2015 Sees Wider Offering of CNG In GM HD Pickups
Bi-fuel Silverado/Sierra 2500/3500 trucks and dedicated CNG passenger vans can trim ownership costs quickly
Chevrolet and GMC will offer new bi-fuel versions of the 6.0L V-8 found in 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty trucks and all-new dedicated compressed natural gas versions of the 2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size passenger vans next year.
GM announced the new vehicles at the Green Fleet Conference & Expo, which focuses on clean technologies and alternative-fuel vehicles for fleet operations.
“With these new vehicles, General Motors offers the most comprehensive lineup of manufacturer-engineered, validated and warranted CNG vehicles, helping fleet managers manage their budget and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president, GM Fleet and Commercial Sales.
“Natural gas is less costly at the pump and significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions, compared to other liquid fuels.”
The bi-fuel versions of Silverado HD and Sierra HD – which are equipped to run on either gasoline or natural gas – expand the range of available configurations to 2500HD and 3500HD pickup models in all cab styles and 2WD and 4WD drivetrains.
The 2014 Express and Savana passenger vans join a dedicated CNG lineup that includes cargo versions of the vehicles.
The vehicles are backed by a comprehensive five-year/100,000-mile transferable powertrain limited warranty.GM says production for the bi-fuel trucks and CNG vans is scheduled to begin early next year with pre-orders accepted closer to the start of production.
The trucks’ 6.0L V-8 engine features special hardened valves and valve seats that enables it to run on CNG or gasoline.
Separate fuel tanks enable the driver to switch between fuels at the push of a button. The system automatically switches to gasoline when the CNG tank is depleted.
Using both fuels, the trucks have an approximate total driving range of 650 miles while the CNG-only vans will have a range of about 300 miles.
