Iranian Automaker Pushes Duel-Fuel Cars (AP)

From Yahoo! News: Science News:

AP - Fuel rationing has forced Iran's largest car maker to scale down the manufacture of gasoline powered engines and increase production of dual-fuel cars that can also run on natural gas, the company's manager said Tuesday. In an attempt to reduce Iran's multibillion dollar gasoline import bill, the government suddenly imposed fuel rationing last month, sparking riots and outcry among consumers used to subsidies. Iran Khodro, one of the largest car manufacturers in the Middle East, opened its doors to international media on Tuesday to show off its industrial achievements and its ability to produce the dual-fuel cars, which can consume both gasoline and compressed natural gas. Iran's state-owned car makers had anticipated fuel rationing and begun to adapt their production, said Manouchehr Manteghi, to company's manager. "Of 2,200 cars we produce every day, 1,300 are dual-fuel cars," Manteghi told reporters. "In less than a month, it will reach 1,500 cars." Iran is one of the world's biggest oil producers, but lacks enough refineries and must import more than 50 percent of the gasoline its people use.

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