GM's Bi-Fuel 2500 HDs Are Ready to Order

Posted by Mark Williams | April 18, 2012

Starting Thursday, fleet and retail customers can order the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD bi-fuel vehicles, which run on regular gas or compressed natural gas, but they won't be inexpensive. The new powertrain option will add $11,000 to the base sticker price, but GM executives are quick to justify the price.

“Businesses are looking for ways to control their costs while reducing vehicle emissions and becoming less dependent on fluctuating gas prices. The low cost of ownership makes these vehicles a realistic solution,” said Joyce Mattman, director of GM commercial product and specialty vehicles. “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.”

With an average transaction price for the 2500 HD extended cab models in the low- to mid-$30,000 range, we're talking about a low-$40,000 work truck that many companies will likely keep in rotation, depending on the severity of the duty cycle, for several years or longer.

As a quick recap, the bi-fuel HDs were announced and shown at the 2012 NTEA Work Truck Show. The trucks will use a gasoline-powered standard 6.0-liter V-8 that can run on both CNG and gas, offering a 650-mile range. The heavy-duty trucks will only be offered in extended cab configurations but can be ordered with the long or short bed in two- or four-wheel drive.

The system is reported to offer seamless transitions from gas to CNG, with separate fuel gauges and control gear to allow for manual selections. The only significant modification (other than the huge storage tank in the bed) is the addition of an extra set of injectors on each bank. The system always starts with gasoline but then switches to CNG once the right parts are warmed up.

The HD trucks are built in the Fort Wayne, Ind., plant and sent to a supplier for the CNG storage and delivery system. All bi-fuel trucks are covered by GM's 3-year/36,000-mile vehicle limited warranty and 5-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.

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Comments

The last Chevy I bought was back in '96--a Camaro. Today, the Camaro is still the only Chevy I would consider unless they brought the SSR back as a true retro truck instead of a truck version of the Corvette. Over priced; Over engineered. People didn't buy it simply because the ones that wanted it couldn't afford it--and that includes me.

Posted by: Vulpine | Apr 21, 2012 10:44:24 AM

all you guys bashing the IFS of the GM trucks....go do your research.. Ford had a Concept HD with IFS, and still has it tucked away for probable future use... The facts are plain and simple, the Pros out way the Cons with IFS (as if there really are any) watch..with in the next couple years when enough stuck on Ford brand loyalists realize that if they want the best truck, finally break down ans switch over the the Best HD on the Planet, and GM pulls away with the HD segment, you'll see a revamp of the Ford HD (proabably with thier 89th new Diesel since they cant get that right either) and it will have an IFS "option" but Ford will keep the SFA for Snow plow applications since they obviously will not beable to build an IFS capable of snow plow applications as GM has done.... Now go cry some where else... this is supposed to be a CNG forum...

Later....

Posted by: Jason | Apr 22, 2012 7:41:37 AM

@Jason - even if the Chevy holds up as well as the Ford or Ram with IFS and higher frames, it is all about perception. Ford had, as you seem to enjoy pointing out - poor diesel engines but still outsold Chevy 2:1.
Why?
Truck guys don't trust or like IFS, low frames, low DEF tanks, and plastic interiors. Actually - they are all made of plastic, but the Chevy looks/is worse than the rest.
The Ford HD even had a higher resale, and that was with the 6.0 PowerJoke.

Posted by: Lou | Apr 23, 2012 12:30:31 PM

I checked out a new Sierra at the NYAS last week. As I sat in the driver's seat, the differences was immediately noticeable in the center consoles of the trucks. The Sierra a center conole with thin sharp edges. It was cheaply made like a cheap leather sofa made in China. The Fords and Rams were substantial. I don't care how fast the GM trucks pull if they look and feel cheap!

Posted by: Dave | Apr 23, 2012 1:41:51 PM

Lou - Dave - Hold your horses! GM is debuting all new interiors in January! Can't you wait 8 months to form your opinions? Jesus! The interiors are not made in China. They were the STANDARD OF THE INDUSTRY IN 2007 and will be once again. I will argue my points; I will have my opinions on what makes the best trucks. But at the end of the day, it's sales that matter and GM is currently selling more cars and trucks than anyone in the world. GM also sells more half tons. They are second in combined HD sales but that is only because they haven't been getting as many fleet sales.

