Westport Innovations says the new Westport WiNG Power System, a fully integrated CNG bi-fuel system, will be available for order on Ford F-250 and F-350 pick-up trucks through some authorized Ford dealers next week. It’s based on Ford’s new 6.2L ‘hardened’ engine platform. The trucks run on either natural gas or ordinary gasoline.

WiNG trucks will come with Regular, Super and SuperCrew cabs, with short or long pickup beds, and with two- or four-wheel drive. Other configurations might be added later, Ford says. The CNG tank is in a cabinet behind the cab, and the gasoline tank is below the bed, as usual. Westport says the CNG system’s weight is 200 lb (91 kg) with the tank empty.

The starting price point is relatively low at US$9750 with a 32-US-gal (121 litres) gasoline tank and a 14.4-gasoline-gallon-equivalent (54.5 litres) CNG tank. A 24-GGE (91 litres) tank is available for another $1200. Fleet purchases will be less. Using both fuels, we’re told range will be as much as 630 miles (1014 km). Westport says these pickups are expected to save fleets upwards of $2 per gallon in fuel costs, and depending on miles driven, can demonstrate a payback in about two years or less.