GM'S new( C.N.G.)pickups.

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It was a popular conversion in B.C. for a while back in the late 80's, they even converted some B.C., Vancouver Island Ferries to CNG.
The trend died out, not sure why, but the tanks were very bulky.
 
GM also made CNG Chevy Cavaliers as well as pickups for several years in the early 2000's. Sales never took off, and most of the sales were to government fleets, so by MY2005 the option was discontinued. I think availablity of filling locations had something to do with it, but the technology itself was proven to be successful and really not that big of a deal, other than the need for a larger "gas" tank. From what I recall, those CNG Cavaliers are still in demand as used cars.

There are more filling stations now, so maybe this option might do better the second time around.

Ken_W
 
This great for city fleets. The problem for the average user is insufficient infrastructsure for refueling. Home refueling compressor setups are expensive and take overnight to refill the high pressure tank that is installed in the vehicle. With the recent abundance of nat gas and lower price, there may be a resurgance of auto companies offering this option. GM's announcement is the first step. FWIW--Oldtommy
 
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
My brother was given a CNC/Gas pickup for work. The CNG tank took up about half the bed.


How long ago was this?
 
At least 5 years ago. The truck ran OK although with a perhaps a little vaporization problem at real low temps and a low tank, and there were not many filling stations he could use. It was dual fuel. The downside was the size of the tank because he often had good sized loads to haul. BTW, I'd gladly convert my backup generator to natural gas but there is no service where I live. I don't want a big propane tank hanging around.
 
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The "public transit authority" in Rhode Island had a bunch of small "trolly bus" vehicles running on CNG, with the tank on the roof. They aren't buying any more, and have bought a bunch of big diesel electrics instead.
 
These are coming back due to the high price of gasoline/diesel and the currently low price of Natural Gas. The issues has (and continues to be) the infrastructure to support refuleing. As an example, in the Twin Cities, there is 1, yes 1, location that can provide public refueling of CNG vehicles.

What will drive more of this is the conversion of some fleet types to CNG, now that some heavy duty CNG applications are becoming popular - such as garbage trucks. With diesel over $4 a gallon, the cost to implement a private refueling station doesn't look so bad when the fuel cost is sooo much lower. Other applications that involve local delivery type applications could benefit here as well.

Will be interesting to watch - at least two garbage haulers here are about to pull the trigger.
 
I looked at a new GM van with this CNG conversion at the Chicago Auto Show commercial vehicles section.It has a sticker price for the CNG conversion at $ 16,500. Your payback is way out there.
 
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
The "public transit authority" in Rhode Island had a bunch of small "trolly bus" vehicles running on CNG, with the tank on the roof. They aren't buying any more, and have bought a bunch of big diesel electrics instead.


And yet all of Boston buses use CNG.
 
Ford made some Crown Vic's able to run on CNG back in 1993 if I remember correctly from a Motor Trend magazine I had back then.
 
Originally Posted By: beechcraftted
I looked at a new GM van with this CNG conversion at the Chicago Auto Show commercial vehicles section.It has a sticker price for the CNG conversion at $ 16,500. Your payback is way out there.


$16,500??? Payback time?....10...15 years?
 
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Some articles that provides some food for thought on CNG applications:

http://www.startribune.com/business/136161523.html

http://www.startribune.com/business/140370743.html

With CNG currently running 1/2 the price of Diesel, its definitely got people looking again, though the note that even the big natural gas company didn't keep its fellet of CNG vehicles after their first round of interest is also something to think about...


Seems to be cost effective only for high mileage drivers?
This probably rules most of us out.Probably doesn't make sense for someone driving 10 000 Km/year.
 
Originally Posted By: JasonC
Ford made some Crown Vic's able to run on CNG back in 1993 if I remember correctly from a Motor Trend magazine I had back then.

Man,you have a sharp memory.
grin.gif
 
If they offer one with an 8ft bed I'm in.

I'll buy a NG station for my house, about $2,500.

I spend about $6k a year gassing up my current truck, so cutting that in say half is pretty good. Plus its an American sourced fuel and I don't mind spending a few bucks to put Americans to work and use less oil.
 
I've run propane before, and found it only a terribly minor inconvenience.

CNG, when people complain about diesel availability makes me laugh
 
What I like most about it is the cleanliness. There's absolutely no
smell at all coming through my vents when I'm behind a UPS truck.
 
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