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Iran Invests Heavily in Natural Gas Cars
Various sanctions have been imposed on Iran, including a European Union oil embargo, and this has prompted Iran to reduce its reliance on foreign oil. One way in which it is doing this is through heavy investment in natural gas-fueled cars. It just so happens that has the worlds second-largest natural gas reserves.
Iran i also one of the largest oil exporters in the world; however, sanctions over its nuclear program have impeded energy-related developments. Irans investment in natural gas cars in the past decade was so significant that the number of dual-fuel cars increased from 1,500 in 2006 to 2.95 million, 7 years later. Thats an incredible jump, and an indicator of how America could make the same switch.
There are benefits to switching to natural gas, such as reduced tailpipe emissions, as well as a lower fuel cost. However, natural gas has to be stored in expensive high-pressure tanks, and natural gas-powered cars cost more than hybrid-electric cars up front. But natural gas-powered cars are less-efficient than gas-burning equivalents, as natural gas has less stored energy. But less energy is still better than no energy, and Iran has built hundreds of CNG stations, as well as supporting a domestic car industry devoted to building viable natural gas vehicles.
However, the U.S. and European sanctions reduced the Iranian governments revenue by 45% over the last nine months due to reduced exports caused by sanctions. Meanwhile, inflation is soaring, going up 25% in the past week alone, leading to street protests and plenty of finger pointing. Not even natural gas vehicles can abide by high prices for basic staples like bread and meat.
Good can come from a bad situation, though. Iran, like Brazil is going to get its cars off oil, as the rest of the world is trying to do, at a very slow pace, with little success.
Iran Invests Heavily in Natural Gas Cars
Iran Claims It Has Made Worlds Most Powerful Natural Gas Car
The Middle Easts largest automaker has unveiled a four-door sedan, claiming its engine is the worlds most powerful run by natural gas. Its a significant development in a country that has converted more than 250,000 cars to run on the stuff.
The company, Iran Khodro, says the turbocharged engine in the Samand Soren ELX produces 150 horsepower, 37 more than the CNG-powered Honda Civic GX and just four short of the gasoline-burning four-cylinder Toyota Camry.
Iran Khodro unveiled the car Saturday in Tehran, and the Tehran Times says it was developed "under the intellectual property of the Islamic Republic of Iran," which explains why there was a picture of the Ayatollah looking over the car.
Company CEO Manouchehr Manteqi says the car meets Euro IV emissions standards and adds, "its nominal power will not decline even at the height of 2,000 meters above sea level." Thats 6,561 feet for the metrically challenged, and its significant because Tehran, like Denver, is located about 5,000 feet above sea level.
Manteqi didnt offer any other details on the car, but the Samand LX uses a 1.7-liter four-cylinder that produces 100 horsepower. It does 0 to 62 mph in 11.9 seconds and tops out at 115 mph.
Iran Khodro is partially owned by the government, and it has a joint venture with Peugeot Renault to build the Logan econobox (sold in Iran as the Tondar 90) and with Peugeot to produce the 206 compact and 405 sedan. Although the global auto industry is slumping, Iran Khodro plans to ramp up production and ease its dependence on foreign suppliers, according to Reuters.
Tehran, a city of 12 million people, has long been plagued by pollution. Thats changed in recent years as the city has adopted natural gas buses, forced taxis to convert to CNG and taken decrepit old cars off the road. More than 250,000 cars have been converted to natural gas since 2004, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Photo: Associated Press
Iran Claims It Has Made World's Most Powerful Natural Gas Car | Autopia | Wired.com
Various sanctions have been imposed on Iran, including a European Union oil embargo, and this has prompted Iran to reduce its reliance on foreign oil. One way in which it is doing this is through heavy investment in natural gas-fueled cars. It just so happens that has the worlds second-largest natural gas reserves.
Iran i also one of the largest oil exporters in the world; however, sanctions over its nuclear program have impeded energy-related developments. Irans investment in natural gas cars in the past decade was so significant that the number of dual-fuel cars increased from 1,500 in 2006 to 2.95 million, 7 years later. Thats an incredible jump, and an indicator of how America could make the same switch.
There are benefits to switching to natural gas, such as reduced tailpipe emissions, as well as a lower fuel cost. However, natural gas has to be stored in expensive high-pressure tanks, and natural gas-powered cars cost more than hybrid-electric cars up front. But natural gas-powered cars are less-efficient than gas-burning equivalents, as natural gas has less stored energy. But less energy is still better than no energy, and Iran has built hundreds of CNG stations, as well as supporting a domestic car industry devoted to building viable natural gas vehicles.
However, the U.S. and European sanctions reduced the Iranian governments revenue by 45% over the last nine months due to reduced exports caused by sanctions. Meanwhile, inflation is soaring, going up 25% in the past week alone, leading to street protests and plenty of finger pointing. Not even natural gas vehicles can abide by high prices for basic staples like bread and meat.
Good can come from a bad situation, though. Iran, like Brazil is going to get its cars off oil, as the rest of the world is trying to do, at a very slow pace, with little success.
Iran Invests Heavily in Natural Gas Cars
Iran Claims It Has Made Worlds Most Powerful Natural Gas Car
The Middle Easts largest automaker has unveiled a four-door sedan, claiming its engine is the worlds most powerful run by natural gas. Its a significant development in a country that has converted more than 250,000 cars to run on the stuff.
The company, Iran Khodro, says the turbocharged engine in the Samand Soren ELX produces 150 horsepower, 37 more than the CNG-powered Honda Civic GX and just four short of the gasoline-burning four-cylinder Toyota Camry.
Iran Khodro unveiled the car Saturday in Tehran, and the Tehran Times says it was developed "under the intellectual property of the Islamic Republic of Iran," which explains why there was a picture of the Ayatollah looking over the car.
Company CEO Manouchehr Manteqi says the car meets Euro IV emissions standards and adds, "its nominal power will not decline even at the height of 2,000 meters above sea level." Thats 6,561 feet for the metrically challenged, and its significant because Tehran, like Denver, is located about 5,000 feet above sea level.
Manteqi didnt offer any other details on the car, but the Samand LX uses a 1.7-liter four-cylinder that produces 100 horsepower. It does 0 to 62 mph in 11.9 seconds and tops out at 115 mph.
Iran Khodro is partially owned by the government, and it has a joint venture with Peugeot Renault to build the Logan econobox (sold in Iran as the Tondar 90) and with Peugeot to produce the 206 compact and 405 sedan. Although the global auto industry is slumping, Iran Khodro plans to ramp up production and ease its dependence on foreign suppliers, according to Reuters.
Tehran, a city of 12 million people, has long been plagued by pollution. Thats changed in recent years as the city has adopted natural gas buses, forced taxis to convert to CNG and taken decrepit old cars off the road. More than 250,000 cars have been converted to natural gas since 2004, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Photo: Associated Press
Iran Claims It Has Made World's Most Powerful Natural Gas Car | Autopia | Wired.com
