Iranian Students Design Plug-In EV In 14 Months
If you’re looking for alternative fuel vehicles, the Middle East is likely the last place you’ll look. The place is just about swimming in crude oil. But a team of Iranian students and graduates have designed the plug-in EV you see here, called “Qasedak-e Nasir” or Dandelion of Nasir.
While it is hardly a game changer, this quirky little EV could mean big things for a country where there are about 15 people per 1 car.
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The Dandelion was initially brewed up as part of a competition for students from the Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology, but worked so well they decided to pursue it as a business project. While Iran has plenty of oil and natural gas (indeed, a quarter-million vehicles run on CNG in Iran), cars have remained largely out of reach for a majority of the population.
The Nasir could correct this, even though it has a fairly humble top speed of 50 mph and a range of just 50 kilometers (about 31 miles). It also helps that the car weighs about 1,500 pounds. This would be a great car for city use though, especially in the crowded capital of Tehran. It fits two people and has enough trunk room for groceries, and it actually isn’t all that bad looking…I think I’d rather drive this than a Prius.
Source: Ecofriend
Hi Christopher,
Iran (Persia) was once the center of the world! The people I met while there seven years back were perfectly nice to an American (me).
There are many good engineers who are very capable. They suffer from lack of exposure to the industry of the world due to travel difficulties but certainly have the capability. Also there are many Iranian’s scattered around the world who routinely return home for visits.
I see nothing surprising in this car at all - just what they are capable of. They had to do more work I suppose as parts most of the world might consider ‘off the shelf’ items they probably don’t have access to.
Hats off to the kids!