Trane Technologies recently approved the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fossil-free fuel as a sustainable alternative to diesel fuel in Thermo King’s refrigerated truck and trailer product lines.
The use of HVO fuel offers a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and more than 30% in particulate matter while maintaining optimal product performance, according to Trane. The approval follows thorough testing, including a successful pilot with a national food distributor.
HVO is a fossil-free, premium-quality fuel product made of 100% renewable raw materials produced by the hydrotreatment of vegetable oils or animal fats. HVO typically is viewed as superior to regular biodiesel and does not release any new carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, Trane said. It can be used in place of diesel with no modifications to a Thermo King unit’s engine or changes in its preventative maintenance schedule.
“We are excited to now extend the option of HVO to our customers in the Americas who share our passion for creating a more sustainable world,” Karin De Bondt, president of Trane’s Thermo King Americas business, said in a news release. “Through our advanced technologies, with efficient, all-electric-units as well as fossil-free fuels, we are enabling our customers to decarbonize as we continue to execute our strategic roadmap to net zero.”
HVO previously was approved for Thermo King truck and trailer products operating in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. The fuel also is used for unit testing on all assembly lines and customer units at the company’s manufacturing facility in Galway, Ireland.
