New Volvo and Mack Trucks to Feature Renewable Diesel at Departure

Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks have announced that all new Class 8 tractors will now leave their factories with tanks filled with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a type of renewable diesel. This initiative, announced on April 24 by the Volvo Group affiliates, is part of their broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

HVO is derived from sustainable sources like waste vegetable oils and animal fats and requires no modifications to diesel engines. Chemically identical to traditional diesel, HVO can seamlessly replace conventional diesel fuel.

At its New River Valley Assembly Operations in Dublin, Virginia, VTNA is implementing this change by adding 20 to 25 gallons of HVO to each new truck’s fuel tank. The facility primarily manufactures Class 8 vehicles, including the newly redesigned VNL tractor, which will start production this summer. This plant also produces a smaller volume of Class 7 straight trucks.

The VNL models have fuel tanks ranging from 50 to 200 gallons, and VTNA anticipates using approximately 1.125 million gallons of HVO annually. The specifics of their renewable diesel suppliers remain undisclosed, a policy also maintained by Mack Trucks.

Johan Agebrand, VTNA’s Director of Product Marketing, emphasized the importance of internal combustion engines in the transition to greener technologies. “With over a century of development, the internal combustion engine is crucial for immediate, significant decarbonization efforts through renewable fuels like HVO and hydrogen,” he stated.

VTNA’s decarbonization strategy includes three main pillars: enhancing internal combustion engines with renewable fuels and developing battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Mack Trucks manufactures all Class 8 vehicles at its Lehigh Valley Operations in Macungie, Pennsylvania. Its MD Series trucks are produced in Salem, Virginia, at the Roanoke Valley Operations, which plans to start using HVO by late 2024.

Jonathan Randall, President of Mack Trucks North America, highlighted the role of HVO in their environmental strategy. “Utilizing HVO not only advances our sustainability goals but also complements our development of electric vehicles like the Mack LR Electric and MD Electric models,” he said. Mack is dedicated to diminishing its carbon footprint across all product lines.