Rams from St. Louis Run on Clean, American-Made Renewable Fuel
09 Octobre 2006 - 7:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
* Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Diesel Pickup Trucks Delivered to Customers
Running on Biodiesel Fuel * Factory-Fueled with 5 Percent Biodiesel
at DaimlerChrysler's St. Louis North Assembly Plant * A Home-Grown
Solution to Nation's Energy, Environmental and Economic Challenges
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DaimlerChrysler will
expand its promotion of clean, renewable biofuels by delivering
each new 2007 Dodge Ram diesel pickup truck to owners running on
biodiesel fuel. Every Dodge Ram diesel coming off the assembly line
at the company's Fenton, Missouri, north plant will be fueled with
B5 -- made with 5 percent clean, renewable diesel made from
soybeans. The Dodge Ram diesel is already approved for regular use
with B5 fuel. "Delivering our diesel vehicles running on biodiesel
is a first step in educating our customers about the advantages of
this clean, renewable, American-made fuel," said Deborah
Morrissett, Vice President - Regulatory Affairs for
DaimlerChrysler. The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500/3500 series diesel
pickup trucks are powered by the 5.9-liter Cummins turbo-diesel
engine. Beginning in January 2007, the vehicles will be built with
the new Cummins 6.7-liter turbo-diesel engine and will meet all
Federal and state environmental standards. More than 15,000 Jeep(R)
Liberty CRD diesels have already been delivered to customers
running on B5, a fuel comprising 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent
conventional diesel made from petroleum. And in early 2007,
DaimlerChrysler will launch the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD with
3.0-liter, common rail, turbo-diesel engine, which also will be
fueled with B5 at the factory. These vehicles are also approved for
regular use with B5 biodiesel fuel. "DaimlerChrysler is on the
leading edge of advanced diesel technology," said Joe Jobe, CEO of
the National Biodiesel Board, the industry's nonprofit trade
association. "We commend them for helping bring higher efficiency
and renewable energy options to Americans. Their efforts will help
America improve our energy situation, making us a safer, stronger
nation." In addition to fueling each 2007 Dodge Ram diesel with B5,
the company has approved the use of B20 -- 20 percent biodiesel
fuel -- in the vehicle for commercial, government and military
fleets. For this program, vehicles will require a supplemental fuel
filter and must be used with fuel meeting the military's quality
requirements. The experience gained in this test program will
contribute toward finalization of a nationwide standard for B20
fuel. DaimlerChrysler is working with other automakers, suppliers,
fuel refiners and distributors, customers and research
organizations to develop a national B20 standard that could
dramatically increase the use of this renewable fuel. "In order for
automakers to produce, sell and warranty biodiesel vehicles, a
national B20 standard is critical," Morrissett said. "We think
allowing our fleet customers to use fuel made to current military
specifications will accelerate the development of a national B20
specification for general use." The standard must be developed to
allow manufacturers to use B20 in all of their vehicles, including
the millions of diesel vehicles already on the road, as well as
those built in the future, Morrissett said. Biodiesel's many
benefits include: * Replaces petroleum-based diesel fuel, reducing
the nation's reliance on oil. * Renewable. * Made from crops grown
in the U.S., supporting the U.S. economy. * Reduces total
greenhouse gas emissions. * Reduces tailpipe emissions, especially
particulates; can have significant health benefit, particularly in
congested urban areas. * Reduces engine wear. * Does not require
modifications of current engines. * Can be used in current diesel
fuel system. Increased use of biodiesel fuel expands the benefits
of diesel vehicles. DaimlerChrysler supports increased use of
diesel powertrains in passenger vehicles in the U.S. market.
"Diesel is an option available to us today to address our energy
and environmental challenges," said Morrissett. Among the benefits
of modern, clean diesel technology are: * An average of 30 percent
better fuel economy. * Up to 20 percent reduction in carbon
dioxide. * Improved performance, power, utility and durability
compared with gasoline vehicles. DaimlerChrysler also supports
increased use of another clean, renewable biofuel -- ethanol. Over
the past decade, 10 percent of Chrysler Group vehicles are
flex-fuel, capable of running on gasoline or E85, a mixture of 15
percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol. About 1.5 million
ethanol-capable Chrysler Group vehicles are currently on the road.
In 2007, the company will produce 250,000 more E85 vehicles and in
2008 plans to double the production commitment to 500,000 units,
nearly 25 percent of the company's Federal fleet production. The
company's lineup of FFVs for 2007 includes: * Sport-Utility
Vehicles with 4.7-liter engine -- Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen,
Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander. * Pickup trucks with 4.7-liter
engine -- Dodge Ram and Dakota. * Minivans with 3.3-liter engine --
Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & County. *
Chrysler Sebring sedan with 2.7-liter engine. "Part of the solution
to our national energy, environmental and economic challenges can
be home-grown," said Morrissett. DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group
CONTACT: Max Gates, +1-248-512-2688, , or Katie Zuchowski,
+1-248-512-2927, , both of Chrysler Group Web site:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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