Ford has started the production of its 2016 Ford F-150 pickup truck, which runs on clean-burning compressed natural gas, at its Kansas City assembly plant.
With the commencement of the vehicle Ford has become the only automaker to offer a CNG/propane-capable half-ton pickup, the company said.
The vehicle is powered by a 5.0-liter Ti-VCT V8 engine will be available with a factory-installed, gaseous-fuel prep package which will include hardened valves, valve seats, pistons and piston rings which will facilitate the vehicle to operate on natural gas, propane or gasoline through separate fuel systems.
According to Ford, when equipped with a bi-fuel CNG/propane engine package, the 5.0-liter V8 F-150 will be capable of covering 750 miles on combined tanks of gasoline and CNG, and has EPA-estimated rating of 22 mpg on the highway.
Ford fleet sustainability and technology manager Jon Coleman said: "It's exciting to see the first F-150s with the CNG/propane-prepped 5.0-liter V8 headed to customers.
"Whether running on gasoline, gaseous fuel or both, the 5.0-liter V8 F-150 offers hardworking customers terrific towing and payload and now, the ability to operate on alternative fuel."
Ford has around eight factory-available vehicles including Super Duty pickups, Transit Connect and Transit commercial vans with a gaseous-fuel prep option.
Image: 2016 Ford F-150 rolls off the line. Photo: courtesy of Ford Motor Company.
