If you need a vehicle that can pull down a house, haul away a city block and run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG), then General Motors has the ticket. Available for both fleet and retail customers starting April 19, the Bi-Fuel Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 Heavy Duty pickups are able to run on two fuel types at any given moment. With this new system, the trucks can seamlessly operate on two different types of fuel and do so for an extra $11,000.
“The announcement of the bi-fuel Silverado and Sierra has been well-received among customers, which sends a clear message that businesses are looking for alternative fuel options to meet their needs,” said Ed Peper, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. The Bi-Fuel trucks differ very little from their standard counterparts. Motivation comes from the famed 6.0 liter Vortec V8 engine and can spin either the rear or all four wheels. After the pickups are built at GM’s Fort Wayne assembly plant, they are sent off to the Tier One supplier so the fuel tank and delivery system can be installed. Not only do the Bi-Fuel HDs meet all EPA and CARB emissions standards, they have the potential of saving thousands of dollars in operation costs.
“CNG has maintained a significantly lower retail price than either gasoline or diesel. The current average price of CNG is equivalent to $1.89 per gallon of gasoline. Customers could save $5,000 to $10,000 over a three-year period, depending on their driving habits,” said Joyce Mattman, director, GM Commercial Product and Specialty Vehicles.
Source: General Motors
