Iran unveils 3rd solar car

Iran has unveiled Iranian Gazelle 2, the country's third solar vehicle completely designed and developed by Iranian scientists and experts.

"The vehicle weighs 150kg, which is 100kg lighter than its predecessor Gazelle 1,” project manager Dr. Karen Abrinia said during the unveiling ceremony held at Tehran University on Sunday.

Iranian Gazelle 1 and Iranian Gazelle 2 were designed and produced in 2004.
Head of Iran's Fuel Management Committee Mohammad Rouyanian, managing director of Iran's Fuel Optimization Organization Abbas Kazemi and Tehran University Chancellor Farhad Rahbar participated at the ceremony.

"The Brushless DC engine used in this car gives it a 97 percent efficiency, which means that the vehicle wastes the minimum amount of energy," Fars News Agency quoted Abrinia as saying.

"Road tests showed that Gazelle 2 can reach the speed of 120km/h, but we believe that it can be increased to 150km/h," he added.

The veteran mechanics expert also said that the solar cells used in the car have 22 percent efficiency enabling Gazelle 2 to travel a distance of 600km at the speed of 80 km/h if the weather is sunny.

Iranian university students also unveiled a solar car earlier this month which they claim can travel at more than 130 kilometers per hour.

Designed and made by the students of the vehicular research department at the University of Qazvin, the car is named 'Havin' meaning 'shining sun'.

Havin is five meters long and two meters wide and is another example of attempts made by Iranian scientists to reduce energy consumption by producing more environment-friendly devices in all sectors.

Iranian Gazelle 2 is due to compete in the 2011 World Solar Challenge competition in Australia this October, according to Rahbar.

The competition challenges over a hundred of the world's best Technical Universities and Colleges to design and build a car capable of crossing Australia on the power of the sun.

The Challenge, which begins on October 16, crosses the center of Australia - stretching 3,000 kilometers from Darwin to Adelaide.

Kreatif: Mobil Tua Ahmadinejad Laku Rp 22 Miliar Untuk Perumahan Orang Miskin

Mobil tua milik Presiden Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad laku US$ 2,5 juta atau setara dengan Rp 22 miliar dalam sebuah lelang. Rencananya, hasil lelang mobil Peugeot seri 504 keluaran tahun 1977 itu akan disumbangkan untuk proyek perumahan.

Identitas pembeli tidak diketahui, hanya saja menurut pengacaranya Mamoud Asari, ia berniat membangun sebuah museum dan memamerkan mobil itu.

Mobil itu merupakan kendaraan yang digunakan Ahmadinejad semasa ia masih menjadi walikota di Teheran. Semenjak terpilih menjadi presiden pada 2005, mobil itu jarang digunakan lagi.

Diperkirakan harga di pasaran lokal, mobil berwarna putih itu hanya Rp 17,1 juta saja.

Ahmadinejad sudah mengumumkan rencana pelelangan mobilnya sejak November tahun lalu. "Untuk membantu perumahan Mehr, sebagai sumbangan," katanya saat itu seperti yang dikutip harian The Telegraph.

Ahmadinejad merupakan presiden yang ingin dicitrakan sebagai teman bagi orang miskin. Usai pemilihan umum dua tahun lalu, ia berjanji akan membangun perumahan, reformasi tenaga kerja dan ekonomi sebagai prioritas setelah harga perumahan melambung pada periode pertamanya.

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Iran to create million jobs to its citizens by mass production of powertrains locally

Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) has taken a step closer to total self-sufficiency in its vehicle production after acquiring the technology to produce its own powertrains. The company has acquired cylinder block and cylinder head machining equipment, which will enable it to produce powertrains for 680,000 vehicles by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21 2010). In the next full year, IKCO aims to supply 800,000 powertrains.

The new equipment will also enable IKCO to diversify its powertrains. According to IKCO's Powertrains deputy CEO, Ali Sheikhzadeh, the carmaker is now in a position to move into supplying diesel engines for passenger cars, which will enter mass production in 2011. He added that the new equipment will 'put an end to Iran's dependency on foreign companies'.

IKCO has a partnership with French company PSA Peugeot Citroën , through which it assembles vehicles under licence. It also based its Saman 'national car' on the Peugeot 405 platform. However, as the threat of further international sanctions against Iran loom, the carmaker is seeking to reduce its dependence on other companies, particularly from overseas, for vital parts and components.

Iran's IKCO Plans for a Low-cost Car

Javad Najmeddin, IKCO CEO in this regard said, "In order to gain more domestic and international market share and meet customers' demands, IKCO is going to design and present eight new products within the next five years.

Najmeddin then pointed out that two of these eight new cars would be designed and manufactured on totally new platforms, one of which would belong to A or B segment and would cost 8000 to 10000 dollars.

"The Design and production of an eight thousand dollar passenger car that meets all modern standards is a difficult and complicated process," IKCO CEO said and added, "when we talk of a low-cost car, we still consider a quality car that observes all required standards."

Paykan was one of IKCO's most popular sedans that was phased out in 2006.