New GMC 2500 HD Bi-Fuel $11,000 Upgrade Available

GM recently announced that its 2013 GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Bi-Fuel models will be available to order on April 19. That’s great news if you want to spend $11,000 more on your $30k+ pickup.

Even though it is $11,000 more GM is shrugging it off by saying that the 3-year savings of $5-10k will help offset the large optional package. The savings of course depends on driving habits and fuel use (like parking it in the garage for long periods of time.) Currently CNG is going for less than $2 per gallon, however, it is very difficult to compare CNG with gas prices.

On the other hand, you could go the diesel way and choose the Duramax diesel engine with the mandatory Allison six-speed automatic. This would only add $8,395 to your stock price. According to the Diesel Technology Forum, an industry advocacy group for clean-diesel technology, many new car shoppers are going this way with diesel sales up 35 percent in the first quarter of 2012. There figures state that diesel has outpaced gasoline each month and that consumers are moving past the old diesel’s reputation of being “slow, smokey and noisy.”

While the high cost of the HD Bi-Fuel trucks will hamper many individuals from buying the truck, let’s face it, this truck is designed for the fleet customer like governments and commercial operations. These fleets tend to hold onto vehicle long enough and receive enough incentives to make this type of truck purchase worthwhile.

The question does remain though, will high gas prices plus the growth of bi-fuel truck options increase the number of consumers picking this option? Or will this truck be forever a fleet only option? What do you think?

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• Chevy and GMC Pickups Design to Change – More Locomotive?