DETROIT – AT&T plans to take delivery of 1,200 Chevrolet Express compressed natural gas (CNG) dedicated cargo vans that will be deployed to AT&T service centers nationwide. This is the largest-ever order of CNG vehicles from General Motors, the automaker said.

AT&T, which has announced its intention to invest up to $565 million to deploy approximately 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over a 10-year period through 2018, will use the vans to provide and maintain communications, high-speed Internet and television services for AT&T customers. 

Last week, AT&T announced the milestone deployment of its 5,000th alternative-fuel vehicle, a Chevrolet Express van, as part of the commitment.

“CNG technology is important to AT&T because it helps us reduce our fleet-based carbon emissions,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T vice president of fleet operations. “It is also cost effective and readily available in our country right now.”  

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, CNG-powered vans can produce approximately 25 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than similar gasoline and diesel-powered vans. The move to CNG supports AT&T’s corporate commitment to minimize its impact on the environment.

“There are millions of fleet vehicles on the road today and we want to be a critical part of this sustainable revolution, helping make these conversions as easy as possible,” said Brian Small, general manager of GM’s fleet and commercial operations.

Chevrolet Express CNG vans are powered by a Vortec 6.0L V8 engine equipped with hardened exhaust valves, along with intake and exhaust valve seats for improved wear resistance and durability with gaseous fuel systems. The vans are factory ordered and delivered to customers with their factory-engineered and integrated gaseous fuel system in place.  

The CNG option is available for order on Chevrolet Express 2500 and 3500 cargo vans. Each van is covered by GM’s three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. The vans also meet all Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emission certification requirements.