Iran's largest car manufacturer, Iran-Khodro Company (IKCO), announced on Saturday that it plans to mass produce Micro-hybrid Samands in the near future.
"Hybrid development is a part of IKCO's approach towards modern technology to reduce fossil fuel consumption," the company's CEO, Javad Najmeddin, said.
Hybrid car production is a part of IKCO's strategy to confront the rise in energy prices following the implementation of the Subsidy-Cuts Plan in Iran. IKCO has also earlier boosted production of its CNG vehicles in line with the same policy.
Last year, 55 micro-hybrid Samands were produced, all of which passed different types of tests successfully.
"Start-stop system is the main specification of micro-hybrid cars," Najmeddin said, and further mentioned that the battery, ignition system, instrument panel and the main harness are among the other modified parts and components in micro-hybrid cars, adding that these parts will be mounted on XU7 engines and on EF7 engines in later stages.
Najmeddin reiterated that micro-hybrid Samand shuts down at speeds lower than five kilometers per hour automatically. This is the most advantageous for vehicles which spend significant amounts of time waiting at traffic lights or frequently come to a stop in traffic jams. Two sensors, one on the gearbox and the other on the booster, control stop-start process when stopping and stepping on the clutch to restart.
He finally underscored that IKCO has fulfilled all the related programs and activities and the company will mass produce the car in the near future, while producing taxis that enjoy this system would receive the main focus.
