500 electric buses co-produced by MAPNA Group will join Tehran’s public transportation fleet according to a newly-signed contract.
In a ceremony on July 12, 2023, a deal was signed for the delivery of 500 electric buses between MAPNA Electric & Control Engineering & Manufacturing Company (MECO), Oghab Afshan Industrial and Manufacturing Company, Parsan Electric Bus Production Company, and Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, in the presence of the firms’ CEOs.
Parsan Electric Bus Production Company is a joint venture of MAPNA Group and Oghab Afshan Industrial and Manufacturing Company, established to design, manufacture, and sell eco-friendly electric commercial vehicles. The company started operating in 2020.
The company has delivered prototype units of the bus dubbed “Zima” to the municipalities of Mashhad and Tehran.
Zima has obtained the required standards to join the country’s public transportation system. it is a fully domestic product that has been made using modern engineering tools and based on international design principles. The body design was done by Oghab Afshan Industrial and Manufacturing Company while the electric propulsion was developed by MAPNA Group.
The monocoque design of the body and chassis structure distinguishes Zima electric bus from typical models. The low-deck bus has no steps and is built on a product lifecycle management platform (PLM), which allows several firms to work simultaneously on all technical processes, including detailed and master design, engineering, manufacturing, and project management.
Zima is a smart vehicle with data center connectivity, energy recovery, quick charging, and a cutting-edge display system. The vehicle’s cooling system was created with Iran’s climate in mind.
The bus can travel 250 kilometers without an HVAC system, and 200 kilometers while using the HVAC.
Zima electric buses will be offered in several packages, each with a different battery capacity to fit the needs of each route. The bus is equipped with a high-speed pantograph charging system and can be charged by AC plugs. The vehicle’s batteries can be fully charged in only 25 minutes with MAPNA’s 600-kilowatt pantograph.
Over 60% of the Zima electric bus is designed and manufactured domestically. MAPNA intends to achieve 100% indigenization by investing in parallel battery and engine development projects.