General Motors To Add Diesel Option For Commercial Vans

The Chevy Express and GMC Savanna commercial vans have been in production with virtually no changes for 20 years and General Motors seems in no hurry to replace them. The vans have proved to be durable in commercial use, a feature that tradespeople value highly. They do have a problem, though. They get lousy gas mileage. The 6.0 liter V-8 most of them come with is rated a measly 11 mpg in the city, 16 on the highway. and 13 mpg overall.

Despite competition from new commercial vans from Ford and  Dodge, the Express/Savanna twins continue to sell well. 100,000 were sold in 2014 and another 85,000 in 2015. “The Express and Savana still have a lot of legs,” GM fleet boss Ed Peper said in an interview last month. He says there are plenty of customers who prefer GM’s “tried and true” vans to the Euro offerings, according to Automotive  News. I know that is true. I have a neighbor who is a carpet installer who just retired his Chevy Express after 11 years of service. His van has 394,567 miles on it.

In order to extend the life of its commercial vans a little further and address the fuel economy issue, GM now says it will offer its 2.8 liter Duramax diesel in the 2500 and 3500 versions of the Express and Savanna starting with the 2017 model year. That one move will nearly double the fuel economy of these workhorses. The Duramax is rated at 22 mpg city, 31 highway and 25 mpg combined when installed in the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size pickup trucks, according to Pickup Trucks.com.  That’s even more than the small Renault designed Chevy City Express van GM introduced last year.

The baby Duramax uses an iron cylinder block with dual overhead camshafts. It generates 181 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and 369 pounds-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm. Once fitted to the larger commercial vans, the engine will be backed up with GM’s 8 speed automatic transmission. GM’s mid-size pickups and its commercial vans are all assembled at the Wentzville, Mo., plant, near St. Louis.

How long will GM be able to continue building these ancient commercial vans? Ed Peper says, “We’re always looking at opportunities to be disruptive.” Nothing says “disruptive” like building the same product on the same line every day since the Clinton administration, does it?

Echo Automotive will put EchoDrive PHEV powertrain into GM vans

Echo Automotive is adding General Motors vans to its offerings of converted plug-in hybrid vehicles and will bring its EchoDrive PHEV system to GM 2500 and 3500 vans. That will include model year 2010-2014 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana, but don't go trying to get these vehicles converted quite yet.

Echo Automotive says production won't begin until the first quarter of 2015, since things are still in the development stage and the company is awaiting a patent on its EchoDrive technology. The company calls it, "a revolutionary patent-pending cost-reduction solution for converting fleet vehicles into highly fuel-efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrids." The GM vans will follow the company's conversion of EchoDrive units onto Ford E-Series van platforms. The E-Series conversions are scheduled to begin later this year (orders currently being accepted).

Echo Automotive thinks adding the Chevrolet Express to its lineup will make for a smart investment, given that it's second only to the Ford E-Series vans for commercial fleet registrations in North America. It also follows right behind the E-Series and Dodge Caravan in government fleet registrations.

It's a three-pronged victory for fleets using the EchoDrive technology, according to the company's chief executive. "We look forward to demonstrating the impact EchoDrive delivers to fleet managers in reducing operating costs, delivering greater fuel efficiency and promoting sustainability across both the Ford and GM platforms," said Dan Kennedy, CEO of Echo Automotive, in the press release, which you can read below.

Echo Automotive Adds GM Platform Support To EchoDrive

News Source: Echo Automotive

XL Hybrids to display retrofitted hybrid Chevrolet 2500 Cargo Van at MIT Energy Conference

XL Hybrids, Inc., a company that has developed a low-cost hybrid electric powertrain designed specifically for class 1-3 commercial fleet use, will display a Chevrolet Express 2500 cargo van fitted with the company’s hybrid technology at the 2012 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Conference Energy Showcase on 16 March.

