DETROIT – General Motors announced it has started production of its Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD bi-fuel pickup trucks in Fort Wayne, Ind. The automaker added that these pickups are available for order by fleet and retail customers through Chevrolet and GMC dealers.

The Silverado HD and Sierra 2500 HD 6.0L V-8 engine can run on gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG), and the combined range of the gasoline and CNG tanks is 650 miles. The CNG storage system is a Type-3 single tank that is designed to provide more bed space, and the pickups are available in standard and long-box and two-or-four wheel drive in the extended cab models. IMPCO is the Tier One supplier handling the installation of the CNG bi-fuel delivery and storage system.

GM stated the bi-fuel option is priced at $11,000 above the suggested retail price of the base vehicle, and that the gaseous fuel system meet’s GM’s quality, durability and safety testing requirements. The automaker added that the 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. Each vehicle meets all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements, according to GM.

Related to the production announcement, GM noted that natural gas company Chesapeake Energy is planning to convert its entire fleet of more than 5,000 vehicles to run on natural gas.

“At Chesapeake, we are converting our fleet of more than 5,000 vehicles to run on natural gas, and having options from GMC and Chevy is critical to help us reach our conversion goal,” said Nate Pumphrey, Chesapeake Energy Corp. director of Fleet Operations. “Following our full conversion, we will save $11 million to $12 million annually on fuel costs.

Pumphrey added that the stable price of natural gas helps him budget more accurately, and that the reduced emissions align with Chesapeake’s commitment to “environmental excellence.”

Visit gmfleet.com for more information.