Volvo and Mack heavy duty trucks delivered with a full tank of hydrated vegetable oil

Renewable diesel is popular. To the point where the brand Volvo and Mack have decided to deliver their new Class 8 assembled trucks in North America with hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in the tank.

This will be the case for Volvos produced at the New River Valley plant in Virginia and Class 8 Macks from the Lehigh Valley plant in Pennsylvania, all in an effort to reduce fuel consumption.

The initiative is part of Volvo Trucks’ broader strategy to decarbonize the industry through a three-pronged approach: increasing the efficiency of internal combustion engines, promoting the use of renewable energy to reduce CO emissions.₂ in the short term and continue the work of electric trucks, using rechargeable batteries or hydrogen fuel cells.

Volvos leaving the New River Valley plant will have 80 to 100 liters of hydrogenated vegetable oil per tank. This should make it possible to replace 4.3 million liters of conventional diesel from oil sources and reduce CO emissions by 75% to 80%.₂.

Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA), believes there is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling GHGs in transportation, and that internal combustion engine technology using renewable fuels can be combined with battery and fuel cell technology. of hydrogen. truck to have an immediate positive effect.

“There is a future for internal combustion engines, and we are excited to fuel the factory with renewable fuel, an important step in our journey towards sustainability,” said Voorhoeve.

Renewable diesel can be used in today’s truck engines without any modifications to the engine or affecting the performance or durability of the fire suppression system, claims Volvo.

“Renewable diesel is produced using a hydrogenation process, like the one used to desulfurize gasoline-derived diesel. Chemically, renewable diesel is identical to regular diesel and can be transported and used as such,” he writes. Canadian Energy Regulator on its website, also pointing out the benefits of this alternative fuel in reducing emissions.