Chrysler’s natural gas-powered Ram pickup will soon be available for sale to U.S. retail buyers as the automaker has started letting all dealers order the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) pickup. This program seems to apply in Canada as well. Earlier, Chrysler had made the truck available only to fleet buyers. It joins Honda as the only automakers selling compressed natural gas vehicles to U.S. retail consumers. According to Peter Grady, vice president of network development and fleet, the dealers were keen on the natural gas-powered Ram pickup and they’ve been clamoring, particularly in the natural gas states. “The electric technology just isn’t advanced, it’s not there, and there’s so much innovation that’s required to make it viable. We’ve got to be there in some fashion, whether it’s hybrids or whatever, but right now, compressed natural gas is here,” added Grady. In recent years, natural gas has become much more plentiful. Natural gas powered trucks are frequently specified as key to a strategic policy of energy independence in the U.S. CNG trucks are said to operate some 30% cheaper than gasoline models.Chrysler to sell CNG pickups to retail buyers
by •
Chrysler’s natural gas-powered Ram pickup will soon be available for sale to U.S. retail buyers as the automaker has started letting all dealers order the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) pickup. This program seems to apply in Canada as well. Earlier, Chrysler had made the truck available only to fleet buyers. It joins Honda as the only automakers selling compressed natural gas vehicles to U.S. retail consumers. According to Peter Grady, vice president of network development and fleet, the dealers were keen on the natural gas-powered Ram pickup and they’ve been clamoring, particularly in the natural gas states. “The electric technology just isn’t advanced, it’s not there, and there’s so much innovation that’s required to make it viable. We’ve got to be there in some fashion, whether it’s hybrids or whatever, but right now, compressed natural gas is here,” added Grady. In recent years, natural gas has become much more plentiful. Natural gas powered trucks are frequently specified as key to a strategic policy of energy independence in the U.S. CNG trucks are said to operate some 30% cheaper than gasoline models.