OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin told reporters at a press conference at the Governor’s Energy Conference in Oklahoma City on Friday, Oct. 5, that dealerships in 28 states representing Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, and Honda have submitted more than 100 bids to provide natural gas vehicles to 22 states that are looking to use this type of alternative fuel vehicle in their fleets.

Those governors have led a bipartisan effort to expand use of natural-gas-fueled vehicles in state fleets through the conversion of existing state-owned vehicles and the purchase of new vehicles.

In the State of Colorado, the bid requirements mandate that vendors offer at least four classes of CNG vehicle types to state and local fleets; that they extend the same vehicle savings to all local governments through the state’s bid list; and that states purchase CNG vehicles, as required by law, if the lifecycle cost is within 10% of that of a gasoline vehicle. Hickenlooper's office added that the contract will save up to 19 percent on CNG vehicle purchases (off the retail price) or on conversions.

For the contract in Oklahoma, Fallin's office announced that awards given through the multi-state RFP will result in an approximate 16% reduction in cost for 3/4 ton CNG pick-ups, resulting in a savings of $5,800; an approximate 8% reduction for CNG compact sedans, a $2,100 savings; an approximate 4% savings on CNG transit cargo vans, a $1,200 savings; an approximate 8% reduction on 3/4 ton CNG vans, a $2,700 savings; an approximate 11% reduction on 1 ton CNG vans, a $3,700 savings.

Chrysler announced on Friday that its dealers will be providing the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickups to 19 states on the state contracts. The automaker said the Ram HD CNG is powered by the 5.7L HEMI V-8 and features both compressed gas storage tanks and a choice of 8- or 35-gallon gasoline fuel tanks.

The states that have shown an interest in the RFP include Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.