2014 Ford F-150 receives CNG/LPG fuel option

Ford will be offering a 2014 Ford F-150 that can run on compressed natural gas and liquid petroleum gas. This will make the Ford F-150 the only half-ton pickup offered in the U.S. market that can run on CNG and LPG.

Ford will be modifying the 3.7-liter V6 engine with a gaseous-fuel package that includes heavy duty valves, valve seats, and pistons and runs so that it use either compressed natural gas or gasoline. With the CNG/LPG package, the 23 mpg highway-rated Ford F-150 will be capable of traveling more than 750 miles on one tank of either CNG or LPG, depending on tank size. The optional CNG/LPG package will cost only an extra $315, but the trucks will need additional modifications, namely a separate fuel system for the compresses gaseous fuels. These will run between $7,000 and $9,500 depending on fuel tank capacity, Ford estimates.

Ford
The conversion is performed by Ford-approved vehicle modification companies.

Needless to say, the CNG/LPG option will make the most sense for commercial fleet operators, who can expect to see a payback on their investment in 24 to 36 months. The cost of additional modifications may seem steep at first, but filling up a commercial fleet of these trucks with gasoline will seem even steeper. With compressed natural gas selling for an average of $2.11 per gallon equivalent or even as low as $1 per gallon equivalent, significant savings can be achieved through the use of trucks equipped with this fuel system. The prices for compressed natural gas do not fluctuate as widely as gasoline, and compressed natural gas burns cleaner.

For the 2014 model year, Ford will have a total of eight commercial vehicles with the gaseous-prep option, including the Transit Connect van and wagons, more than any other domestic manufacturer.

By Jay Ramey