GM’s CNG-dedicated vans available to fleets this fall

July 14, 2010
According to General Motors, it has finalized the production process for its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. The OEM said this means it will be able to deliver to fleet customers complete vehicles with a fully integrated and dedicated CNG fuel system this fall

According to General Motors, it has finalized the production process for its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. The OEM said this means it will be able to deliver to fleet customers complete vehicles with a fully integrated and dedicated CNG fuel system this fall.

GM has chosen Productive Concepts (PCI) to integrate the CNG fuel systems into the vans. The vans will meet all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements, said GM, and they will be fully compliant with applicable motor vehicle safety standards.

Each CNG van will begin with GM’s Vortec 6.0L V8 engine. GM said its engineers modified this power plant with hardened exhaust valves, and intake and exhaust valve seats for improved wear resistance and durability with gaseous fuel systems. The “hardened” engines will then be assembled into the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans at GM’s Wentzville, MO plant.

Once the CNG system is integrated into the vans at PCI, they can be shipped to many specialty vehicle manufacturers to have commercial equipment added, or directly to GM dealers.

The CNG vans will be covered by GM’s three-year/ 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year/ 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.

GM pointed out it had announced in May that it would be the only manufacturer to offer a “one-source van CNG” option. “Our focus from the beginning has been to offer fleet customers a simple ‘check the box’ approach with our CNG Chevrolet Express and Savana vans,” said Brian Small, gm of GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “Our robust production process is a key enabler and certainly separates us from any competitive offering.”

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Uniting for Bold Solutions to Tackle Transportation’s Biggest Challenges

Over 300 leaders in transportation, logistics, and distribution gathered at Ignite 2024. From new products to innovative solutions, Ignite highlighted the importance of strong...

Seasonal Strategies for Maintaining a Safe & Efficient Fleet Year-Round

Prepare your fleet for every season! From winterizing vehicles to summer heat safety, our eBook covers essential strategies for year-round fleet safety. Download now to reduce...

Streamline Compliance, Ensure Safety and Maximize Driver's Time

Truck weight isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when considering operational efficiency, hours-of-service regulations, and safety ratings, but it can affect all three.

Improve Safety and Reduce Risk with Data from Route Scores

Route Scores help fleets navigate the risk factors they encounter in the lanes they travel, helping to keep costs down.