Jason - Don't take anything the haters say personally. Nothing others say is because of what GM did. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own fantasy of what a truck should be. You and me take substance over styling. You and me know Ford is planning on ditching the C-channel and SFA axel on the next gen HD trucks. These are the facts Ford fans can't handle. But the bottom line is when you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of their respones and can enjoy GM trucks.

Posted by: Bob | Apr 23, 2012 1:58:33 PM

What HD axle and frame won every HD shootout?

The answer: GM.

Enough said.

Posted by: Bob | Apr 23, 2012 2:02:04 PM

It appears many have missed it the first time. So I will again let my buddy Bvonscott help Chevy and GMC fans understand why GM is doing what they are doing and what is going on with the next gen 2014 trucks...

Can I just say something too you, and get through all the chatter, and ideas in your head that will make some sense? I understand you want Chevy to be your top dog. You want the Silverado to be the king of all trucks. Well let me ask you... is it not NOW? Last I checked, most real truck guys.. are die-hard off road guys that would never take a AWD DENALI over a 4X4 Chevy, of any trim, no matter how much nicer the Denali is. My informant who has actually seen and driven the new truck didnt say "the new GMC will have a 4X4 Denali off road beast". None of that was mentioned. Does the current Sierra All Terrain have Denali level equipment? NO. Its the same thing as a LS/LT/LTZ Chevy but with special shocks and a different grill. (Could you put a special grill on a Chevy?... YA. Can you not upgrade the suspension to even better than the factory? YA MOST off-roaders DO) As a truck guy myself, speaking to a truck guy like you, I can pretty much assure you that the Denali truck IS NOT THE RIGHT TRUCK FOR YOU ANYWAYS. I would never buy one. Nor would you. It doesnt have FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. So why drop Chevy for something so minor as a upper "non truck guy" trim level? OR IS IT JUST THE PRINCIPAL?

I really want you to stay as die-hard a Chevy fan as you are now... and forever. And I don't get the feeling that the new Silverado will be anything BUT a beast of a truck. WHO CARES if Chevy will not have a Denali level?? Let the GMC fans have their fancy truck. DUDE, the new Chevy will be badass. If they can make the GMC upgrade radical and a step ahead, do you not think they wouldnt do that for Chevy since they sell more? I think they will. I feel they will make it as amazing as the GMC, and the looks will cater to the Chevy croud, while they let GMC go in a (VERY) different direction... as far removed from what YOU want as could be. I will buy the new GMC, because I prefer the way they look. I am just as die hard a GMC fan as you are a Chevy fan. And you will buy the Chevy. And we can both thank GM for making what we want, enjoy a cold beer while shooting the **** while talking crap about ford and banging some wrenches on our beloved trucks before getting yelled at by our wives for not paying them enough attention and putting too much love in a silly old pickup.......

Its just a truck.

---

Basically what Bvonscott is telling you here is GM is going in a very different direction. This may upset some Chevy buyers at first but GM wants GM the company (Chevy + GMC) to be the best it can be. There needs to be a change between the two truck lines. If you always do what you've always done you'll always get what you've always got.

Once again, it is just a truck!

Posted by: Sierra Bob | Apr 23, 2012 2:06:09 PM

@Bob - "all new" interiors? "All new" is the most abused term in the auto industry.
Who is bvonscott anyway?
What are his credentials?
Problem is - Ram's mid-cycle upgrade (2013) will be awesome. Chevy and sister Sierra will be "all new" in 2014 but Ford, Ram, and Toyota will be "All new" in 2015.
I suspect that the 2013 Ram upgrade will be competitive with Gov Motors 2014's. Then Ford and Toyota will roll in and eat what is left of Gov Motors pie. GMC better get used to eating rice.
Chevy and sister Sierra may come out with some great products in 2014 but so will the competition in 2015.
There is the old saying "He who laughs last laughs the best". It seems that Ford, Ram, and Toyota are in for a big laugh come 2015.

