MAJB
Sophomore Author
Indianapolis
Posts:226
Points:109,435
Joined:Oct 2005
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Message Posted: Mar 6, 2012 6:21:05 AM
A great step forward. We need to support the pen fuel standard currently before congress. It would require all vehicles to accept differt fuels. The cost increase is estimated at $75 per vehicle... That is not very expensive or a great option!
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rbrk02
Champion Author
Rhode Island
Posts:5,725
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 6:02:44 PM
A step in the right direction but many more steps are needed.
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Tucker16
Champion Author
Ottawa
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 1:55:01 PM
That's awesome!
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db60
All-Star Author
Indiana
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 1:40:26 PM
Great move.
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Jeff1944
Champion Author
South Dakota
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 1:19:00 PM
Good move.
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truvoice1
Champion Author
San Diego
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 1:14:17 PM
Its about time that we start to see more CNG options available to the public. Maybe this may be the start of a trend?
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SUNOIL
Champion Author
Toledo
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 12:50:30 PM
Great option if it isn't over priced.
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ClarkSC
Champion Author
South Carolina
Posts:3,063
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 12:32:09 PM
Build a distribution network.
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majormarket
All-Star Author
Houston
Posts:829
Points:788,210
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 12:18:49 PM
With CNG prices at a low point, this is good to hear that there will be more fuel choices for drivers.
And, natural gas is abundant here in the US, so drivers can feel better that they are buying domestically.
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Daedalys
Rookie Author
Tacoma
Posts:2
Points:265
Joined:Mar 2012
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 11:17:50 AM
It seems to me that Diesel is the better more efficient way to power a vehicle. It costs less to make and my experience is that every diesel I have ever owned got better fuel mileage than it's gasoline equivalent. Now if we could just quit playing around with this pipeline and get it done we would be further up the road.
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Eugene_C
Champion Author
Columbus
Posts:2,299
Points:155,995
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 11:07:08 AM
Honda already makes a natural gas Civic that anyone can order. The problem is finding a filling station that serves non-businesses and will take a household credit card. A home filling station costs $3,800.
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alex395
Champion Author
Louisville
Posts:2,040
Points:276,085
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 10:45:46 AM
Remember who we are hearing this from-Government Motors. Got a long way to go before I believe anything the Obama Administration management team and the UAW (owners) have to say.
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Yooperheart
Champion Author
Michigan
Posts:3,400
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 10:41:48 AM
Excellent way to prop up sales on slow moving and lower MPG trucks ;- }
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sjf238
Champion Author
Philadelphia
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 10:14:54 AM
Interesting.
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kag2010
Champion Author
Winnipeg
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 10:01:36 AM
Compressed gas only vehicles are a terrible mistake,
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nels1jac
Veteran Author
Minnesota
Posts:493
Points:540,280
Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 9:30:28 AM
Not a bad idea.
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GBFWB72
Sophomore Author
Florida
Posts:114
Points:663,980
Joined:Jun 2009
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 9:19:46 AM
Most of that "more than 650 miles" of combined range looks like it will probably come from gas, not the CNG.
- At 18 MPG for 36 gallons of gas, thats 648 miles
- At 15 MPG for 36 gallons of gas, thats 540 miles
- At 12 MPG for 36 gallons of gas, thats 432 miles
So don't expect to go too far on the 17 gallons of CNG alone, which will get even less power and worse fuel economy than the gas...
The question now is how much extra the conversion will cost, and if it's worth it at that point or better to just pay less for an all-gas only truck?
And will those trucks all be flex-fuel capable of running E-85?
And don't forget the hit to fuel mileage on the E-10 that almost everyone is forced to buy now...
I wonder when the EPA will start putting fuel economy estimates out on the window sticker of new cars that shows what you can expect to get with E-10 versus straight gas?
Even better they should show what the new cars get with E-15 since they say they can all use it now...
I wonder how many folks will actually use it then when they see how much their fuel economy drops...
[Edited by: GBFWB72 at 3/5/2012 12:21:56 PM EST]
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ramammoth
Champion Author
Modesto
Posts:1,472
Points:295,155
Joined:Mar 2007
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 9:15:36 AM
This is nice, but I wish they would consider reviving the small v8 diesel engines that Chevy and Ford developed for 1/2 ton pickups. Would Americans be interested in small pickups with diesel?
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YaBassa
Champion Author
Michigan
Posts:2,415
Points:514,175
Joined:Nov 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 8:21:27 AM
A great option if it's cost effective.
