Motors

The chief of General Motors (GM) on Wednesday urged President Obama to appoint a blue ribbon committee whose only goal would be to develop a 30-year energy policy plan for the United States.

General Motors (GM) said Tuesday its upcoming compressed natural gas (CNG) bifuel pickup trucks will carry an $11,000 price above the base sticker price for similar gasoline or diesel fueled trucks, but it said the extended-range vehicles will offer a three-to-five year payback on lower fuel and operating costs compared to gasoline and diesel models.

AT&T continued expanding its use of natural gas vehicles (NGV) with an announcement by General Motors that the telecommunications company plans to buy 1,200 of its Chevrolet Express compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo vans for use at its service centers around the nation. GM said this is its largest single order ever for NGVs. AT&T has 2,472 fleet vehicles now running on natural gas and plans to spend $565 million through 2018 to deploy up to 15,000 clean fuel vehicles, mostly NGVs with a mix of electric vehicles and hybrids (see Daily GPI, March 2, 2011). AT&T operates a fleet of more than 73,000 vehicles.

Vancouver, BC-based Westport Innovations Inc., a natural gas engine technology provider, has agreed to work with General Motors (GM) to advance engine technology for light-duty vehicles. It underscores that technology advances being made in gasoline and diesel transportation also can be applied to natural gas engines.

Texas-based Peterbilt Motors Co., a major North American maker of trucks used in long-haul transportation fleets, said it is selling 180 liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled trucks to Canadian-based trucking company Robert Transport in Quebec. A Peterbilt spokesperson told NGI Tuesday that the company is pursuing a national market of LNG-fueled rigs.

General Motors (GM) has unveiled what it calls the industry’s only fully integrated compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo van as the first in what it hopes will be a parade of options for fleet operators seeking to lower their carbon footprint.

General Motors (GM) this month has unveiled what it calls the industry’s only fully integrated compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo van as the lead vehicle in what it hopes will be a parade of options for fleet operators seeking to lower their carbon footprint.

General Motors Co. (GM) plans to offer compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered versions of its Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cargo vans to fleet and commercial customers beginning this fall, GM said Tuesday.

Heavy truck manufacturer Peterbilt Motors Co. has rolled out three natural gas-fueled models equipped with the Cummins Westport ISL-G engine, which offers a 320 hp rating and 1,000 ft-lbs. of torque. The vehicles run on either compressed or liquefied natural gas. “Our natural gas Models 384, 365 and 320 demonstrate our industry leadership in developing products that will reduce harmful emissions and provide exceptional fuel efficiency,” said Bill Jackson, Peterbilt general manager.