Electric Bus

“The electric bus operates at a low speed for most of its cycle, has moderate acceleration, high idle time, and also stops a considerable time at the beginning and end of the line, which is a good time to charge the batteries,” said Vahid Esfahanian, a professor of the faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Tehran and the organizer of this project.

“In this type of buses, it is easy to create a charging infrastructure at the depot at night, which is the right time to charge the batteries. Also, the bus has a suitable space for placing electrical parts and equipment; therefore, the existence of technical, economic and environmental advantages prioritizes the use of this technology in the transportation industry,” he added.

Esfahanian said that the first research prototype of an electric hybrid research was unveiled 14 years ago, noting, “The driving forces designed and manufactured by our company are implemented on the LowEntry bus of Zarin Khodro Industries and can be produced and supplied in different forms of night charging, combined charging or in the form of booster and plug-in.”

Earlier in July, A technologist at a knowledge-based company in Iran had also told ANA that he and his teammates had designed electric bus body structures and platforms, adding that the company has now the capability of manufacturing buses, vans, etc.

“This company operates in the field of design and construction of commercial vehicle platforms of vehicles such as buses, minibuses and vans. Platform design includes body structure, skeleton structure, chassis prototype design and bus engine and gearbox chassis assembly,” said Saeed Shirazi, a technologist working for the knowledge-based company.

“We designed and produced the first electric bus in cooperation with MAPNA Group, which has been approved by the Iran National Standards Organization (INSO),” he said.

Referring to the differences in the production of electric products of this company with other companies, he said, “Other companies imported electric cars from China or other countries, but our company did not. We comply with the 85 vehicle standards. We design our own body structures.”

“The first company that designed the body structure and platform of the electric bus in Iran was this knowledge-based company. This structure was unveiled for the first time in Mashhad. The prototype of the electric bus had three doors and the second model had two doors, and its dimensions have also been reduced,” he said, adding, “This knowledge-based company has begun producing 10 electric buses and it is decided to begin its mass production.”

“Batteries for electric buses is a serious challenge because … and of course it is being locally produced by some companies now,” Shirazi said.

“The operational test of the electric bus batteries must be positive, and of course we acquired good results in the country. It is also important to mention that foreign-made batteries were used in the first device we made,” he further said.

“These batteries are rechargeable and have a lifespan of three years,” said the Iranian technologists.

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