Just a week after Chrysler Group's announcement that its Ram 2500 compressed natural gas (CNG) bi-fuel trucks were rolling off the assembly line, Big Three brother General Motors has followed suit, saying the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD CNG bi-fuel models are now in production in Indiana.
The bi-fuel offerings – which command an $11,000 premium above MSRP – feature the six-liter Vortec V8 engine and can be optioned in standard or long-box configurations, and two- or four-wheel drive in extended-cab models. GM's three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and five-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and vehicle emissions warranty are included.
The trucks are built in Fort Wayne, Ind., and then shipped to IMPCO Technologies Inc. in nearby Union City. IMPCO installs the aftermarket CNG bi-fuel system, including a Type 3 CNG cylinder in the truck bed. GM performs valve and seat work, as well as installs the gasoline injectors, in Fort Wayne.
All told, the bi-fuel Silverado and Sierra will offer a combined gasoline/CNG driving range of 650 miles.
‘Customers are choosing our bi-fuel trucks because they provide the same high level of GM truck performance and versatility but can also help businesses control their fuel costs and reduce their carbon footprint,’ says Ed Peper, GM's U.S. vice president of fleet and commercial sales.
GM's press release references the natural gas vehicle conversion plans of Chesapeake Energy Corp.'s fleet, which will ultimately total 5,000 vehicles. Chesapeake's director of fleet operations, Nate Pumphrey, said ‘having options from GMC and Chevy is critical to help us reach our conversion goal.’
Photo courtesy of GM
