Volvo Group Australia has announced that from December 2024, all Volvo and Mack trucks built at its Wacol factory in Queensland will be filled with Hydro Treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel.
The OEM says the move comes as it works towards meeting it’s 2030 emissions reductions targets.
“The recent recognition of HVO100 as a fuel on the Australian market has allowed us to speed up our adoption of this renewable fuel as a part of our manufacturing process,” said Martin Merrick, president and CEO, Volvo Group Australia.
“While HVO is not strictly a zero emissions fuel, it is a fossil free alternative that reduces well to wheel emissions by up to 90 per cent, which makes a significant step forward in reducing our environmental impact.
“We will continue to take steps to cut our emissions and meet our decarbonisation targets by thinking globally whilst acting locally.”
Volvo Trucks first adopted the HVO first fill program at its Tuve, Sweden, factory in 2022, however, this Australian announcement represents the first time a multi-branded Volvo Group manufacturing facility has implemented this approach with fossil free fuels.
HVO100 is a renewable and sustainable synthetic fuel made from vetted waste vegetable oils and animal fats. It has low carbon footprint, zero sulfur, and can be used in Volvo Group engines without any modifications. It can be used as a standalone fuel or blended with diesel without impacting service intervals or engine components. HVO100 is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fuels.
Volvo Group has adopted science-based emissions targets, as a result the group is targeting net zero value chain emissions by 2040 to allow it to meet net-zero targets by 2050.
Volvo Group recently signed a 12-month agreement with Ampol to supply HVO100 to its fleet of trucks built at the Wacol factory.
“Incorporating HVO100 into our manufacturing process is just one part of our multi-pronged approach to decarbonisation,” added Merrick.
“We’ve been very clear that the future of fossil free transport here in Australia will still utilise the internal combustion engine, however the fuel that the engine consumes will no doubt continue to evolve as we move to a fossil free future.”