New VTNA, Mack Tractors to Leave Plants With HVO in Tank
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All newly assembled Class 8 tractors rolling off Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks production lines are now set to depart manufacturing facilities with hydrotreated vegetable oil or renewable diesel in their fuel tanks, the Volvo Group units said April 24.
HVO, which does not require engine modifications, is produced from renewable sources, such as waste vegetable oils and animal fats. It has the same chemical structure as regular diesel, so it can be used as a direct replacement.
VTNA plans to fuel new trucks leaving its New River Valley Assembly Operations plant in Dublin, Va., with 20 to 25 gallons of HVO per tank, it said.
The majority of VTNA output at the Virginia plant is Class 8 rigs, including the redesigned flagship VNL tractor scheduled to begin production in the summer, alongside what a spokesman termed a small percentage of Class 7 straight trucks.
Fueling with HVO includes the all-new Volvo VNL that will begin production later this summer. (Globe NewsWire/Volvo Trucks North America)
VNL configurations’ fuel capacity can range from 50 gallons to 200 gallons.
VTNA expects its annual consumption to total 1.125 million gallons under the initiative. VTNA declined to say who it was sourcing the renewable diesel from, as did Mack Trucks.
Agebrand
“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, VTNA director of product marketing.
VTNA said the initiative is part of a broader three-pillar decarbonization strategy — offering renewable fuel options for internal combustion engines alongside battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.
All Class 8 Mack Trucks are produced at its Lehigh Valley Operations in Macungie, Pa. The Mack MD Series is produced at Roanoke Valley Operations in Salem, Va., which plans to begin using HVO later in 2024, the company said.
“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,” he added.
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