Current stations. More on the way.
Posted on 04/16/2014 1:38:11 PM PDT by thackney
When Ford announced last summer it would sell a version of its F-150 pickup specially made to run on natural gas, many saw it as a watershed moment.
Few light-duty vehicles used by everyday consumers are available in a natural gas configuration. Suddenly, the most popular model in America’s best-selling line of vehicles would come in a version that could run on the relatively cheap, clean fuel.
But early sales numbers show that the public isn’t exactly clamoring for an F-150 powered by compressed natural gas. Ford readies the trucks for CNG conversion on the assembly line, and contractors later perform the conversion by special customer order.
Since sales began in December, just over 200 of the CNG-prepped trucks have been sold.
Ford officials say they aren’t worried.
“The first year is always a bit challenging because it’s new to everyone who is looking at it,” said Jon Coleman, Ford fleet sustainability and technology manager. “Once we get established in the market, then we’ll see the sales pick up substantially.”
Coleman said the third-party modifiers that convert the vehicles only began their work in the last few months, so he doesn’t view the figures as especially low.
“Having that number of orders this early on, we think, is a fairly good endorsement,” he said.
Analysts aren’t as upbeat about the numbers, but they say that from a business perspective, it might not matter for Ford.
“You’re talking small numbers when in the U.S., 16 million vehicles could be sold this year,” said Christian Mayes, an analyst with Edward Jones Equity Research, referring to total projected car and truck sales in 2014. “It’s pretty niche.”
Still, the experience with CNG-ready F-150s isn’t necessarily a dud. Mayes said Ford doesn’t have to use many resources to produce CNG-ready trucks, nor does it have to do the heavy lifting of conversion.
Essentially, the CNG-ready F-150 is giving Ford the chance to test the waters with alternative fuel vehicles — and get some good publicity — without much cost or risk.
“It’s not going to move the needle much for Ford, but it’s about giving customers choice,” Mayes said.
Last year, Ford announced that its 2014 F-150 trucks would come in two options beyond the typical gasoline model: one that runs on natural gas and another that can run on natural gas or gasoline.
Natural gas is less expensive and produces fewer polluting emissions. Ford’s move was significant, since at the time, U.S. automakers geared most of their CNG-ready vehicles toward heavier-duty use. A version of the Honda Civic was the only natural gas-fueled personal passenger car available for sale directly to U.S. customers.
For the F-150, Ford produces a vehicle that has engine components prepped to run on CNG, and then arranges to hand the trucks over to third-party modifiers to do the nuts and bolts of the conversions.
Because gasoline is a liquid, it naturally lubricates the engine it powers. CNG is a gas, so that lubrication doesn’t occur and the engine runs hotter. Ford’s CNG-prepped vehicles take that into consideration and are made with more heat- tolerant engines, said Paul Shaffer, managing director for the Dallas location of Westport, one of Ford’s largest modifiers.
Through the dealer
Although vehicles converted to run on compressed natural gas have been in commercial fleets for years, Ford’s new system is significant for a couple of reasons.
The whole transaction occurs through the dealer. Moreover, Ford honors warranties for F-150s converted to CNG by its approved modifiers, which isn’t always the case with CNG conversions.
This one-step system for purchasers appeals to Cheritta Johnson, assistant director of fleet services for the city of Dallas, which recently ordered 65 of the new F-150s.
“You don’t have to deal with two different entities if it breaks down,” Johnson said.
Dave Hurst, principal research analyst at Navigant, said the consumer market for CNG vehicles in the U.S. isn’t likely to grow soon. Only about 1,900 consumer-level CNG vehicles will be sold this year, he predicted.
29,000 vehicles
By contrast, he said, fleets may buy 29,000 CNG-powered vehicles this year, mostly heavier duty trucks like Ford’s F-250 and F-350.
He said part of the reason CNG demand isn’t taking off is that fuel economy for gasoline-powered vehicles is improving. Mayes said the aluminum body Ford is introducing on the 2015 F-150 is far more significant than this year’s natural gas model. The aluminum reduces the vehicle’s weight and makes it the most fuel-efficient F-150 yet.
Every step taken to improve the fuel efficiency of gasoline-powered vehicles reduces the appeal of the more costly CNG vehicles.
According to Ford, an F-150 Regular Cab 4×2 with a 3.7 liter V6 engine starts at $24,445. The prepping option adds another $315. Converting it to run on CNG – which involves new fuel tanks, fuel lines and fuel injectors – bumps the price tag by $7,500 to $9,500.
Compressed natural gas costs about $1.25 less per equivalent gallon of gasoline, according to Energy Department figures. Even with that difference, Ford acknowledges that only higher-mileage drivers are likely to see long-term savings if they switch to CNG.
