3/4 Ton Ram Fleets with Hemi’s To Get CNG

[xcel]

19 States scheduled to receive 2500 Heavy Duty CNG-Powered trucks.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Oct. 6, 2012

2012 RAM 2500 CNG – No word on pricing but can a 15 mpgUS combined “or less” truck running on any fuel be cost effective let alone ecologically sound?

Chrysler announced yesterday that 13 Ram Truck dealers in 19 states will be supplying the new Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup truck to fleets.

The exact Ram Truck dealerships were disclosed by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper who are leading a bipartisan group of 22 states seeking to use compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in their state automobile fleets.

The 13 Ram Truck dealers submitted formal bids in July in response to this multistate solicitation. The specific number of Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup trucks being purchased in each state was not announced. The individual states now must finalize agreements with the dealers and issue purchase orders.

The governors stated that the multistate solicitation was designed to encourage auto manufacturers in the U.S. to develop more functional and affordable compressed natural gas vehicles and to encourage investment in public refueling infrastructure.

Earlier this year, both governors traveled to Detroit to meet with Chrysler and other automakers about the project. In July, the states issued a request for proposal soliciting bids for compressed natural gas sedans, pickups, and vans to be used in state fleets.

Governors Fallin and Hickenlooper announced the preliminary results of that effort today during the Governor’s Energy Conference in Oklahoma City, OK.

The Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup is designed for fleet and commercial customers and offers cost and emissions benefits, using domestically-sourced fuel while reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil.

The Ram HD CNG is powered by the 5.7L HEMI V8 and features both compressed gas storage tanks and a choice of 8- or 35-gallon gasoline fuel tanks. Redesigned cylinder heads with specifically designed CNG compatible valves and valve-seat materials allow the engine to burn both fuels. It also gets a second, CNG-specific fuel rail and set of injectors. New spark plugs improve combustion and durability, and a new powertrain control module allows the HEMI to seamlessly operate on either of the two fuel sources.

The Ram 2500 CNG system was engineered and tested by Chrysler and assembled at the company’s Heavy Duty truck plant in Saltillo, Mexico.

As I turned on the furnace for the first time in over 8-months last night, I sure hope we are not getting ourselves into a mess with CNG. We use this domestically sourced fuel to heat our homes and cook our food. It is one thing to see it being used in the CNG based Civic. It is a whole other matter seeing it used in FSPs.

While I applaud the use for domestic security, I am concerned that this like so many other natural resources in this country are being squandered to make a short term gain form a long term debacle.

Let us hope clear heads have thought this all the way through as the RAM with the 6.7L Cummins is the real work truck in the HD market, with the CNG fueled 2012 RMA 2500 with the HEMI running on CNG being a cost saver but not necessarily an energy saver that could come back and bite us all.

Would it not make more sense that State fleets run the already efficient all-new 2013 Ram 1500 with the 3.6L Penatastar V6 converted to CNG instead?

[e90diesel]

To me it makes cng makes no sense in a 3/4 ton pu, let alone a big rig.

Chrysler should put the VM Motori 3.0 diesel in the Ram 1500.

The improvements for the 2013 model are impressive. Electric steering, zf designed 8 speed trans, grill shutters ect.

Seems like with all those improvements and proper gearing a 1500 diesel would be good for at least 33 mpg at 55-60 mph on the hwy.

[herm]

We have so much NG that IT MAKES SENSE to fuel our worst FSP with it.. lets hope its also offered to the common man. Fueling Civics with CNG is a drop in the ocean.

[50 mpg by 2012]

As I turned on the furnace for the first time in over 8-months last night, I sure hope we are not getting ourselves into a mess with CNG. We use this domestically sourced fuel to heat our homes and cook our food. It is one thing to see it being used in the CNG based Civic. It is a whole other matter seeing it used in FSPs.

While I applaud the use for domestic security, I am concerned that this like so many other natural resources in this country are being squandered to make a short term gain form a long term debacle.

All I can add is that there are many miles on NEW 4 inche 65 psi NG pipelines being threaded around North Carolina. In fact, at least one I have seen is a dual pipe installation, possibly larger than 7 inche lines from appearance at a distance.

These lines are buried using techniques somewhat similar to those used for running underground telecommunications/power cables. The pipe sections are joined using thermal fusing (475F) on site then pulled into underground position, 1/10 mile (or more) at a time. According to the installation team I talked to, the installations are tested to 125 psi minimum.

I am reasonably certain that there are at least 3 coal power plants within 90 miles that will be replaced with NG systems within the next 24 months.

In my immediate area connections for industry, commerce, schools, and residences are getting underway.

Does anyone have a clue as to the possible energy delivery rate for a 65 psi 4 inche line?

I just hope that US NG availabilty and delivery capacity has not been over estimated. Particularly since there were to be efforts underway to impliment MAJOR (possibly one of the world's largest) LNG export capabilities in the US Gulf of Mexico free trade zone. A non-US owner though.

[herm]

Dont forget we can make methane from trash and poop, its all good

[southerncannuck]

I'm of the opinion that there should be a program to place CNG refilling equipment at truck stops around the country as a matter of national security.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by southerncannuck

I'm of the opinion that there should be a program to place CNG refilling equipment at truck stops around the country as a matter of national security.

I'm of the opinion that there should be a program to expand rail freight as a matter of national security. Then we can also switch from fuel taxation to road pricing by weight so that road freight stops being so heavily subsidized.

Also, put speed limiters on trucks and make it a criminal offence to request that a truck driver haul a load faster than is possible by following the law.

Or we could just switch trucks to a cheaper fuel.

[herm]

good points..