Mack to Begin Production of DME-Powered Vehicles in 2015

06-20-2013 
GREENSBORO, NC (June 20, 2013) – Mack Trucks will begin production of dimethyl ether (DME)-powered MACK® Pinnacle™ Axle Back models in 2015. DME, a non-toxic, clean-burning alternative fuel, offers many environmental and societal benefits, including that it can be made from multiple sustainable feedstocks.

One of the most significant advantages of the fuel is that it produces no soot, eliminating the need for a diesel particulate filter (DPF). DME can provide up to a 95 percent CO2 reduction compared with diesel when produced from biomass or biogas.

Furthermore, DME can be made from North America’s plentiful domestic natural gas supply, food waste, animal waste, grass clippings and other sustainable sources, offering the potential to help reduce dependency on foreign oil.

“The benefits of DME are numerous,” said Kevin Flaherty, president of Mack Trucks North American Sales & Marketing. “It’s better for the environment because it burns clean, and it can be made from sources that are domestically available. Mack trucks are built in the U.S.A., and with DME, we’ll be powering our vehicles with a fuel made in America as well.”

            The Pinnacle Axle Back model powered by DME will be equipped with a MACK MP8 engine, offering a 13-liter engine to easily handle heavy workloads. The Pinnacle Axle Back model is ideal for highway van trailer applications, bulk hauling, flatbed and dump trailer jobs. 

DME has the same performance and energy efficiency as diesel. The fuel is compression-ignited, is handled and stored similar to propane and does not need cryogenic temperatures or high tank pressures.

“Mack is a leader in natural gas technology development, and we believe DME has tremendous potential as an effective way to use the country’s abundant natural gas reserves to power heavy-duty trucks,” Flaherty said. “DME is unique in that it is clean, easy to handle, safe to store and will be made domestically, benefitting everyone.”

            DME can be produced by small-scale production units that convert biogas and natural gas into the fuel. Oberon Fuels recently announced their first innovative production unit will go online this month in California’s Imperial Valley region.

            “Oberon Fuels has developed small-scale, skid-mounted production units that can cost- effectively convert a variety of feedstocks to DME,” said Rebecca Boudreaux, Ph.D., president of Oberon Fuels. “With these small-scale production units, regional fuel markets are created, offering the potential to bypass the infrastructure challenges of using an alternative fuel while also enabling the use of locally available feedstocks.”

            Mack’s DME-powered Pinnacle model will join a robust alternative fuel lineup that includes the natural gas-powered MACK TerraPro™ Cabover and Low Entry models and the natural gas-powered Mack Pinnacle, which made its debut during the 2013 Mid-America Trucking Show. Mack also plans to launch a natural gas-powered MACK Granite®.

Mack will begin production of the DME-powered MACK® Pinnacle™ Axle Back model in 2015.
MACK MP8 engine

The MACK® MP8 engine will power the DME-fueled MACK Pinnacle™.



Dedicated to durability, reliability and meeting the needs of customers, Mack Trucks has provided purpose-built transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and Mack® trucks are sold and serviced through an extensive distribution network in more than 45 countries. Mack trucks, diesel engines and transmissions sold in North America are assembled in the United States. Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality, ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems and OHSAS 18001 standard for health and safety management systems. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation's roadways.

Mack Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, which is driving prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions, offering trucks, buses, construction equipment, power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing and services that increase customer uptime and productivity. Founded in 1927, the Volvo Group is committed to shaping the future landscape of sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions. The Volvo Group is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, employs almost 100,000 people and serves customers in more than 190 markets. In 2022, net sales amounted to about $47 billion. For more information, please visit www.volvogroup.com.