Ford to add F-150 to lineup offering natural gas in 2014

Ford is including its bestselling F-150 pickup in its expanding lineup of vehicles that run on clean natural gas.

The automaker says adding the 2014 F-150 will make it the only maker with a full-size pickup that can come prepped from the factory for natural gas, then sent to an outfitter. Until now, Ford’s natural-gas lineup has included the small Transit Connect and E Series vans, and the big Super Duty pickups and chassis cabs.

Natural gas is produced do- mestically and costs a fraction of gasoline — averaging $2.11 a gallon — but is still not widely used.

The Ford lineup underscores how natural gas is still largely embraced by commercial buyers and fleets.

Only Honda produces a natural-gas car, a version of the Civic, in limited numbers.

Ford officials note, however, that the F-150 with the modified 3.7-liter V-6 engine will be available in natural gas to anyone who wants to buy one.

“This is not restricted to commercial fleets only,” says Dick Cupka, a product develop- ment sustainability manager.

The natural-gas prep work to the engine at the factory adds $315 to the cost of the truck, which then goes to an outfitter who is likely to charge up to $9,500 more for the tanks and connections, Ford says. Many buyers opt to have the vehicle capable of running on either natural gas or gasoline.

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.

As a result, adding the F-150 is likely to boost fast-growing natural-gas vehicle sales.