Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Green
Roush introduces a propane-powered F-150
click image for a high-res view of the ROUSH F-150 LPI and some of its components
Though mentioning ROUSH usually conjures up images of high-performance Mustangs, the company that Jack built is embarking down a different path with the introduction of a Ford F-150 that runs solely on propane. The ROUSH F-150 LPI (Liquid Propane Injection) starts as a $6,5000 option with a standard 20-gallon fuel tank, though an optional in-bed 50-gallon tank is available for those who need a larger range. ROUSH claims the system, based on the 5.4L Triton V8 engine, will produce the same horsepower and torque as its gas counterpart. While propane-powered vehicles traditionally get lower fuel economy, they produce 30 to 90 percent less carbon monoxide and 50 percent fewer other toxic emissions according to the National Propane Gas Association. Propane is also the cheapest fuel alternative to gasoline you're goine to find, and there's already an infrastructure in this country to deliver it. ROUSH developed the truck in 14 months, which is a testament to the speed at which an OEM can move when it's not as large and lumbering as one of the traditional automakers.
[Source: ROUSH]
Gallery: ROUSH F-150 LPI
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PRESS RELEASE:
ROUSH INTRODUCES DEDICATED PROPANE-POWERED F-150 PICKUP TRUCK
LIVONIA, Mich., April 13, 2007 – Roush introduces the first dedicated propane-powered F-150 pickup truck using an advanced liquid propane injection (LPI™) system. The Roush F-150 LPI™ is designed and manufactured to operate solely on propane while providing the same horsepower, torque and drivability of an F-150 equipped with a gasoline-powered 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton™ V-8 engine.
Roush will begin taking orders for the propane-powered F-150 immediately. The truck can be ordered, delivered and serviced through a nationwide network of select Ford dealers. Offered as a 2007.5 model year vehicle, it is the only propane-powered light-duty truck available from an original equipment manufacturer this year.
The Roush F-150 is available in Regular Cab, SuperCab and SuperCrew cab styles with XL or XLT trim and the full range of bed lengths. The LPI™ option includes dedicated propane fuel lines, fuel rail assembly and fuel tank. Additionally, the vehicle's OEM computer has been re-calibrated to provide optimum performance and fuel economy.
The base LPI™ option is $6,500 and includes a unique 20 gallon toroidal fuel tank, mounted in place of the underbody spare tire. For customers in need of increased range, a 50 gallon, in-bed fuel tank is available as an additional option.
The Roush F-150 LPI™ will be introduced at the NPGA Southeastern Convention and International Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference runs April 14-17 and is the largest propane industry conference in the United States.
"Aside from its superb engineering, this vehicle is right here, right now! It is an alternative fuel vehicle that has an established refueling infrastructure to support it," says Tom Arnold, director, alternative fuel products for Roush. "This vehicle will have a positive impact on reducing emissions and our dependency on foreign oil."
The LPI™ fuel rail assembly is made up of two billet aluminum propane injection fuel rails, an insulated cross-over, a combined pressure/temperature sensor, and a service port that provides data to the engines' computer allowing for more precise fuel control at the intake port. Roush uses fuel injection and fuel storage systems supplied by CleanFUEL USA and ICOM, Italy. LPI™ is a registered trademark of CleanFUEL USA.
The standard toroidal fuel tank and optional in-bed fuel tank include a special high flow fuel pump, dual filters, and the required control valves needed to run the engine. The tank also contains the fuel sender and electronic auto stop fill system. Fueling is done through the fuel filler door, and an automatic stop fill device prevents overfilling. This will allow the vehicle to be filled without using the "bleeder" system that vents propane vapors during filling. Fuel is also filtered prior to entering the tank.
Vehicle start is controlled by a "one-touch" system, where the engine controls take over from the driver to provide the fastest possible start with the lowest emissions. The OEM engine control is used with unique calibration values to suit the changes in properties from gasoline to propane.
The maintenance schedule for the Roush F-150 LPI™ is similar to that of a gasoline engine schedule with no special oils or change intervals required.
The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) awarded the contract to Roush in February 2006, and Roush designed, manufactured and brought the truck to market in only 14 months. "Roush has an unparalleled reputation for technical expertise, quality and value," says Brian Feehan, managing director of engine fuel programs for PERC. "It is because of this expertise and experience that we chose Roush to develop this vehicle." For more information or to order a Roush F-150 propane-powered truck, call 1-800-59ROUSH or visit www.propanetruck.us.
About Roush Industries
Roush Industries is a full-service engineering supplier headquartered in the Detroit suburb of Livonia, Michigan. Roush has more than 2,500 employees in more than 50 facilities located throughout North America, Mexico, Europe, and the Far East. Widely recognized for providing engineering, testing, prototype development, and manufacturing services to the transportation industry, Roush also provides significant support to the automotive aftermarket, aviation, electronic, consumer product, and motorsports industries. For more information visit www.roushind.com.
About the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC)
The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) is dedicated to promoting the safe, efficient use of odorized propane as a preferred energy source. Through the Council, the propane industry has committed itself to improving consumer and employee safety, to fund research and development of new and more efficient propane equipment, and to expand public awareness of propane and its many uses and environmental advantages. For more information visit www.propanecouncil.org.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Steve 12:46PM (4/13/2007)
Wouldn't have an issue with ixploding during a crash?
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ttruck 12:50PM (4/13/2007)
Another HUGE waste of money, after paying all that extra money for a cleaner running truck you lose money the moment you pick up from the dealership due to Ford's depreciation. Another point to look into, is Ford going to provide training to it's dealerships to fix these trucks when they are towed in to be fixed under warranty, which is all to commen with Ford trucks. The cat in the hat needs to stick with either NASCAR or building souped up Mustangs. It seems he cannot manage his money to well, as he has had to get outside investor Fenway to assist his empire.