Posted by: Lou | Apr 23, 2012 3:21:58 PM

@Bob - this is from a GM press release - quote "The United States led the way for Chevrolet with total vehicle sales of 1,775,812, up more than 13 percent from 2010. China posted record sales of 595,068, up 9.5 percent from the previous year. Other markets that posted significant year-over-year increases include Vietnam (79 percent), Russia (49 percent), Turkey (30 percent) and Germany (21 percent)."

Looks like those socialist/communist coutries have been real good to GMC. Doesn't government ownership fall into the category of socialist/communist ?

The real important thing is profits.
If you look at Top company record profits, Ford ranked #9. (8 of the Top 10 were oil companies.)

If you look at record losses, GMC scored #8,#10,#11 top record LOSSES.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_corporate_profits_and_losses

Posted by: Lou | Apr 23, 2012 3:37:38 PM

Lou - A sale is a sale. If you don't get on the China bandwagon you are going to get left behind and make someone else rich. Ford is also increasing production in China. I also read that they are going to be pushing sales of Mustang for the for first time in the UK, Australia and Japan. For the first time Ford is going to push these the next gen Mustang global.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1075305_2015-ford-mustang-to-gallop-globally

Dave - I don't quite understand your post. Do you not like the GM center console? I have one question. Who buys a truck based on the thickness of the center console? That is so silly and makes no sense! Lou, We are not scared by Ram or Toyota. Ram is descent but just doesn't appeal to a lot of people and it is Italian owned. Toyota hasn't done much and doesn't even have a HD yet. That is music to my ears. I know it looks really bad for GM now. But it is darkest before the dawn! The debut should happen no latter than January at NAIAS in Detroit. Hang on for the ride.

Posted by: Sierra | Apr 23, 2012 6:56:07 PM

Who is bvonscott?

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f22/semi-confirmed-news-next-gen-2014-trucks-106048/

Re: Must Haves: 2014 Silverado and Sierra

But that is the last of the news for now. You guys really messed this up. Bvonscott is not going to give you any more news. I will let Bvonscott speak for himself.

Thats it Ive had it. All you so called fans do is bitch and moan and complain about trucks that you know nothing about yet. You have no faith in GM. I hope all of you go buy a ford, the ugliest most uncomfortable truck on the road. Go get your flat sided 10+ year old body design with a new oversized ugly grill, a flat as a board seat with ugly as hell brown "ranch" leather that hurts your back after 10 miles, crappy sync system that never works, engines and transmissions that already have shown to be as unreliable as the previous generation, and leave the real fans here alone. fordinsidenews is a click away. I am no longer going to post any inside info I have on the coming trucks public because of you whiners. I'll let nsap sort out what info he wants to post

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f22/must-haves-2014-silverado-sierra-109412/index19.html

Posted by: Sierra | Apr 23, 2012 7:16:48 PM

@Sierra - Who is bvonscott?

Posting links to a GM fan site is shedding some reliable light on my question.
Might as well post a link to George Michael's site too. He probably know what GMC is up to more than some anonymous fan.
Post some proof.

Posted by: Lou | Apr 23, 2012 11:09:26 PM

All I know is that is he is an insider and he is right 99% of the time, subject to changes after the information was given. He says he will not reveal his sources. Others have claimed I am him or some other poster. Let me be clear. I am not - I don't even have an account on GM Inside News! I just read the posts there. It is not a GM fan site. It is a GM news site. The editor/owner also runs Ford Inside News.

Posted by: Detroit Bob | Apr 23, 2012 11:32:20 PM

Guys, like it or not, and I don't care what truck brand you buy, CNG is definitely the way all of us should be going. Inconvenient at first because of the lack of fueling stations, but that would change quickly with volume. Start on the Interstates and work from there. First and perhaps most important, it's produced here at home and we have a HUGE and secure supply. Why buy oil from the Arabs to make gasoline and diesel when we have a cheaper, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly alternative right in our own back yard????

Posted by: John | Jun 1, 2012 9:46:32 AM