First 2014 Ford F-150 CNG-capable trucks roll off line in Kansas City

Ford began rolling CNG/LPG-capable pickup trucks this month, becoming the first manufacturer to offer a natural gas half-ton pickup truck in North America. The 2014 Ford F-150 3.7-liter V6 can be purchased with a factory-installed, gaseous-fuel prep package that includes hardened valves, valve seats, and pistons and rings so that the engine can operate on either natural gas or gasoline through separate fuel systems.

Bi-fuel engine packages in CNG or LPG are available for the F-150 in this package, allowing for over 750 miles of combined range (CNG-gasoline) with maximum tank sizes selected. The 2014 F-150 gets an EPA rating of 23 mpg on the highway and the equivalent of that with natural gas. The upgrade package runs $6,000 to $9,500, depending on tank capacities and type.

By this time next year, Ford will have eight commercial vehicles with a gaseous-prep option:

Transit Connect van and wagon
Transit van, wagon, cutaway and chassis cab
E-Series van, wagon, cutaway and stripped chassis
F-Series Super Duty pickup and F-350 chassis cab
F-Series Super Duty chassis cab (F-450, F-550)
F-650 medium-duty truck
F53 and F59 stripped chassis
2014 F-150 light-duty pickup

Ford will sell 15,000 CNG/LPG prepared vehicles this year, up 25 percent from last, and will sell many more than that next year.

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An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.

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Tim Esterdahl says:

November 26, 2013 at 5:04 pm

Yawn…

Until the CNG infrastructure gets built out on a public level, this news is just simply good PR for Ford and nothing else.

- Aaron Turpen says:
  
  November 26, 2013 at 5:33 pm
  
  There’s more CNG than people realize and LPG is quite common at truck stops.
  
  - Tim Esterdahl says:
    
    November 26, 2013 at 5:38 pm
    
    Depends where you live I guess. I used to drive a CNG car when I was with American Lung and there were only 2 stations in Denver and one closed at like 5. Lots of range anxiety driving that car.
    
    Plus, when you look at ROI and the upcharge price of the CNG kit, versus the current prices, it is tough to make the purchase. CNGPrices.com says the average price was $2.08 and the average price of gas in Denver was a little over $3 a gallon. On a 26 gallon tank, that is only $25 or so. Maybe you could save $100 or more a month. That works out to be what, 6 years+ for the break even.
    
    Again, yawn. 🙂
    
    - Aaron Turpen says:
      
      November 26, 2013 at 5:43 pm
      
      There’s a reason these mostly sell to fleets. For the average consumer, it may not make economic sense, but for a fleet owner, these can repay themselves within three years and have a higher resale value as well.
      
      For example, a friend of mine in Utah had a Chevrolet 2500 converted to CNG he drove as his work truck. When he sold it, at ten years old, it had a resale value more than double its Blue Book value were it diesel and almost triple its gasoline.
      
      - Tim Esterdahl says:
        
        November 26, 2013 at 5:46 pm
        
        Agreed for certain Fleet customers it makes sense. Consumers it is still yawn.
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