Chrysler Group LLC has begun the delivery of 242 new 2013 Ram 2500 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) pickup trucks to the State of Oklahoma. ODOT will use the Ram CNG bi-fuel pickups primarily as service trucks on the state’s roads and highways.

Gov. Mary Fallin is leading a coalition of 22 states seeking to use more CNG vehicles in their state fleets. She has worked with other state officials and governors, met with automobile manufacturers, and issued and received bids for more affordable CNG vehicles for use in state fleets.

The Ram CNG pickups delivered on March 6 were purchased by the State of Oklahoma through John Vance Motors, a Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Truck dealership in Guthrie, Okla.

“Converting the state’s fleet to CNG will save taxpayers millions of dollars in fuel costs,” Gov. Fallin said. “The use of cleaner-burning CNG fuel is good for the environment and promotes Oklahoma-made natural gas which in turn supports the creation of more Oklahoma jobs. Our multi-state bidding process was aimed at encouraging automakers to provide states with more affordable and more functional CNG vehicles.”

The bi-fuel vehicle uses CNG as its primary fuel source, but automatically switches to gasoline when the CNG tanks are emptied.

The Ram 2500 CNG is the only OEM-built compressed natural gas-powered pickup truck in North America. The Ram 2500 CNG system was fully engineered and tested by Chrysler Group and assembled at the company’s heavy-duty truck plant in Saltillo, Mexico. Production of the Ram 2500 CNG began in late October in the Saltillo plant. The 242-vehicle order is Chrysler’s largest customer order since production began.