The Editor's Test
Drives
The World's Only Live In-Car New Vehicle
Evaluations!
with Mark Fulmer
Editor-In-Chief, The Auto
Channel
|
No,
that's not a tool box in the bed of this 1998
GMC Sierra 2500 Bi-Fuel Truck - it's a CNG (compressed
natural gas) tank that cleanly and effeciently fuels its Vortec
V8 powerplant for the first 150 miles - then a 34 gallon
gasioline tank can take over for another 400 miles.
If you're a fan of full analog instrumentation, you'll find the dash easy to read and use. The left stalk may need a little getting used to, however, since it is bundled with a fistful of functions.
Under the hood, there's even an empty holder for a spare battery. Could be very useful for all you anglers with electric trolling motors...
- Fuel Comparison Chart
-
Physical
StateGasoline
LiquidLiquified
Petroleum
GasCompressed
Natural
GasMethanol
LiquidEthanol
LiquidNet Energy
Content
BTU/lb18,700
19,10019,800 21,300a 8,600 11,500 Octane
Number Range
(R + M) ÷ 287 - 93 104b 120b 99 100 Sulfur Content
(W + %)0.02 - 0.045 Negc Negc None None - a - Pure Methane
- b - Octane ratings above 100 are correlated with given concentration of tetraethyl lead in 150-octane
- c - Natural sulfur content very low but measurable.
Source: The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
Steering A New Course: Transportation, Energy, and the Environment, pages 75, 76.For more Natural Gas Vehicle info, try www.ngv.org
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- a - Pure Methane