Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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Cab trucks now can be modifi ed. Meanwhile, Chevrolet and GMC an- RAM, GMC, CHEVY SPOTLIGHT ALT-FUEL OPTIONS T RAM SAYS THE 2500 HD CNG PICKUP TRUCK IS THE ONLY FACTORY- BUILT CNG PICKUP TRUCK OFFERED IN NORTH AMERICA TODAY. he Ram brand – since separating from the Dodge car line two years ago – has pushed forward consistently with a series of innovative products designed for the North American commercial truck market. To that end, Ram has introduced four new models designed specifically for fleet and commercial truck customers. Highlighting the new vehicles is the Ram 2500 HD CNG pickup truck, which is fully covered by Ram's fi ve-year 100,000-mile warranty. Fred Diaz, Ram Truck president, says Ram is able to deliver a factory-built CNG truck thanks to parent company Fiat's experience with the technology, which Ram was able to leverage in the 5.7-Hemi dual-fuel engine's design. The Ram 2500 HD features a full crew cab and 8-foot box, a 14.2-cubic-foot CNG tank and an 8-gallon gasoline tank for a combined range of more than 600 miles. Ram also announced two new fl eet-focused Tradesman pickups, the Tradesman Crew and Quad Cab models. The full-size four-door trucks offer seating for six adults, V8 power and a standard towing package. The Ram 4.7-liter V8 is rated at 310 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft. of torque and delivers 20 mpg in highway driving; a more powerful 4.7-liter engine also is available with towing capability up to 7,700 pounds. A third power option, a 5.7-liter Hemi engine, churns out 390 horsepower and 407 lb.-ft. of torque. Another new model is the upfi tter-friendly Ram chassis cutaway van, which maintains the truck's structural integri- ty in cases where modifi ers need to remove up to 80 percent of the truck body – as in ambulance body installations, for example. All regular cab Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JUNE 2012 51 nounced details of General Motors' bi- fuel 2013 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 HD extended cab pickup trucks. The vehicles include a CNG- capable Vortec 6.0-liter V8 engine that transitions between CNG and gasoline fuel systems. The truck always starts using gaso- line and switches over to CNG once the proper operating temperature is reached. However, the driver can switch between fuels at any time – even when driving at highway speeds – simply by pressing a button mounted on the dashboard. The trucks offer a range of more than 650 miles and will be available in standard and long box with either two- or four-wheel drive. The bi-fuel system is installed by GM's Tier One supplier, and the completed vehicle is delivered directly to the customer. "The bi-fuel truck provides busi- nesses with added refueling fl exibility and eases consumer range concerns that typically come with CNG, all while reducing emissions and controlling THE BI-FUEL GMC SIERRA 2500 HD INCLUDES A CNG- CAPABLE VORTEC 6.0L V8 ENGINE THAT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN CNG AND GASO- LINE FUEL SYSTEMS.