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BLS 12:58PM (4/13/2007)
Hank Hill your new truck has arrived.
Imagine the tailgate party.
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Bill 1:41PM (4/13/2007)
This isn't really new. My late uncle worked for a propane company, and they ran their trucks on it. This was at least 25 years ago.
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J B 1:43PM (4/13/2007)
hey ttruck, you should pull your head out of your ass. my family has been driving nothing but ford f150s for the past 30 or some years and we never have had any major problems with our vehicles. The only issues we have had could be fixed in an hour or two in MY garage. maybe you should sell your tundra and buy a real truck.
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TheSwener 1:58PM (4/13/2007)
Can't wait to see one with the 50-gal tank hit some dude smoking a doobie in his Prius.
KABOOM!
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Timothy Auhll 2:07PM (4/13/2007)
And a hitch mounted BBQ will also be a Roush option
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KKop 2:11PM (4/13/2007)
Many cars and trucks (including F-150s) have been running on LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)in Europe for many, many years. Why it would take Roush this long to develop a nearly identical technology, and why it would cost $6500 is a mystery to me.
They could have taken existing technology and be done with it, and for a lot less than $6500 a pop.
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Alan44 2:22PM (4/13/2007)
Back before our local school switched to diesel powered buses, they converted all of their International buses to run on propane. After the switch to propane, they started to have problems with burnt valves. I have read elsewhere of a burnt valve problem with propane conversions. I wonder if they have solved this problem.
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Bryan 2:32PM (4/13/2007)
JB--don't fret...he is just upset that his new beloved Turdra is a big ugly POS that still lags behind the competition.
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Dave T. 2:35PM (4/13/2007)
KKop
I'm guessing those vehicles you mention don't get the same hp, torque etc.
Range on the propane is also 250 miles which isn't so bad.
And most customers (fleets) will have their own access to propane. at wholesale prices it is quite cheap. In the $1.50 range per gallon.
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lawstud 2:45PM (4/13/2007)
other propane options I've seen cost thousands less. This is not a realistic alternative at $6500. Good job bringing a nice alternative but count me out.
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Ramiro BA 3:23PM (4/13/2007)
In Argentina (Where I live) there are a lot of vehicles running with Methane gas and are very safe...(I drive two NGV cars)The local cost to convert a car is US$ 800
and CNG cost is 60% less than gasoline (here). Thats why this country has the biggest number of NGV (Natural gas Vehicles). The bad thing is the range (125 miles) because the fuel is load as a gas...but there are a lot of gas stations here and you allways can use the gasoline tank...
(Sorry about my poor english!)
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Jesse 3:38PM (4/13/2007)
So many angry people. Would someone please take the time to look into what it takes to warranty a vehicle that runs on alternative fuel, and look up safety regulations. I can buy a bigger set of injectors, and flash my personal car and it will run on E85. It wont have warranty, the ability to use mixed gas, or compensate for any other problems with it, but I can make it run cheap, according to you dips.
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Aki 3:59PM (4/13/2007)
Perfect for those game days where you BBQ on the back of your trunk bed.
The highlight is not that it's propane (propane cars have been out for awhile), but that it achieves similar performance to stock. Have no idea what the range or how much propane costs to the average consumer--but I'm guessing it's not cost effective (else propane would've been the standard long ago).
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Sleighboy 4:21PM (4/13/2007)
LPG-powered cars are nothing new, but the part that is relatively new is the injection part. Most LPG systems, the ones that let you run dual-fuel, use your cars intake a special vaporiser unit that keep the liquid part out of the mix and just allows the vapors to waft into you intake and be burnt. This system makes it a single-fuel vehicle, and allows for more precise dosing of fuel and better MPG.
Since propane has a boiling point of minus 43 degrees F, it turns to vapor quite readily. And strictly vapor in your cylinders means more compression possibility. You can crank up the engine compression, or simply add some forced induction. LPG octane rating is in the area of something like 110.
See: http://www.alternatefuelsracing.com/
Chevrolet has a deal with a company I forget the name of to sell medium-duty trucks with their LPG injection kits installed also.
A side-note here, the frozen food/ice cream home delivery company Schwans (big yellow trucks), switched to LPG during the 70's oil embargo and has not gone back, AFAIK. Their fleet nation-wide runs on LPG.
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3cubedminus3squared 5:46PM (4/13/2007)
Hey ttruck, have you ever driven an F-150?
Our F-150 has 155,000+ miles and the only thing we've replaced were the tires.
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Barney 7:32PM (4/13/2007)
Wher I live a propane vehicle is very common. Most cabs and couriers run on propane. The gas is cheaper then gasoline but the range is limited to the size of bottle(s) you can fit on the vehicle. It's not only cleaner but the oil changes can be extended as well. The engine also lasts longer. GM,Ford & Chrysler offer it from the factory. The conversion is only for those who put on a lot of mileage.
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Shadyman 7:41PM (4/13/2007)
3cubedminus3squared:
I'd hope you'd have replaced the oil and filter as well...
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Mike 7:42PM (4/13/2007)
Ford already has some CNG vehicles out there, the dealer network has some specially trained dealers who fix them. They really aren't much more complicated than a regular vehicle and they have been run in fleets for years on both Crown Vics and large trucks.
Leave it to some Toyota fanboy to rip on it just because it's American. They always say how green they are until someone else comes up with something better or different, then it's down to childish flaming for the sake of flaming. ttruck, next time just keep it to yourself.
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