The XL Hybrids powertrain consists of a 2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, a 40 kW (53 hp) electric motor and a proprietary hybrid control system that operate seamlessly with the OEM internal combustion engine and automatic transmission.

The company says that its hybrid powertrain increases the EPA city fuel economy by 25%, which can provide a three year payback without government incentives, or immediate savings when combined with vehicle financing. Benefits of the hybrid powertrain include:

• It is designed for rapid installation—less than four hours—in commercial vehicles without modifying or removing the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) engine or transmission.

• There is no additional charging infrastructure or significant impacts to routing or cargo capacity, making XL Hybrids’ solution suited for commercial vehicles that operate under a high daily mileage in urban or suburban areas.

The hybrid powertrain is currently available for the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana 2500 cargo and passenger vans, and the company is expanding the product lineup to include other makes and models of fleet vehicles, including Chevrolet and Ford vans and pickup trucks.

XL Hybrids was started by MIT alumni who collectively have founded four alternative energy companies. XL Hybrids president and founder Tod Hynes is also a co-founder of the MIT Clean Energy Prize, and XL Hybrids co-founder Justin Ashton was a finalist in the 2008 MIT Clean Energy Prize for a water desalination startup, Nanopur.

GM will sell commercial CNG bi-fuel pickup in 2012

General Motors will sell a compressed natural gas bi-fuel commercial pickup truck early in the fourth quarter of 2012.

IMPCO Automotive is the Tier-One supplier for integrating the CNG bi-fuel delivery and storage system into the pickups alongside the Express and Savana CNG-dedicated cargo vans at IMPCO Automotive’s facility in Union City, Ind.

GM says it is the only US manufacturer currently providing a single-source commercial option with the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana CNG cargo vans. The addition of a bi-fuel CNG pickup will help satisfy a broader range of needs for commercial customers looking for a one-stop alternative fuel vehicle from the factory.

The bi-fuel commercial trucks will be covered by GM’s three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and vehicle emissions warranty, meeting all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements.

Source: Green Car Congress

AT&T to Roll Out 101 CNG Chevrolet Express Cargo Vans Into Fleet

AT&T is putting 101 Chevrolet Express Cargo 2500 vans powered by low-emissions compressed natural gas into its customer service fleet.

Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana CNG storage tanks. Click to enlarge.

The vans get gasoline-equivalent fuel economy of 11 mpg city and 16 mpg highway. Fuel tank capacity ranges from 15.8 to 23 gasoline-equivalent gallons.

Each Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana CNG van is covered by GM’s three-year, 36,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty, and meets all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements.

The CNG option is available for order on Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana 2500 and 3500 Cargo vans.

Source: Green Car Congress

The Chevy Express CNG Van - Now Available to All

What you see here is Chevy’s newly-available, 4-tank CNG commercial van. This was news last year, but despite that, this is the first one we’d seen “in the flesh”. So, when one of GM’s marketing reps realized we were ignoring the ZL1 Camaro launch (by which time we had – ahem – already gotten the hood up, pulled back the vinyl that was sealing off the filler cap, opened the back of the van, etc.) we asked questions.

Here are a few of the things we learned (in no particular order).

• the Chevy Express CNG is the first CNG vehicle offered by GM to both fleet and individual customers. The CNG fueling system is, as of this year, uses a standard GM option code (FHZ).
• the vans are available 2 ways: UFM and UFP. The UFM trucks use 3 fuel tanks which fit beneath the van’s cargo floor, which are fully contained within the vehicle’s steel frame rails. Trucks fitted with the UFM system are visually indistinguishable from their gas and diesel fueled siblings, and travel about 250 miles between fill-ups (equivalent to 16 mpg, per the GM rep). UFP trucks add a 4th fuel tank, which increases operational range by 100 miles, but occupies some floor space in the cargo bay (shown, below).
• GM’s CNG vans (like the Chevy Volt electric car) are equipped with OnStar as standard equipment, in part to help alleviate what GM calls “range anxiety”, and in part because the CNG tanks displace the spare tire. GM hopes to side-step the “what happens if I get a flat?” question by giving prospective buyers the “we’ll send someone to help.” answer.
• GM delivered 16,000 CNG Chevy Express and GMC Savana vans, last year, and has plans to begin offering CNG cab-and-chassis vehicles to construction crews, ambulance fleets, and RV manufacturers next year.
• These are the only readily-available CNG commercial truck conversions on the market which are fully CARB approved, and which pass all government safety tests.
• Carb certified these vans SULEV-ii, which is cleaner than Chevy’s own Jesus Car Volt.

