Introduced as an all-new generation pickup last year, Ford’s F-250 Super Duty achieves important weight savings of 350 pounds with its military-grade aluminum cab and pickup box. Less weight contributes to greater fuel efficiency and also adds to payload capacity, important to everyone but especially to those with heavy-duty hauling or towing needs, or commercial fleet operators where this truck often finds use.

Also important to tradesmen and fleets is an ability to haul and tow heavy loads. The F-250 Super Duty offers 6.75- or 8.0-foot pickup beds and can handle payloads up to 4,200 pounds. The model is rated to tow up to 18,500 pounds when properly equipped. Regular, SuperCab, and Crew Cab versions are available to meet diverse needs.

The F-250’s standard powertrain is a 6.2-liter SOHC V-8 engine that’s E85-capable, making the F-250 a flexible fuel vehicle capable of running on gasoline or E85 ethanol from the same fuel tank. This 385-horsepower engine connects to a TorqShift-G six-speed automatic transmission. The ‘G’ version of Ford’s TorqShift transmission has a higher first-gear ratio to enable better launches and improved acceleration from rolling stops. The TorqShift-G’s downshifts are faster than those in the regular TorqShift and are engine speed-matched. The quality of upshifts has also been improved.

A 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V-8 with a TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission is optionally available. This powerful diesel engine delivers substantial hauling and towing power with 440 horsepower and a stump-pulling 925 lb-ft torque that comes on strong at a low 1,800 rpm. No fuel economy figures are provided by Ford for either engine since vehicles over 8,500-pound GVWR are not rated by EPA. The minimum GVWR rating for the F-250 Super Duty is 9,900 pounds.

Standard equipment includes trailer sway control, AdvanceTrac with roll stability control, SOS post-crash alert, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Several option packages are available. Basic power necessities such as power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, and other niceties are bundled in the F-250’s Power Equipment group. Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system with navigation and an 8.0-inch touchscreen are included in other option packages.

Safety options include a rearview camera and blind-spot warning system. An Ultimate Trailer Tow package includes a 360-degree camera system with trailer reverse guidance, a rearview camera, and a rear camera in the center high-mounted stop light to provide a clear view of the bed. An STX appearance package is optional. Depending on configuration, the F-250 Super Duty is priced from $33,150 to $36,745.

In the 1990s amid all the activi­ties surrounding electric vehicles, there were natural gas vehicles (NGVs) being sold by automakers, pri­marily pickups and vans aimed at fleets. It was a good start for natural gas.

Unfortunately, the changing whims of federal regulations and alternative fuel implementation saw these well-executed light-duty trucks fall by the wayside, leaving only Honda in the factory-pro­duced NGV market with its natural gas Honda Civic sedan.

Now that’s changing. Ford, GM, and Ram Truck have new natural gas vehicle offerings that are better than ever. Plus, major independent companies are ret­rofitting new fully-certified pickup and van models to natural gas in increasing numbers. Clean Energy Fuels subsidiary BAF, for example, recently completed its 20,000th NGV conversion.

Ford has developed F-250 and F-350 trucks equipped with the Westport WiNG Power System. These Super Duty pickup trucks feature this advanced, integrated, bi-fuel system on Ford’s 6.2 liter V-8 gasoline engine so it can oper­ate on either CNG or gasoline.

What’s really surprising is the natural gas range of these pickups. Behind-the-wheel experience with a bi-fuel Super Duty pickup has achieved a natural gas driving range greater than 300 miles with an expected total driv­ing range of 650 miles on both CNG and gasoline.

General Motors has been offering Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana CNG cargo vans with its Vortec 6.0-liter V-8 engines modified to operate on CNG only. It has now added dual-fuel CNG Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD commercial pickup trucks to its natural gas choices for fleets and consumers.

Priced $11,000 above the base vehicle, the GM pickups’ CNG and gasoline tanks have a com­bined range of 650 miles. The bi-fuel pickups use a CNG dual-fuel delivery and storage system developed and installed by supplier IMPCO.

Dodge Truck builds its new Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup on the assem­bly line rather than having the final stages of conversion completed off-site by a contracted converter. The pickup is powered by a specially modified 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 that runs on natural gas by default and then automatically switches over to gasoline when the on-board CNG supply is exhausted.

The bi-fuel Ram pickup  incorporates two compressed natural gas storage tanks and an eight gallon fuel tank for gaso­line, providing a combined 367 mile driv­ing range. This formerly fleet-only vehi­cle is now being sold to retail customers.

This is all good news. Natural gas vehicles offer reduced CO2 and tail­pipe emissions, achieve fuel efficiency nearly identical to gasoline counter­parts, and use a domestic fuel that can cost a third less per gallon-of-gasoline equivalent.