CNG Pickups Get a Shot With GE Fleet

Posted by Mark Williams | January 8, 2013

Some of the bigger U.S. companies that promised to "go greener" by investing in larger fleets of electric vehicles are now seeing that alternative fuels like CNG (compressed natural gas) might also be a smart option.

According to a story by Bloomberg News, General Electric promised to purchase as many as 25,000 EVs for its fleet operations two years ago; unfortunately, it forgot it needed a good percentage of those vehicles to be work-duty pickups, vans and SUVs, and current EV technologies don't seem to be able to meet all of GE's needs.

As a stopgap measure, GE officials have announced they will expand their push for more eco-friendly vehicles to include full-size pickup trucks that run on alternative fuels and have cleaner emissions like the bi-fuel compressed natural gas vehicles from Ford, General Motors, and Ram Truck. In fact, GE is testing 300 CNG-equipped bi-fuel Super Duties right now.

No word yet as to whether GE will be testing any other full-size heavy-duty pickups, but we're guessing that quite a few other big companies and fleet buyers will watch GE closely as they get more involved with updating their own aging truck fleets.

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Comments

Would these be the same engines converted to cng or a different engine all together? Does cng make equivocal hp/torque as the there gasoline or diesel counterparts?

Posted by: Anthony_D85 | Jan 8, 2013 10:25:00 AM

If we go to natural gas, I think the only good option would be LNG with direct injection.

Posted by: Alex | Jan 8, 2013 10:45:04 AM

@Anthony_D85 (converted to cng or a different engine all together?) CNG enige is the same as the normal gasser just add fuel mods. HP and TQ do suffer some with useing CNG. You also get a little less MPG's, but its keeper then gas. (for now)

Posted by: johnny doe | Jan 8, 2013 10:56:17 AM

CNG will most likely work for larger fleets with fuel distribution setup at their HQ. Our local gas company uses CNG in all their vehciles and have done so for 15+ years. At least they now can get the option for this from the factor rather than pay a 3rd party for the conversion. I doubt it makes any headway into the consumer market due to conversion costs. Again nice option for fleets and larger class 4-6 trucks (garbage collectors, delivery vans, etc)

Posted by: howam00 | Jan 8, 2013 12:19:57 PM

howam00:
You got it nailed. The roush conversion of the F250 to CNG or better yet LPG added another 14 grand to the cost. It's just too much cost to recover.

Posted by: Ty | Jan 8, 2013 12:47:55 PM

I have seen and driven oil delivery trucks with this, because the company has the means to do so, and sell the product also, and with that said, the gas trucks Ford F-750's w/six wheels and 33,000GVW 10spd roadranger trans were very up to the task at hand, and would out excel. any diesel truck just like it! and pull the hills with ease, not only that the exhaust is very clean, and the oil changes are as long as 20K! and the life of the engines are as much as 3times the life of reg gas, there was one in the fleet, a cab over Ford 850? like the Roadway city trucks, and some firetrucks around that had 400K! on the 572c.i.d.! V-8 truck engine! with a big 4bbl Holley carb. and reg gas fuel they would get about 2-3mpg! BUT the LPG conv. gat 3-4mpg and no fumes!, that truck was a beast! it is a 10wheeler, and has a GVW of 38K! the mechanic cant remember when he has had to change the spark plugs! and the oil lasts arounf 10K between changes. I believe it is a great way to go, if you are in the buisness.

Posted by: sandman4X4 | Jan 8, 2013 1:52:47 PM

wy they call this truck super duty if the frame is not strong like gm truck???

Posted by: miath | Jan 8, 2013 3:12:38 PM

@miath, they call it Super Duty because its stronger, get it??

Posted by: K | Jan 8, 2013 4:24:13 PM

@Miath - I bet Ford has a trademark on the name Super Duty.

Huge fleets could benefit from this due to ecomonies of scale. Ok in milder climates with higher population densities.

Posted by: Lou | Jan 9, 2013 12:56:10 AM

miath: as Lou said, Ford does have a copyright/trademark on the Super Duty name. Ford has been using that name on trucks since at least 1960.

Posted by: Glenn | Jan 9, 2013 7:12:28 AM

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Posted by: dissertations | Jan 17, 2013 2:08:43 AM