The domestic engineering and energy giant, MAPNA Group, unveiled its first solar-powered electric vehicle charging station in Fardis County, Alborz Province, on Sunday, fulfilling its promise to promote green means of transportation.
The station has been developed by the group’s Electric and Control Engineering and Manufacturing Company (MECO), IRNA reported.
The solar-powered station has a capacity of about 4 kilowatt hour and is connected to an EV charger with a 3.7-kWh discharge capability.
For the first time in Iran, the station can assist in achieving V2G and V2H technologies, meaning that it can either store the extra electricity, or feed it into the household or national grid.
The terms V2G and V2H stand for “vehicle to grid” and “vehicle to home” respectively.
These technologies enable energy to be pushed back to the power grid from the battery of an electric car.
Drivers, for example, can utilize solar energy to charge their automobiles while at work, then return home at the end of the day and feed the excess power back into their household grid.
Adel Dameshqi, an official with MECO, said the station is designed and developed by eight local professionals with an outlay of 2 billion rials ($8,000).
With the rise in demand for electric vehicles, the need for a reliable charging infrastructure increases to accommodate the rapid public adoption of this means of transportation, he added.
In recent years, MAPNA has prioritized the development of EV infrastructure following a government policy to shift from fossil fuels to green energies, and in line with the global trend toward curbing air pollution.
The company is working on establishing EV charging stations in all Iranian provinces, as a vital infrastructure for promoting zero emission vehicles.
According to MAPNA CEO Abbas Aliabadi, Mashhad is the second city to house an electric charging station following the pioneering launch in Tehran.
Iran’s first EV charging station was set up at Tehran’s Milad Tower in May 2019 by MAPNA.
Built over 700 square meters, the station includes a 43-kilovolt alternating current charger, plus a fast charger working under the CHAdeMO Protocol, a trade name of a quick charging method for electric vehicles, which suits Japanese and South Korean EV brands such as Kia, Nissan and Mitsubishi.
The station also includes a 4.7-kV slow charger and a 5.5-kV charger that can be used by electric motorcycles.
Aliabadi noted that the technology of producing electric vehicles is being taught in world universities for over 30 years now. He expressed his company's readiness to collaborate with car manufacturers and Tehran Taxi Organization to upgrade the country’s transport system with the help of EV technology.
“It is high time we invest in EVs," he declared, urging local carmakers to pay more attention to EVs.
Adding that the group has already started working on EV technology, Aliabadi said, “MAPNA has been working to bridge the technological gap, especially concerning the capacity of car batteries. Fortunately, noticeable progress has been made, but still more investment should be made in producing batteries.”
E-Buses
MAPNA also unveiled its first locally-produced electric bus in the shrine city of Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, in June.
The company produced a prototype, which will ultimately join Tehran’s urban fleet, for a test run on Sunday.
Dubbed “Shetab”, the e-bus is designed and manufactured by Parsan Electric Bus Production Company, a joint venture between MAPNA and Oghab Afshan Industrial and Manufacturing Company.
According to Parsan Electric Bus Production Company, over 60% of the vehicle are designed and manufactured domestically.
MAPNA intends to achieve 100% indigenization by investing in parallel battery and engine development projects.
These electric buses will be offered in several forms, each with a different battery capacity to meet the demands of different routes.
The engineering group’s Electric and Control Engineering and Manufacturing Company set up a joint venture with Bam Khodro, a subsidiary of Kerman Motor Company, for the design and production of A- and B-class EVs in late May.
Reports say that in the first phase, the deal calls for the production of public electric vehicles.
The bus cabins, trimmings and mechanical parts will be made by Bam Khodro.
The associated firms will shortly release a prototype with a 15-kWh battery that will enable the bus to travel 100 kilometers at an average speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
The vehicles are equipped with automated EV controller software that allows drivers to open doors and control passenger fare payment and reservation.
Negotiations With IKCO
Last summer, EV production ambitions pushed MAPNA to join the major automaker, Iran Khodro Company (IKCO).
After successfully testing 20 EV prototypes in June 2020, MAPNA joined hands with IKCO to mass produce electric vehicles for the first time.
According to Aliabadi, MAPNA hopes to boost Iran’s auto supply chain. “The simultaneous development of software and hardware is the basis of developing electric vehicles. The local production of all parts is high on MAPNA’s agenda. Although the work is still in the preliminary stage, we have made headways.”
Aliabadi underlined the necessity of making serious efforts for manufacturing electric vehicles in Iran and emphasized that even if domestic automakers show reluctance, MAPNA will continue to tread the path it has embarked on.
