Compressed Natural Gas Tank in the bed of a Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 has been America’s best selling truck for 36 years and starting in 2014 it will be available with a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine. Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford in Garland, TX (serving Rockwall, Richardson, Rowlett and the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area) is a great supporter of Ford’s green initiative and is excited for the new 2014 Ford F-150.
The CNG will have a slightly higher price tag around $10,000 more however, this option will give contractors and vehicle fleet owners the potential for huge savings in their annual operating costs. According to Kevin Koswick, Ford’s director of North American fleet, leasing and remarketing operations, customers could see a payback on their investment in as little as two to three years because the price of natural gas is so much more inexpensive than gasoline or diesel.
Check out our video and see why the F-150 is the #1 Truck in America
The huge growth in hydraulic fracturing in the United States, has unlocked abundant supplies of inexpensive natural gas. The national average for unleaded regular gasoline is $3.66 and CNG sells for an average of $2.11 per gallon of gasoline equivalent, and as little as $1 in some parts of the country.
That can make a huge difference for fleet business owners. For Example, by the end of 2018 AT&T is deploying 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles which will include 650 F-350 chassis cabs with CNG engines they recently purchased from Ford. Those alt-fuel vehicles have helped AT&T reduce the company’s CO2 emissions and avoid purchasing 7.7 million gallons of gasoline over the past five years, said Jerome Webber, AT&T’s vice president of global fleet operations.
Large heavy-duty trucks that run on natural gas have been available for some time, but Ford is the first manufacturer to offer a natural gas version of a half-ton pickup. Ford will now offer eight commercial vehicles with a CNG option, including its Transit Connect van and wagon.
This fall the F-150 will be available with a 3.7-liter V6 engine, with a $315 factory-installed, gaseous-fuel prep package that includes hardened valves, valve seats, pistons and rings so it can operate on either natural gas or gasoline through separate fuel systems. Customers would then choose a Ford-approved vehicle modifier to supply fuel tanks, fuel lines and unique fuel injectors. The conversion is expected to cost about $8,000 to $10,000.
The CNG tank, pressurized to about 3600 psi, typically rides in the bed of the pickup, although Ford said some suppliers have found innovative ways to store it underneath the vehicle, ensuring owners get the full use of the pickup bed.
Come take a test drive at Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford in Garland, TX and see for yourself why the Ford F-150 is the best selling truck for 36 years. Take the short drive down I-635 to the Garland/Shiloh Rd exit, or shop anytime at www.PrestigeGarland.com.