Mack and Volvo now use HVO to fuel new trucks

Both Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks now use hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) to move completed vehicles off the production line as they depart from the Volvo Trucks New River Valley Assembly Operations in Dublin, Virginia, and Mack Trucks' Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) in Macungie, Pennsylvania.

"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 (BEVs), 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."

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

All Volvo trucks for the North American market are produced at the NRV plant, including the Volvo VNL which will begin production later in 2024. This initiative is part of several strategies that will help decarbonize Volvo Trucks' operations. Other strategies include enhancing internal combustion engine efficiency and drop-in renewable fuels, scaling the Class 8 Volvo VNR Electric, and developing 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 of Volvo Trucks North America. "That is why, at Volvo Trucks, we are focused on the three-pillar strategy with battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and renewable fuels in the internal combustion engine. 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, an important step towards walking the talk in our sustainability journey." 

HVO, a renewable fuel referred to as renewable diesel, has the same chemical and physical properties as diesel fuel but with a lower carbon content. This means that it can be used as a replacement fuel to help improve sustainability. Mack engines do not need modifications to accommodate HVO.

HVO is produced from lipid sources, such as waste vegetable oils and tallow, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is processed using hydrotreatment to achieve high purity levels, enabling HVO to be used, pumped, and handled virtually the same diesel products. By utilizing these waste products as feedstocks, HVO production can promote a more sustainable circular economy by converting waste into fuel.

HVO can be used interchangeably with petroleum diesel. Renewable diesel at any blend up to 100 percent (RD100) that conforms to ASTM D975 or EN15940 will not adversely affect engine or aftertreatment performance or durability.

Volvo Trucks is fueling new trucks leaving the NRV plant with 20 to 25 gallons of HVO per tank, with full tanks provided for trucks destined directly to operators. This initiative is expected to replace 1,125,000 gallons of fossil-based diesel annually, achieving an estimated 75 to 85 percent reduction in CO2 emissions for Volvo Trucks' operations in North America.

"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 at Volvo Trucks North America. "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 transportation truck operators can start using today."