Copied from The Detroit Free Press article by Nathan Bomey…….
“General Motors will offer a Chevrolet Impala powered by gasoline or compressed natural gas.
The move fulfills CEO Dan Akerson’s directive to place a greater emphasis on natural gas-powered products.
The automaker said it would offer the bi-fuel 2015 Impala starting next summer to consumers and fleet buyers, with the latter expected to account
for most sales.
GM said the natural gas-fueled Impala will be able to travel
150 miles on natural gas and 350 miles on gasoline.
The company did not reveal the vehicle’s price or fuel economy, but expects to sell about 750 to 1,000 units in the first model year.
Unlike some cars that are retrofitted with natural gas tanks, the Impala is factory-engineered, GM said, with a “powertrain that switches seamlessly from CNG to gasoline.”
That approach resembles the Chevrolet Volt, which can travel on a battery charge before switching to gasoline.
Akerson introduced the new vehicle Wednesday before the nonpartisan Securing America’s Future Energy group to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1973 oil embargo. He has made increased natural gas use a key part of what he sees as a cohesive national energy policy.
“Natural gas powertrains are one of the areas where we have increased investment because we believe the technology can satisfy the ‘green’ needs of both the environment and stockholders,” Akerson said.
GM’s product lineup already includes natural gas vans. The company also recently said it plans to offer bi-fuel versions of its 2015 full-size pickups.”
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