Volvo Trucks OKs Use of Renewable Diesel for Its Engines
Volvo Truck engines have been approved to use renewable diesel, which can be made from animal fats. Photos by John Sommers II for TT and Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg NewsVolvo Trucks North America said it has approved the use of renewable diesel fuel, which can be made from biomass, in its engines.
The company said it concluded truck and engine lab testing on renewable diesel fuel and found it has the potential to improve the environmental impact of vehicle operation and reduce particulate matter for pre-EPA 2010 engines.
Different from biodiesel, renewable diesel, sometimes called “green diesel,” is a second-generation alternative fuel created from biomass feedstock, including oils and animal fats. “The resulting fuel has a much lower cloud point, which improves the low temperature performance issues commonly associated with conventional biodiesel,” the company said.
“Environmental care is a core value of Volvo Trucks, and we are pleased to offer our customers another alternative fuel choice,” Frank Bio, the Volvo Trucks director of sales development for specialty vehicles and alternative fuels, said in a statement.
There is no warranty risk for drivers using the alternative fuel, according to Volvo, and using the fuel requires lower maintenance costs compared with other alternative fuels.
“Availability of renewable diesel fuel is growing in California and throughout the country. Renewable diesel meets the same ASTM D975 standard for petroleum diesel, making it a true ‘drop-in’ fuel,” Bio said.