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jjjleblanc
Champion Author
Rochester
Posts:5,862
Points:1,516,380
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 8:06:15 AM
With so many competing alternitives it seems hard to get any one right.
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orphancarguyPE
Champion Author
PEI
Posts:3,832
Points:731,965
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 8:00:18 AM
Compressed gas only vehicles are a terrible mistake, but duel fuel, with smaller gasoline tanks and the added CNG/LPG tanks, make sense--for now--for fleet use in bigger trucks/buses.
There is an big drawback to using compressed natural gas (liquified natural gas reduces the range anxiety factor, but is more expensive, and really far too dangerous to use in vehicles) or propane.
Besides the extra upfront cost, the range per fill (MPG equivalent) and horsehower falls off badly, and therefore it had better be really cheap to make up. The other forgotten factor, is that road use taxes will have to be instituted on vehicle CNG/Propane if they are going to replace gasoline and road-used diesel. It will make the option a bit less attractive--but it will still be cheaper--for-now--than lioquid fuels.
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WildmanMick
Veteran Author
North Carolina
Posts:426
Points:316,540
Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:46:12 AM
"CNG-only vehicles “are a challenge when you’re using one specific fuel that doesn’t have infrastructure or support across the entire country,” Mattman said. “The range-anxiety issue is very real in this application as well.”"
"GM didn’t disclose the prices of the vehicles, and any premium over gasoline-only cars might offset savings on fuel. "
-Two BIG reasons why this will end up being trashed....
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DesertRat2011
Champion Author
Riverside
Posts:3,602
Points:482,880
Joined:Jun 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:41:19 AM
I had Ford pick-ups in our fleet 15 years ago with this set-up. Nothing new.
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Tigercat88
Champion Author
North Carolina
Posts:3,187
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Joined:Jul 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:36:43 AM
I think Government Motors is getting Right for a change.
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BBopp
Champion Author
Dayton
Posts:6,824
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:35:06 AM
It's about time some manufacturer starts doing this!
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gasokie
Champion Author
Oklahoma
Posts:3,442
Points:1,323,805
Joined:May 2007
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:35:04 AM
It shouldn't be all that expensive to engineer and install a CNG system on a Silverado pickup. CNG is cheap and plentiful...enough to run this generation and the next 2 or 3 so go after it.
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Cothrom
Champion Author
South Carolina
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Joined:Sep 2005
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:34:20 AM
Well of course if the demand for CNG goes up, they will detect $$$$ to be made. And as we all do know, profit is everything
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des7902
Veteran Author
Virginia
Posts:385
Points:212,240
Joined:May 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:29:50 AM
Time will tell on this subject. The supply should be good for some time, but price is a good question.
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hornet17
Champion Author
Vancouver
Posts:1,323
Points:440,865
Joined:Aug 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:24:35 AM
$6000-$10000 over three years savings, and the option will be $10,000+ to buy.
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Norm10
Champion Author
British Columbia
Posts:3,332
Points:162,475
Joined:Dec 2010
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:13:41 AM
Based on GM's past track record they will again introduce this option with a very high price point so no one will want to buy it.
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amoshins
Champion Author
Trenton
Posts:2,185
Points:638,845
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 7:09:22 AM
GM does have innovation, regardless of the naysayers
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BuckyTJones
Champion Author
Salt Lake City
Posts:4,932
Points:967,950
Joined:Mar 2010
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 6:47:59 AM
This is good news but long over due.
Now I hope NG prices will not skyrocket like diesel and propane did.
I hope the other truck makers will follow suit.
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fuel2use
Champion Author
Seattle
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 6:46:02 AM
Good to hear.
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memo81
Champion Author
St. Louis
Posts:2,333
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Joined:Feb 2012
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 6:33:11 AM
Sounds good!
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Pozole
Champion Author
Portland
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 6:28:48 AM
...T. Boone be lovin' that !...
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furbud1957
All-Star Author
York
Posts:763
Points:153,405
Joined:Sep 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 6:24:51 AM
I sure wish I had a CNG, it would save a huge amount in fuel bills.
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Sneakers55
Champion Author
Houston
Posts:51,270
Points:2,141,225
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 6:23:33 AM
The world's LARGEST automaker has a CNG option, when will the world's BEST automaker follow?
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dorisntx
Champion Author
Fort Worth
Posts:2,079
Points:643,605
Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 5, 2012 6:23:07 AM
ok
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