Automotive Fleet, July 2019

AUTOMOTIVE FLEET I JULY 2019 40 SMALLER DISPLACEMENT DURAMAX DIESEL ENGINE COMES TO THE 2020 MY DURAMAX DIESEL SILVERADO DELIVERED HIGH FUEL ECONOMY DURING A FIRSTDRIVE EVENT GENERAL MOTORS JOHN SCHWEGMAN TALKS ABOUT HOW THIS MORE FUEL EFFICIENT AND POWERFUL PICKUP CAN WORK FOR FLEETS BY ERIC GANDARILLA T he 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 30L Duramax diesel has yet to receive final fuel economy certification from the Environmental Protection Agency EPA But if a day behind the wheel of it is any indication of where fuel efficiency will land Chevrolet will have a lot to be happy about come certification time and fleet managers should have something to look forward to once the pickup officially launches In a 25 mile driving course where maximum fuel efficiency was the goal Automotive Fleet was able to squeeze out 385 mpg out of the 30L Duramax diesel Silverado A handful of other media participants reached up to 46 mpg on the same course It is important to note that this course did have ideal driving conditions but even on a longer course with more real world driving conditions AF managed to achieve 33 mpg This fuel efficiency showcase was part of a first drive event for the all new 2020 Silverado 1500 30L Duramax Diesel and the 2020 Silverado HD hosted by Chevrolet in Bend Ore in late June FLEET PERCEPTION OF THE 30L DURAMAX DIESEL SILVERADO 1500 Fleets have been asking for a light duty diesel Silverado for some time now according to John Schwegman U S director of commercial product and medium duty for General Motors Fleets wanted the performance and better fuel economy of a diesel engine but in a smaller displacement engine Some fleets Schwegman noted look at diesel as a type of alternative fuel vehicle in the same category as a hybrid or E 85 vehicle Weve had some fleets from our commercial sounding board ask about this light duty because they think it has the capability and high fuel economy to meet their sustainability side of their business said Schwegman Other fleets may look at the diesel Silverado from a rightsizing perspective according to Schwegman There are fleets that may tow a heavy payload or trailer frequently but dont need to go all the way up to an HD or 2500 series he added These fleets may have been looking at a 2500 series before but the diesel 1500 may be a better fit for them The 30L diesel will be ideal for those that trailer pretty frequently but are trailering less than 6000 pounds said Schwegman Their diesel options prior to the 30L Duramax 1500 was the 66L Duramax for the 2500 or 3500 but that may be more than they need if theyre only towing 5000 to 6000 pounds The 30L Duramax diesel Silverado 1500 and its max tow rating of 9300 pounds should be more than enough truck for these types of fleets while still providing the drive characteristics and fuel efficiency of a light duty truck Schwegman added TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP CONSIDERATIONS Its common for fleet drivers to rack up heavy mileage numbers in a given year The fuel savings that come with the 30L diesel Silverados better fuel economy can help fleets see a positive return on investment on the premium that comes along with the 30L diesel model in three years or less according to Schwegman Although fuel economy certification is still pending as of print time Schwegman expects about a 3 5 gallon differential in favor of the 30L diesel Silverado over the gas models Resale value which tends to be higher on diesel models will also help on that front added Schwegman So even with a higher acquisition cost fleets can make up the 30L Duramax diesels price premium with higher fuel savings and resale value That premium will be 2495 over the cost of a 53L V 8 gasoline Silverado 1500 or a 3980 premium over a 27L gasoline turbo model The price of the 30L diesel Silverado will be identical to the 62L V 8 gasoline variant and a Custom Trail Boss with the 62L V 8 starts at 43865 MSRP including destination fee Production of the MY 2020 30L Duramax diesel Silverado 1500 doesnt start until August Release is expected by the third quarter of 2019 AF 2020 SILVERADO 1500 PHOTO ERIC GANDARILLA Production of the MY 2020 30L Duramax diesel Silverado 1500 doesnt start until August Release is expected by the third quarter of 2019