Ford officially announced that the 2014 F-150 models will be offered with a CNG option. Based on the 3.7-liter V6 engine, this hybrid version will be able to run on compressed natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas. The F150 becomes Ford’s eighth CNG/LPG-enabled model.
Still a fossil fuel, natural gas has a couple of advantages over petrol and diesel, including lower price and a cleaner burn, which results in less CO2 emission. At the time of this writing, CNG sells for an average of $2.11 per gallon of gasoline equivalent in America, while unleaded regular fuel is $3.66 per gallon.
What’s more, a hybrid CNG-petrol car has double the range of a normal model. The V6 F-150 equipped with a CNG/LPG engine package is capable of covering more than 750 miles with topped-up tanks. On the downside, the performance suffers, because of the added weight of the system and the chemical properties of the fuel itself.
The cost of CNG/LPG engine prep fro the factory is $315, but you need to choose a Ford-approved modifier to supply fuel tanks, fuel lines and unique fuel injectors. Total cost is between $7,500 to $9,500 depending on fuel tank capacity.
