14.03.2009, 02:01
Zitat:Posted on Mar. 13, 2009<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm?aid=1434">http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm?aid=1434</a><!-- m -->
By Andres Cala
Pushing the Gas Pedal: Tehran Makes NGVs Top Priority
Iran is aggressively tackling pollution, costly fuel import dependence and international political pressure by increasing its fleet of natural gas-fueled vehicles (NGVs). In less than two years, the number of cars able to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) has increased more than five-fold, a move that has allowed it to replace about 10% of its aging fuel-guzzling vehicle fleet.
But the government, which owns huge stakes in the country’s auto industry, is not stopping there. It has told manufacturers that at least 40 percent of the vehicles made every year must be NGVs. Service stations with natural gas refueling capability are spreading rapidly and mass transportation is being transformed at a record speed.
Over the next five years, Iran plans to have one-third of its vehicles running on natural gas. If the country achieves that goal, it will have about 3.5 million NGVs, which would make it the world’s leader both in overall numbers and as a percentage of the total fleet. The country hopes that the shift to NGVs will allow it to boost its energy exports.
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