First natural gas GM half-ton pickups with 5.3L DI engines delivered in Texas
23 October 2014
Nat G CNG Solutions has delivered the first natural gas half-ton pickup trucks with General Motors’ 5.3-liter direct injection engine. The 2015 model vehicles were purchased by local Houston company NewTex Plumbing and San Antonio-based Pioneer Energy Services. GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado trucks for each fleet were upgraded to run on either natural gas or gasoline using the new DuraDrive DI natural gas system, supplied by Utah-based AGA Systems.
The DuraDrive DI system is a completely redesigned system using Tier 1 OEM tested components engineered to accommodate the unique operating characteristics of the direct injection engine.
During EPA testing the DuraDrive DI set a record for efficiency on an eight-cylinder natural gas truck, achieving 23 mpg (10.2 l/100 km) highway. The half-ton CNG upgrade from Nat G comes standard with a 24 gasoline gallon equivalent (gge) natural gas cylinder giving the vehicle a combined natural gas and gasoline range of more than 1,000 highway-miles.
Nat G CNG Solutions has pre-orders for more than 50 units of the DuraDrive DI, which will be delivered to customers in Texas and Louisiana before the end of the year.
In addition to supporting the 5.3-liter engine, AGA Systems has also started shipping the DuraDrive DI for GM’s 6.2 liter direct injection engines, which are used in the Chevy Suburban, the GMC Yukon XL and several larger pickup trucks. Nat G is offering an underbody cylinder system for the full line of GM full-sized SUVs to allow customers to upgrade their SUVs without losing cargo space.
AGA Systems has also received certification for the GMC Terrain line of compact SUVs equipped with the 2.4L direct injection engine.
AGA Systems designs and manufactures CNG engine systems for a wide range of General Motors vehicles and produces the only natural gas engine systems EPA-certified for GM’s direct injection engines.
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