The Ford F-150, the best-selling vehicle in the United States, will join several of its siblings and will be offered with a natural gas option beginning with iconic truck’s 2014 edition. The option, however, won’t be cheap.
The automaker noted the 2014 F-150 will make it the only company with a full-size pickup that can come configured from the factory for natural gas.
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Ford’s natural-gas lineup has included the small Transit Connect, E Series vans and the Super Duty pickup and chassis cabs.
Honda is the only manufacturer currently producing a standard production gas car with its Civic CNG.
The current equivalent of natural gas, according to industry groups, is $2.11 a gallon — nearly half the current pump prices for gasoline.
Dick Cupka, a Ford product development sustainability manager, said the F-150 modified for natural gas will include a 3.7-liter V-6.
The natural-gas modification to the F-150 at the factory adds $315 to the cost of the truck. The outfitter, according to Ford, could charge nearly $10,000 more for the tanks and connections.
Jon Coleman, a Ford fleet and sustainability manager, says the cost of conversion can pay for itself in fuel savings in two to three years.
Article Last Updated: March 6, 2014.
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