Ford offering optional natural gas installation in 2014 F-150

DEARBORN, Mich.—Ford Motor Co. announced it will launch a compressed natural gas (CNG) option in its 2014 model year F-150 pickup trucks.

Starting this fall, the popular half-ton pickup equipped with the 3.7-lite V6 engine will be available with a factory-installed gaseous-fuel prep package that includes everything fleet customers will need to run CNG or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in their trucks.

“Businesses and fleet customers have been asking Ford to make F-150 available with CNG capability to take advantage of the fuel’s low price and clean emissions,” Ford fleet sustainability and technology manager Jon Coleman said in a statement.

“With the money saved using CNG, customers could start to see payback on their investment in as little as 24 to 36 months.”

According to Ford, the prep kit includes hardened valves, valve seats, pistons and rings so the truck can operate on either natural gas or gasoline through separate fuel systems.

The automaker said the engine prep from the factory costs approximately $315 before the customer chooses a certified upfitter to supply fuel tanks, fuel lines and fuel injectors.

Complete upfits cost approximately $7,500 to $9,500 depending on fuel tank capacity.

In the next year, Ford plans to offer eight commercial vehicles with the CNG prep option, including its:

• Transit Connect van and wagon;

• Transit full-size 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; and

• F53 and F59 stripped chassis