As gas prices creep back up to the $4 mark and beyond, wouldn’t it be nice to reduce the number of times your crews have to fill up at the gas station? Two new GM models now in production are designed to do just that, but the benefit comes with a high price tag.
The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and the GMC Sierra 2500 HD bi-fuel pickup trucks are available for order by fleet and retail customers through Chevrolet and GMC dealers. The trucks’ Vortec 6.0L V8 engines run on gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG) and seamlessly switch between the two fuels without affecting performance. The tanks have a combined range of 650 miles — the longest standard bi-fuel range available, according to the automaker.
“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, General Motors U.S. vice president of fleet and commercial sales.
The bi-fuel option is priced at $11,000 more than each vehicle’s suggested retail price. The trucks will be covered by GM’s three-year/36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year/10,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and vehicle emissions warranty. The vehicles meet all Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emissions certification requirements.
—Lauren Hunter, senior editor, REMODELING.
