The city of Dallas, Texas as well as the state of Oklahoma and its agencies have ordered 321 Ford F-150 pickup trucks that are capable of running on compressed natural gas (CNG).
Trucks running on CNG make sense for fleet customers due to the fuel being more affordable and its price more stable, while reducing greenhouse gases and pollutants that cause smog — compared to the same trucks running on gasoline. In fact, the benefits afforded by CNG-powered vehicles sound quite similar to Ford’s reasoning behind its Fleet Purchase Planner tool. What’s more, a number of states (such as Oklahoma) provide incentives for purchasing CNG/LPG-capable vehicles — allowing customers to accelerate the payback period on the upfit.
The 2014 F-150 is available with a gaseous-fuel prep option for the 3.7-liter V6 that makes it capable of running on CNG or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). CNG/LPG engine prep from the factory costs $315; upon receiving the truck, the customer then chooses a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier to supply fuel tanks, fuel lines and unique fuel injectors, with upfits running approximately $6,000 to $9,500, depending on tank capacity.
Ford notes that since 2010, sales of CNG-prepped trucks have increased more than 250 percent. Cumulative sales are expected to exceed 50,000 trucks by the end of the year, and Ford expects demand for CNG-prepped vehicles to continue growing “as more fleet customers recognize the economic and environmental benefits of this clean-burning fuel”.
Sounds like a plan to us. Now, how about making that 2015 F-150 CNG/LPG-capable?
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