Trucks rolling off both Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks assembly lines are now leaving under the power of renewable diesel. Both are fueling Class 8 trucks with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

Manufacturing facilities fueling new trucks with HVO are:

• Volvo’s New River Valley Assembly (NRV) plant in Dublin, Virginia

• Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO), in Macungie, Pennsylvania

The NRV plant produces all Volvo trucks for the North American market. All Mack Class 8 models for North America and export are produced at LVO. It is estimated that by utilizing HVO, LVO was able to reduce carbon emissions by about 18%.

The Mack MD Series is produced at Roanoke Valley Operations (RVO) in Salem, Virginia. RVO has plans to begin utilizing HVO this year.

“The utilization of HVO will help Mack in its journey to promote the decarbonization of the transportation industry,” said 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, such as the Mack LR Electric refuse and Mack MD Electric models, Mack is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and achieving our sustainability goals.”

At Volvo’s NRV plant, trucks are fueled with 20 to 25 gallons of HVO per tank, with full tanks provided for trucks destined directly to customers. This initiative is expected to replace 1,125,000 gallons of fossil-based diesel annually, achieving an estimated 75% to 85% reduction in CO2 emissions for Volvo Trucks' operations in North America.

Volvo said this initiative is part of its broader strategy to decarbonize the industry through a three-pillar approach that involves:

• Renewable fuels in the internal combustion engine

• Battery electric trucks

• Hydrogen fuel cell trucks

“Today and for the foreseeable future there will not be a one-size fits all approach to decarbonizing transportation,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. “With the all-new Volvo VNL and by utilizing HVO, we can make the most substantial and immediate impact today. There is a future for the ICE and we’re happy to be doing all factory fills with renewable fuel.”

Renewable Diesel Can Power Existing Engines

HVO is a renewable fuel that can be used in the same engine as fossil-based diesel without requiring engine modifications. Produced from renewable sources such as waste vegetable oils and animal fats, HVO has the same chemical structure as fossil-based diesel so it can be used as a direct replacement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining engine performance.

Volvo Trucks said by utilizing these waste products as feedstocks, HVO production can promote a more sustainable circular economy by converting waste into valuable fuel.

Unlike first-generation biofuels, these raw sources are processed using a sophisticated hydrotreatment to achieve high levels of purity allowing HVO to be stored, used, pumped, and handled virtually the same way as fossil-based diesel products.

Because HVO is hydrogenated it doesn’t contain oxygen and does not present the challenges of first-generation biofuels, including biodiesel, relating to extreme temperature and storage.

This is an added benefit of HVO as it does not require separate storage or fueling infrastructure, according to Volvo. Renewable diesel at any blend up to a maximum of 100% (RD100) that conforms to ASTM D975 or EN15940 will not adversely affect engine or aftertreatment performance or durability.

“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,” said Johan Agebrand, director of product marketing, Volvo Trucks North America. “Fuels produced using hydrotreatment process such as, HVO and RD100, can be interchangeable with diesel and is a viable fuel to decarbonize transportation truck operators can start using today.”