General Motors is offering its customers a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) option for the 2012 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaway 3500 and 4500 vans. (Earlier post.) This new LPG offering enables businesses to choose from 2,604 LPG fueling stations nationwide—a number that is expected to increase significantly, according to GM.
GM is the only major US manufacturer to provide a single-source LPG van option. GM’s manufacturing process enables customers to spend less time converting vehicles by using a one-stop-shop approach that delivers a vehicle with a complete LPG fuel system, which can then be upfitted to meet customer requirements.
GM selected Knapheide Manufacturing Co. to install two different LPG systems into the 159″ wheelbase cutaway van. CleanFUEL USA and Bi-Phase Technologies serve as tier-two suppliers for the 49- and 75-gallon capacity LPG fuel system, respectively.
The vans come equipped with GM’s hardened Vortec 6.0L engine, and with this LPG offering, GM is the only automaker to offer four alternative fuel options for US fleet customers: LPG, CNG, ethanol (E85) and B20 biodiesel.
The vans will be produced at GM’s Wentzville, Mo. plant and transported to Knapheide’ nearby facility for fuel storage/delivery system installation. Upon completion, the vehicle is then sent to the upfitter chosen by the customer for body installation. The cutaways can be converted to various commercial, school bus, shuttle bus and RV requirements.
Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana LPG cutaway vans will be covered by GM’ three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and vehicle emissions warranty, meeting all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements.