Volvo and Mack are moving trucks using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) at their U.S. plants.
“Today and for the foreseeable future there will not be a one-size fits all approach to decarbonizing transportation,” says Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. “There is a future for the ICE and we’re happy to be doing all factory fills with renewable fuel, an important step towards walking the talk in our sustainability journey.”
[RELATED: Volvo's new VNL officially available across dealer network]
HVO is a renewable fuel that can be used in the same engine as fossil-based diesel without modifications. It's produced from sources such as waste vegetable oils and animal fats. HVO production can promote a more sustainable circular economy by converting waste into valuable fuels, Volvo says. Furthermore, HVO doesn't require separate storage or fueling infrastructure and can be used interchangeably with petroleum diesel.
"The utilization of HVO will help Mack in its journey to promote the decarbonization of the transportation industry," says Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. "Whether it's through the use of HVO or through the development of Mack battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) ... Mack is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and achieving our sustainability goals."
All Mack trucks at the Lehigh Valley Operations plant in Macungie, Penn., will be moved off the production line using HVO. Volvo trucks leaving the Dublin, Va., Volvo Trucks New River Valley Assembly Operations plant will also use HVO. Volvo will put 20-25 gallons of HVO per tank and full tanks for trucks going directly to customers. Volvo says this will replace more than a million gallons of fossil-based diesel per year, netting a 75-85% reduction in CO2 emissions for the company's North American operations.
Mack will begin using HVO at the Roanoke Vally Operations in Salem, Va., later this year. That plant makes the Mack MD Series.
"The internal combustion engine has more than 100 years of research and development and established support in the industry. It must be part of the decarbonization journey and major, immediate decarbonization possibilities exist by using renewable fuels, including HVO and hydrogen," says Johan Agebrand, director of product marketing for Volvo. "Volvo Trucks continues to work with the industry to broaden the use of renewable fuels. Fuels produced using hydrotreatment processes such as HVO and RD100 can be interchangeable with diesel and is a viable fuel to decarbonize (that) transportation truck operators can start using today."
