Nat G delivers GM pickups with DuraDrive DI bi-fuel system to Texas fleets

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Converted natural gas 2015 Chevy Silverado for Pioneer Energy Services. (Photo: Business Wire)

Nat G CNG Solutions has delivered the first natural gas half-ton pickup trucks with General Motors’ 5.3 liter direct injection engine, the company reports. The 2015 model vehicles were purchased by local Houston company NewTex Plumbing and San Antonio-based Pioneer Energy Services.

GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado trucks for each fleet were upgraded to run on either natural gas or gasoline using the new DuraDrive DI natural gas system, supplied by Utah-based AGA Systems.

During EPA testing the DuraDrive DI set a record for efficiency on an eight-cylinder natural gas truck, achieving 23 miles per gallon highway, according to the company. The half-ton CNG upgrade from Nat G comes standard with a 24 gasoline gallon equivalent natural gas cylinder giving the vehicle a combined natural gas and gasoline range of more than 1,000 highway-miles.

“It’s just a no-brainer, the savings are incredible. We’re based out of the Woodlands but serve the entire Houston area – from Kingwood to Sugar Land,” says Bill Collora, CEO of NewTex Plumbing. “Before, our average gas bill was $8,000 per week; now it’s down to about $5,000 per week.”

Nat G CNG Solutions has pre-orders for more than 50 units of the DuraDrive DI, which will be delivered to customers in Texas and Louisiana before the end of the year.

“Customers have been looking forward to getting a high-quality natural gas option for the new direct injection engines from General Motors,” says Bob Lukefahr, co-CEO of Nat G. “The system performs flawlessly, has great power and offers tremendous efficiency.”

In addition to the 5.3 liter engine, AGA Systems has also started shipping the DuraDrive DI for GM’s 6.2 liter direct injection engines, which are used in the Chevy Suburban, the GMC Yukon XL and several larger pickup trucks.

Nat G is offering an underbody cylinder system for the full line of GM full-sized SUVs to allow customers to upgrade their SUVs without losing cargo space., the company says.