2012-15 Ram 2500 CNG Hemi: BiFuel Pickup Trucks
Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 • Updated 3/3/2015
The Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup, sold only to fleet and commercial customers, can run on either compressed natural gas (CNG) or gasoline. It starts up using gasoline, switches immediately to CNG, and, if CNG is exhausted, switches back again to gasoline - all without any need for driver input. Natural gas is usually domestically sourced in the United States and Canada, reducing dependence on imported oil. [See CNG Dodge vans of the 1990s]
Allpar predicted the Hemi-based CNG system in September 2011. Information of the time indicated that the CNG version adds 780 pounds to the weight of the vehicle, mainly due to the twin 130-liter tanks under the pickup bed, covered by high-strength steel (the truck also comes with an 8-gallon gas tank; Canadians can opt for a 35-gallon gas tank). Ram chief Fred Diaz denied, then, that Ram was making a CNG capable engine, a half-truth: they were not making production versions but they were making prototypes.
The payload is 1,580 lb, with 7,650 lb of towing capacity, front GAWR of up to 5,200 lb, and a four-foot-eight-inch usable bed length. The Ram 2500 has integrated 4- and 7-pin connectors along with a Class IV hitch receiver and trailer brake controller (with customer-programmable electric or electric-over-hydraulic trailer brake options).
Originally, the truck was only sold in 4x4 Crew Cab/long-bed form. On March 3, 2015, Ram announced that they would expand the line to include regular cabs and rear wheel drive models. The long bed is still required to make room for the tanks.
The Ram 2500 CNG system includes redesigned heads and valve seats, an additional CNG-specific fuel rail, new spark plugs, and a new computer. Ram engineer Doug Killian said the Ram CNG is made "entirely in-house. That makes us unique in that we offer a pickup that comes out of our [Saltillo] assembly plant, starts life right on the assembly line with the diesels and the Hemis, and we build up the CNG system right there. We actually run it on the CNG, do all of our development and the final testing in the plant, ship it out with CNG in the tanks."
The range on CNG is estimated at 255 miles, and the backup gasoline supply extends the range to 367 miles. The CNG tanks hold the equivalent of 18.2 gallons of gasoline (14.5 liters of CNG at 3,600 psi are equivalent to one gallon of gas). At launch, CNG cost $1.25 per "gallon-equivalent" less than gasoline. Ram's Doug Killian said, during our test drive,
We took the truck over the "bad road" segments of the oval course at the Chelsea Proving Grounds. Acceleration was unimpressive but sufficient; running on CNG, the Ram Hemi is not quite as strong as it is on gasoline, though it's sufficient for regular driving and towing a reasonable load. Doug Killian added:
CNG vehicles emit 20% less CO2 than gasoline vehicles and generate fewer greenhouse gasses in fuel production. Dedicated NGVs produce, on average, 70% less carbon monoxide, 87% less non-methane organic gas, and 87% less NOx than traditional gasoline powered vehicles.
There are around 1,500 CNG fueling locations across the U.S., half of which are accessible to the public; large fleet operations frequently install both quick-fill and slow-fill CNG fueling stations. The Ram CNG's bi-fuel capability allows it to operate on gasoline indefinitely, until CNG can be added.
A 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty covers the HEMI V-8 and transmission, and adds internal engine components specific to CNG. The truck also has the standard 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. Specific to the CNG engineering, this covers all non-engine components, including the tanks, storage compartment and fuel filler equipment.
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Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 • Updated 3/3/2015
The Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup, sold only to fleet and commercial customers, can run on either compressed natural gas (CNG) or gasoline. It starts up using gasoline, switches immediately to CNG, and, if CNG is exhausted, switches back again to gasoline - all without any need for driver input. Natural gas is usually domestically sourced in the United States and Canada, reducing dependence on imported oil. [See CNG Dodge vans of the 1990s]
Allpar predicted the Hemi-based CNG system in September 2011. Information of the time indicated that the CNG version adds 780 pounds to the weight of the vehicle, mainly due to the twin 130-liter tanks under the pickup bed, covered by high-strength steel (the truck also comes with an 8-gallon gas tank; Canadians can opt for a 35-gallon gas tank). Ram chief Fred Diaz denied, then, that Ram was making a CNG capable engine, a half-truth: they were not making production versions but they were making prototypes.
The payload is 1,580 lb, with 7,650 lb of towing capacity, front GAWR of up to 5,200 lb, and a four-foot-eight-inch usable bed length. The Ram 2500 has integrated 4- and 7-pin connectors along with a Class IV hitch receiver and trailer brake controller (with customer-programmable electric or electric-over-hydraulic trailer brake options).
Originally, the truck was only sold in 4x4 Crew Cab/long-bed form. On March 3, 2015, Ram announced that they would expand the line to include regular cabs and rear wheel drive models. The long bed is still required to make room for the tanks.
The Ram 2500 CNG system includes redesigned heads and valve seats, an additional CNG-specific fuel rail, new spark plugs, and a new computer. Ram engineer Doug Killian said the Ram CNG is made "entirely in-house. That makes us unique in that we offer a pickup that comes out of our [Saltillo] assembly plant, starts life right on the assembly line with the diesels and the Hemis, and we build up the CNG system right there. We actually run it on the CNG, do all of our development and the final testing in the plant, ship it out with CNG in the tanks."
The range on CNG is estimated at 255 miles, and the backup gasoline supply extends the range to 367 miles. The CNG tanks hold the equivalent of 18.2 gallons of gasoline (14.5 liters of CNG at 3,600 psi are equivalent to one gallon of gas). At launch, CNG cost $1.25 per "gallon-equivalent" less than gasoline. Ram's Doug Killian said, during our test drive,
Chrysler had built and sold CNG V8 trucks before - B-vans were sold in the late 1990s and 2000s which ran on natural gas. We asked who had engineered the new ones - Chrysler or Fiat. Doug Killian said:
We took the truck over the "bad road" segments of the oval course at the Chelsea Proving Grounds. Acceleration was unimpressive but sufficient; running on CNG, the Ram Hemi is not quite as strong as it is on gasoline, though it's sufficient for regular driving and towing a reasonable load. Doug Killian added:
CNG trucks: availability and benefits
CNG vehicles emit 20% less CO2 than gasoline vehicles and generate fewer greenhouse gasses in fuel production. Dedicated NGVs produce, on average, 70% less carbon monoxide, 87% less non-methane organic gas, and 87% less NOx than traditional gasoline powered vehicles.
There are around 1,500 CNG fueling locations across the U.S., half of which are accessible to the public; large fleet operations frequently install both quick-fill and slow-fill CNG fueling stations. The Ram CNG's bi-fuel capability allows it to operate on gasoline indefinitely, until CNG can be added.
A 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty covers the HEMI V-8 and transmission, and adds internal engine components specific to CNG. The truck also has the standard 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. Specific to the CNG engineering, this covers all non-engine components, including the tanks, storage compartment and fuel filler equipment.
Home • 2019 Ram • Repairs • Vans • Campers • Forum
CURRENT: 1500 • HD • Power Wagon • Chassis Cabs
Vintage and special Dodge and Ram trucks
Home •
Engines •
Reviews •
Chrysler 1904-2018 •
Upcoming •
Trucks •
Cars
Spread the word via <!--Tweet or--> Facebook!
We make no guarantees regarding validity or accuracy of information, predictions, or advice - .
Copyright © VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, and Mopar are trademarks of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.