The 2014 Ford F-150 with the 3.7L V-6 engine will be available this fall with a factory-installed, gaseous-fuel prep package that includes hardened valves, valve seats, pistons, and rings so it can operate on compressed natural gas (CNG), or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, a.k.a. propane), or gasoline through separate fuel systems.

When the 3.7L V-6 F-150 is equipped with a CNG/LPG engine package, it is capable of achieving more than 750 miles on one tank of gasoline, depending on the tank size selected, according to the automaker.

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Ford's Jon Coleman, Ford fleet sustainability and technology manager, said customers could see ROI as fast as 24 to 36 months due to the low price of CNG as a fuel. 

CNG/LPG engine prep from the factory costs approximately $315 before the customer chooses a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier to supply fuel tanks, fuel lines and unique fuel injectors. Upfits run approximately $7,500 to $9,500 depending on fuel tank capacity, according to Ford.

In the next year, Ford will offer eight commercial vehicles with a gaseous-prep option:

Transit Connect van and wagon.
Transit van, wagon, cutaway and chassis cab.
E-Series van, wagon, cutaway and stripped chassis.
F-Series Super Duty pickup and F-350 chassis cab.
F-Series Super Duty chassis cab (F-450, F-550).
F-650 medium-duty truck.
F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis.
2014 F-150 light-duty pickup.

Ford said customers are responding to the range of alt-fuel choices it offers and that it's on pace to sell more than 15,000 CNG/LPG-prepped vehicles this year, an increase of more than 25 percent from 2012.

AT&T is one example of a fleet that's using CNG. The communications company recently purchased 650 F-350 chassis cabs with the CNG-prep option, according to Ford.

“We’re almost halfway to our company-wide goal of deploying 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles by the end of year 2018,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T vice president, global fleet operations. “Vehicles such as CNG F-350s from Ford have helped us avoid purchasing 7.7 million gallons of gasoline over the past five years while reducing our fleet’s emissions.”

Ford said its Qualified Vehicle Manufacturers (QVMs) offer a variety of CNG/LPG options. Ford said it maintains the engine and powertrain limited warranty (five years or 60,000 miles); the modifier is responsible for the system component warranty.