Ford adds the Super Duty to its broadening offering of vehicles with CNG prep packages
At its annual Fleet Product and Business Conference, Ford informed North American fleet customers that it will begin offering an alternative-fuels engine prep package (CNG and LPG) for its 6.8-liter F-450 and F-550 Super Duty chassis cab. The Super Duty models are Ford’s latest commercial vehicles to get the alternative-fuel conversion option, to become available around end of 2010.
Since introducing the option to E-Series and other commercial fleet vehicles last fall, Ford has shipped some 3,000 E-Series vans with CNG/LPG-prepped 5.4-liter and 6.8-liter gas engines to fleet operators such as Verizon and Schwan’s Home Delivery Service.
Ford also offers the package on its Transit Connect, including its new Taxi offering with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine. This fall, Ford also will add CNG/LPG capability to the F-53 motor home chassis and new F-59 commercial strip chassis.
F-450 and F-550’s 6.8-liter V-10 engine comes with hardened exhaust valves and valve seats for improved wear resistance and durability for gaseous fuel systems. “Compressed natural gas and propane offer more than sufficient power for vehicles because they are high-energy fuels,” said Rob Stevens, commercial vehicle chief engineer. “Other natural benefits for these fuels are overall lower emissions of greenhouse gases compared to gasoline and lower fuel/operating costs for their fleet.”
Print 
PDF 