“The more fuel you use, the more the economics makes sense,” Coleman said.
Drivers also face the challenge of finding places to fill up. Only 686 CNG pumping stations are available to the public nationwide, according to the Energy Department. Texas has 41. Shaffer, of Westport, said most of his customers are fleet operators, because they have more predictable routes and know they’ll have access to CNG infrastructure – often at private company facilities.
“We understand this will mostly be a fleet vehicle,” Ford spokesman Nik Ciccone said, “but it’s also a way to test the waters with consumers.”
Not really, because cross-bed toolboxes typically clear the bed by at least a few inches, so you can still lay in 4x8 sheets of stuff. This blocks the front 18” or so of the bed. Shouldn’t be too hard to come up with a design that clears the bottom 6” or so of the bed, assuming they’re not morons in the first place, but if they’re not, why would they do this?
There’s 2 where I live...card-lock style.
I’m an advocate for converting fleets to NG...but I would hesitate before buying one for personal use, because of filling availability.
That's hard to believe. We have a place here in our little community. You can also get a home fueling station installed which takes the natural gas coming into your home (for those of you with gas) and compresses it into your tank. A neighbor has one of those installed and says it works well.
The article doesn't say if the conversion is to a CNG only vehicle, or to a dual-fuel vehicle. If the later - definitely something I'd be interested in checking out when my current truck dies.
I knew a guy that had a pickup converted to propane back in the 80’s and he just loved it. I would think this would be a lot better.
Current stations. More on the way.
Natural Gas Fuelings stations are buying built on the Highway System. LNG as well as CNG.
America’s Natural Gas Highway
http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com/pdf/CE-OS.ANGH.111912.pdf
If I was in the market I'd consider it, but I think if I was getting a new pickup I'd rather go with diesel and convert it to run on used vegie oil (conversion kit was $800 last time I looked). If I was in the market for new a SUV I would be more inclined to go CNG.
From the article:
Last year, Ford announced that its 2014 F-150 trucks would come in two options beyond the typical gasoline model: one that runs on natural gas and another that can run on natural gas or gasoline.
So Gasoline, CNG, or both.
They have been doing it that way for many years in some places. Honda has been selling their CNG Civic GX in the US since 1998. They used to offer a home compressor unit directly with the car. Now it is by 3rd party.
Per equivalent gallon of gasoline means they are comparing the same amount of BTUs, not the same volume of fuel.
From the article:
Last year, Ford announced that its 2014 F-150 trucks would come in two options beyond the typical gasoline model: one that runs on natural gas and another that can run on natural gas or gasoline.
Either or both fuels.
“Add a compressor and I would have more convenience than the gasoline engine for daily use.f”
You’d need a compressor that could compress the natural gas to 2,900–3,600 psi. A compressor like that could cost more than the truck.
When I worked for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, OK in the early ‘90s, you could get a CNG car from the car pool. You could fill up at the car pool, on the turnpike and at some of the refineries. I used to get one when they were available, just because it was “cool.” And, when you needed to fill up, since all the commercial facilities at the time were Phillips stations, you didn’t have to pay out of your pocket (and then get reimbursed) when you filled up with CNG. They just charged it to your business unit.
They drove pretty much the same as the gas cars. Mostly the same performance, etc. The only time I noticed anything was when you had a loaded vehicle; it couldn’t accelerate as quickly when loaded.
Heard through the company grapevine that the engines lasted a lot longer, and the oil looked “cleaner” when it was changed. All in all, I would get a gas/CNG dual use vehicle if I was in the market for a new, long lasting car/truck. (I put A LOT of miles on my vehicles...)
Looks like the break even point would be at least 200,000 miles. Doesn’t make a lot of sense. No wonder they’ve sold only 200 of ‘em.
Nope. They have been selling them for years.
The catch is they are slow-flow. Since it is at home, you plug it in and fill overnight.
http://www.brcfuelmaker.com/phill-domestico-prodotto-brc-fuel-maker.aspx
U.S. price for the Phill is $4,500,
But Eaton is supposed to be bringing a unit out for $500.
http://gas2.org/2012/07/24/eaton-developing-500-home-cng-station/
It makes more sense for a fleet service that would buy higher volumes of Natural Gas at a lower volume price.
It would be . . . if propane were cheaper than gasoline. Which it isn’t.LNG requires so much infrastructure that it’s only fit for long-haul truck fleets.
I see CNG as being competitive with electric vehicles - same sort of range limitation, but substantially cheaper fuel than gasoline. And, realistically, you are better off relying on NG than on electric power.
what happens when it overturns at speed? FAE?
Missed that - thanks!
“what happens when it overturns at speed?”
Probably something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v43nWJ2aoNE
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