Car giant GM has begun production of two new dual fuel pickup trucks for the American market, as the country’s drivers increasingly look for alternatives to gasoline.
The new 2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD are capable of running on both gasoline and compressed natural gas, seamlessly switching between the two and giving the models a combined range of 650 miles.
Fitted with a 6.0L V8 engine and a Type 3 single tank CNG system, the new models are designed to retain more bed space than rival models despite the additional tank.
Tier One supplier IMPCO installs the additional CNG bi-fuel delivery and storage system to GM to the model, before the model is delivered to back to the dealership or to an upfitter for customer-ordered modifications.
“At Chesapeake, we are converting our fleet of more than 5,000 vehicles to run on natural gas, and having options from GMC and Chevy is critical to help us reach our conversion goal,” said Nate Pumphrey, Chesapeake Energy Corp. director of Fleet Operations. “Following our full conversion, we will save $11 million to $12 million annually on fuel costs.
“As a fleet manager, the stable price of natural gas is another major benefit that helps me budget more accurately, and the fuel’s reduced emissions align with Chesapeake’s commitment to environmental excellence,” he said.
The bi-fuel option comes at a premium however, before customers can expect to see fuel saving, priced at $11,000 above the suggested retail price of the base vehicles.
The entire gaseous fuel system meets GM’s strict quality, durability and safety testing. The trucks will be covered by GM’s three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and vehicle emissions warranty.
Both models are available to order now in the US with the first deliveries expected before the end of the year.
Rising gasoline prices and increasing availability of CNG is helping to drive consumer interest in the latter. There are thought to be around 527 public CNG refuelling stations in the US, with CNG retailing for around half the price of diesel.
Faye has been writing about cars and environmental issues since 2007. A suspected eco-warrior working on the corporate inside, Faye mainly likes the weird, quirky vehicles that show a distinct environmental advantage. Her ideal car has enough room to fit a bale of hay in the boot. When not working, she likes nothing better than to head out on her bicycle and explore the countryside.
Faye Sunderland
November 08, 2012
Filed under: Chevrolet
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