A hybrid electric-fuel cell vehicle made at Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology was unveiled this week at the university's Faculty of Computer and Electronic Engineering.
The project was carried out in collaboration with the Science and Technology Department of the Presidential Office, which partly funded the project by 800 million rials ($23,000 at market exchange rate).
The vehicle, designed and manufactured in three years, runs on a battery that can be charged either by combusting hydrogen and oxygen or electrically. It is currently undergoing trials before it can be commercialized, Mehr News Agency reported.
"Over the past years, the university has put a lot of effort into conducting practical research projects," Ali Khaki Sedigh, chancellor of the university, said at the ceremony.
"The university has carried out several notable projects in the realm of automotive technologies and has set up an office at Iran Khodro Company, the country's leading car manufacturing firm," he said.
Sedigh added that over the past year, the university has launched a plan that selects outstanding research projects conducted by students, including automotive projects.
The university assists them in taking these efforts to the next level.
"This hybrid vehicle was one such project and it is unique in that it causes zero environmental harm," he said.
The technology can help reduce air pollution as it does not emit any toxic gases. With the help of the university, Tehran's taxis can be fitted with the same technology in coming years.
This is good news to the taxi community, as Tehran Municipality has been looking at ways to improve the air quality of their vehicles.
Funding Auto Electrics
Ali Vahdat, the head of Electronic Industries Research and Development Fund, affiliated to the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade, announced that the fund is ready to support electronic projects proposed by the auto sector.
Vahdat made the remark in a meeting with the CEO of SAPCO, the exclusive supplier of automotive parts to IKCO.
"Electronics is the mother of several hi-tech industries, which is why the fund has been supporting it as far as possible, he said.
Given the fact that most high-ranking Iranian officials have been stressing the development of knowledge-based economy and Resistance Economy, supporting electronic industries is a must as it comprises an important part of the country's knowledge-based industries.
Resistance Economy is a set of guidelines put forth by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to reduce reliance on oil-based revenues and boost domestic manufacturing.
According to the official, the fund has by far helped the development of 1,000 projects in the realm of electronic industries, 800 of which have been successfully completed.
However, only 50 out of 1,000 projects funded by the fund pertained to vehicle electronics.
Noting the importance of the auto industry for Iran's economy, he said it is necessary to provide more incentives in this area, including providing the projects with low-interest loans and issuing warranties for products developed.
According to Vahdat, if low-interest loans are provided to actual industries and their activities are monitored regularly, chances of bad debts will decline significantly.
Statistics indicate that the electronic industry's share in the national production cycle will be worth 210 trillion rials ($600 million) next year.
Given the acceptable quality of most automotive electronic devices produced inside Iran, they must establish connections with international partners. This will not be entirely dependent upon local carmakers and the fund will lend as much support it can for this matter.
