Mack Trucks switches to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil fuel

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.

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 do not need modifications to accommodate HVO, and HVO can be used interchangeably with petroleum diesel.

“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, and it is estimated that by utilizing HVO, LVO was able to reduce its carbon emissions by about 18%. The medium-duty Mack MD Series is produced at Roanoke Valley Operations (RVO) in Salem, Virginia. RVO has plans to begin utilizing HVO later this year.