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General Motors
has finalized the production process for its
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered Chevrolet
Express and GMC Savana full-size vans, allowing the
company to deliver fleet customers complete vehicles
with a fully integrated and dedicated CNG fuel
system starting this fall.
GM announced in May that it would be the only
manufacturer to offer a one-source van CNG option,
allowing its customers to focus on their business
rather than on contracting the conversion of their
vehicles.
"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, general manager, GM Fleet and
Commercial Operations. "Our robust production
process is a key enabler and certainly separates us
from any competitive offering."
The vans will meet all Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB)
emission certification requirements, and will be
fully compliant with applicable motor vehicle safety
standards.
Each CNG Chevrolet Express or GMC Savana van also
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's Global Powertrain and Vehicle Engineering
Centers are being leveraged to bring their global
expertise in gaseous fuel systems together for this
vehicle system.
Providing fleets with a convenient, all-in-one CNG
vehicle begins with GM's Vortec 6.0L V8 engine. GM
engineers modified this proven power plant with
hardened exhaust valves, and intake and exhaust
valve seats for improved wear resistance and
durability with gaseous fuel systems.
These hardened engines will then be assembled into
the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans at GM's
Wentzville, Mo. plant.
In addition, GM has chosen Productive Concepts (PCI),
an alternative fuels conversion company, to become
an integral part of its production. PCI will
integrate the CNG fuel delivery and storage system
with the hardened engine at its facility in Union
City, Ind. PCI also will work to ensure full
emissions compliance.
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.
NaturalDrive and their up-fitter PCI have been
members of Utah Clean Cities Coalition for 2 1/2
years and are stationed in Utah with R&D facilities
in Arizona. "Kudos to GM for showing leadership in
once again producing dedicated CNG vehicles. We are
pleased to play a role in this important milestone
and look forward to seeing more OEM options for
American business and consumer applications."
- John Mitton, Managing Partner, NaturalDrive
EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Volumes Proposed
 The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
proposed its 2011 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
The RFS program was created under the Energy
Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, and established the
first renewable fuel volume mandate in the
United States. As required under EPAct, the
original RFS program required 7.5 billion
gallons of renewable fuel to be blended into
gasoline by 2012.
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