When AT&T was ready to take a new step in support of its commitment to reduce dependency on foreign oil and boost its support for sustainable transportation, the company knew exactly which automaker to call: Chevrolet. As a result, the telecommunications company recently added 101 new Chevy Express cargo vans to its customer service fleet, and all of them run on clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG).
The CNG Express vans will emit about 25 percent fewer emissions than those relying on gasoline or diesel fuel, without sacrificing fuel economy.
Consider it another win for GM’s fleet and commercial team, which offers both the Express and the GMC Savana Cargo Van in easy-to-order CNG-ready configurations. Each is built with a CNG-compatible engine—the General’s proven 6.0-liter Vortec V8—that has been specifically tailored to meet the unique requirements of compressed natural gas. This includes the addition of factory-installed hardened exhaust valves and intake/exhaust valve seats. Fuel-delivery and storage systems are then added using a dual-stage, single-sticker process, with two options being available: a three-tank system that provides a 200-mile range and full use of the cargo area and a four-tank setup that increases the van’s range to 300 miles through the addition of an extra tank located just inboard of the wheel well on the driver’s side of the cargo area.
The whole package is then wrapped up by a wide range of GM confidence enhancers, including:
- All major components are widely available and included in the GM parts inventory, with each having its own specific service part number.
- The vans are fully covered by GM’s 5-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty.
- Service, when necessary, is supported by the largest dealer network in the United States.
- All components meet GM’s rigorous standard for safety, reliability and durability.
And like its customers, GM is in the fleet and commercial business for the long haul: According to Brian Small, general manager of GM’s Fleet and Commercial Operations, “As more of our customers transition their conventional fleets to fuel-efficient and reduced-emission vehicles, we will continue to provide a one-stop shop to help them achieve their environmental goals.”
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