To help improve sustainability efforts and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, Mack Trucks now uses Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as fuel to move completed Class 8 vehicles off its production line at Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO), in Macungie, Pennsylvania.
“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 (BEVs), 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.”
All Mack Class 8 models for North America and export are produced at LVO. It is estimated that by using HVO, LVO was able to reduce carbon emission by about 18%. The Mack MD Series is produced at Roanoke Valley Operations (RVO) in Salem, Virginia. RVO has plans to begin using HVO this year.
HVO, a renewable fuel and referred to as renewable diesel, has the same chemical and physical properties as diesel fuel but with a lower carbon content. This means that it can be used as a replacement fuel to help improve sustainability without sacrificing Mack’s best-in-class engine power and performance. Mack engines also do not need modifications to accommodate HVO.
HVO is produced from lipid sources, such as waste vegetable oils and tallow, reducing a reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is processed using hydrotreatment to achieve high purity levels, enabling HVO to be used, pumped and handled virtually the same way as diesel products. HVO can be used interchangeably with petroleum diesel. Renewable diesel at any blend up to a maximum of 100% (RD100) that conforms to ASTM D975 or EN15940 will not adversely affect engine or aftertreatment performance or durability.