Mack Trucks Approves Use of Renewable Diesel in Its Engines
Mack Trucks has approved use of renewable diesel fuel in all its engines after truck and engine testing that showed it reduced greenhouse gas and particulate emissions, as well as decreased maintenance costs.
The Greensboro, North Carolina-based company said renewable diesel was similar to conventional biodiesel and derived from biomass feedstocks, including animal fats and oils. However, unlike biodiesel, renewable diesel fuel is produced using a different process and maintains physical properties and performance similar to petroleum diesel, meeting the same ASTM D975 standard.
“As the availability and customer requests for renewable diesel fuel increase, we worked to ensure its compatibility with our engines,” Stu Russoli, Mack highway and powertrain products marketing manager, said in a statement. “This approval gives Mack customers who seek to reduce their environmental footprint an additional choice when it comes to alternative fuels.”
Mack said the California Air Resources Board’s life cycle analysis of renewable diesel demonstrated reductions in greenhouse gases by 15% to 80%, depending on feedstock source used.
The truck and engine maker said the new option expands its alternative fuel offerings. The Cummins-Westport ISX12 G natural gas-powered engine is available in the Mack Pinnacle DayCab model. The Mack LR and Mack TerraPro cabover models also offer natural-gas options with the availability of the Cummins-Westport ISL G engine.
Mack is a member of the Volvo Group.