For my part, I was most surprised by how invisible the whole system was. Save for the CNG fuel nozzle and a decal advertising Natural Drive under the hood (the aftermarket company that GM contracts the CNG fuel system assembly/installation to) there was absolutely nothing to indicate that this van produced nearly zero emissions while helping to reduce dependency on foreign oil … which, perhaps, is exactly what it will take to sell to the neophobic fleet market.

Source: Gas2.0

NaturalDrive Obtains Model Year 2011 California Certification for CNG Vans

PRESS RELEASE:

NaturalDrive has obtained model year 2011 certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) alternative fuel system for General Motors full-size vans. This certification meets California's most stringent SULEV emission standard for vehicles of this weight class and provides laboratory data showing 21% reduction in CO2 greenhouse gas emissions as compared to gasoline operation. NaturalDrive's certification incorporates all Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans of 8600 to 9900 GVWR, including the 135" wheelbase cargo vans which are integrated with dedicated CNG fuel systems offered by GM to its fleet customers and carrying full warranty coverage as previously announced. GM announced in May that it would be the only manufacturer to offer a one-source van CNG option, allowing its customers to focus on their business rather than on contracting the conversion of their vehicles. "Our focus from the beginning has been to offer fleet customers a simple 'check the box' approach with our CNG Chevrolet Express and Savana vans," said Brian Small, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. "Our robust production process is a key enabler and certainly separates us from any competitive offering." For the complete press release, please visit: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/July/0713_cng

About NaturalDrive Natural Drive Partners, LLC is a leading supplier of technologically advanced alternative fuel conversion technology for fleet-based customers, with authorized installation and service facilities nationwide. Proprietary alternative fuel calibrations are fully integrated with the vehicle control system to ensure optimal power and performance while maintaining all aspects of the OEM emissions and onboard diagnostic control mechanisms. More information can be found at www.naturaldrive.com

GM Prices CNG-Powered Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana Full-Size Vans; $15,190 for the CNG Option, $41,890 for the Complete Van

The fully integrated and dedicated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) option, available this fall for Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans, will be priced at $15,910 MSRP, according to GM. This seems an exorbitant add-on price in our opinion, but the market will reveal the truth.

Pricing for the all-inclusive CNG option includes a dedicated CNG system ($14,590), a natural gas-capable Vortec 6.0L V8 engine ($1,295), as well as HD trailering equipment ($265). A $240 credit for deleting the spare tire brings the package price to $15,910. So the total cost of either a 2011 Chevrolet Express or 2011 GMC Savana Cargo model, which starts at $25,980 would be $41,890 with the CNG option.

Customers tell us coordinating the upfit for their CNG vehicles takes away valuable time that would be better used running their business. Our CNG vans come with a fully integrated CNG fuel system, a comprehensive warranty, emissions compliance and strong dealer support, all for one price.

—Joyce Mattman, director of Commercial Product and Specialty Vehicles

Powered by a Vortec 6.0L V8 engine, the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans come equipped with hardened exhaust valves, and intake and exhaust valve seats for improved wear resistance and durability with gaseous fuel systems.

The vans will meet all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements, and will be fully compliant with applicable motor vehicle safety standards. Each CNG Chevrolet Express or GMC Savana van also will be covered by GM’s three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.

Source: Green Car Congress