General Motors announced at the Green Fleet Conference & Expo it will offer new bi-fuel versions of the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty trucks along with dedicated compressed natural gas versions of the 2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size passenger vans next year.
“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,” says 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 CNG fuel tanks and complementing fuel systems used in the trucks and vans are installed by GM’s tier one supplier at a secondary location and delivered to customers from Chevrolet and GMC dealerships. The vehicles are fully warranted and validated by GM.
All major components associated with the CNG systems have GM service part numbers for broad availability throughout the largest dealer network in the U.S., GM says.
Production for the bi-fuel trucks and CNG vans is scheduled to begin early next year. The order and delivery process for the vehicles is the same as ordering any other vehicle option. Orders will be 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.
The new CNG passenger vans offer an approximately 200-mile driving range, as do three-tank versions of the cargo vans. With the four-tank configuration, the range on the cargo vans extends to approximately 300 miles.
