Optimus, Can-Am partner to provide B100 fuel systems on new Freightliner, Western Star trucks

A 2022 Freightliner M2 106 with a Cummins L9 engine outfitted with the Vector System (Photo: Optimus Technologies)

Optimus Technologies’ Vector System, an advanced fuel system technology that enables diesel engines to operate on 100 percent biodiesel (B100), will now be available via ship-thru installation on any new Freightliner or Western Star truck thanks to a partnership with Can-Am Custom Trucks. Customers will now have the option to order Freightliner or Western Star trucks and have the Vector System technology equipped prior to final delivery by having their dealer use Can-Am’s ship-thru code 99B-008.

The Vector System is a U.S. EPA-compliant advanced fuel technology that upgrades medium- and heavy-duty trucks to run on B100. Pure biodiesel achieves near-zero carbon emissions making it a sustainable alternative to conventional diesel, and more readily available with lower costs than equivalent heavy-duty electric or natural gas vehicles.

Can-Am, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is centrally located between the Cleveland (NC), Mount Holly (NC), and Gaffney (SC) Freightliner and Western Star plants and has been a ship-thru center for these manufacturers for more than 15 years. This partnership will facilitate integration of Optimus’ B100 technology for fleets looking to make the switch to biodiesel to achieve sustainability targets and near-zero carbon emissions. As an OEM approved ship-thru center, Can-Am is able to pick-up new trucks at the plant, complete the Vector System installation and return the completed truck to the transporter lot for delivery to the customer’s final destination.

“More and more fleets are integrating Optimus’ technology into their new vehicle purchase specifications,” said Colin Huwyler, CEO of Optimus Technologies. “This partnership provides customers a streamlined process for new-truck builds with the Vector System. We’re excited to partner with Can-Am to provide this service because Can-Am has a longstanding history of bringing innovation, top-notch customer service, and deep domain expertise to solutions for the medium- and heavy-duty trucking industry.”

Biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement typically made from an increasingly diverse mix of recycled cooking oil, waste fats, and agricultural byproducts. It is the nation’s first domestically produced, commercially available advanced biofuel. Biodiesel as a replacement for petroleum diesel fuel provides significant engine, environmental, and economic benefits. Most engines manufactured today are able to run on B20, a 20 percent blend of biodiesel; however, with the Vector System, engines are able to utilize 100 percent biodiesel. This newly announced partnership allows fleets to order Freightliner or Western Star trucks today, equipped with the Vector System, that achieve near-zero carbon emissions.

“This partnership with Optimus will allow us to expand our product offerings to provide customers with access to this innovative carbon-reducing technology,” said Terry Potts, president of Can-Am. “Can-Am has decades of experience and is constantly looking for ways to innovate in this industry. Offering unique, high-quality technologies, such as the Vector System, sets us apart and allows us to stay at the forefront of the trucking industry.”

The first trucks equipped with the Vector System under this partnership with Can-Am were completed this January under a specification developed with Freightliner dealer Johnson Truck Center, in Landover, Maryland, for final delivery to the Washington, D.C., Department of Transportation.

“Our customers have been utilizing Optimus’ technology for years to meet their demands for lower carbon emissions,” said Kirk Fricia, head of government sales for Johnson Truck Center. “Now we are seeing the Optimus B100 system integrated into their new vehicle bid specifications. This partnership allows us to factory order trucks and have the Optimus system equipped before they are delivered to our dealership or the body and equipment upfitters.”

For details, pricing, and assistance with developing vehicle specifications best suited for integration of the Vector System with your fleet’s particular applications, contact Optimus Technologies.

Optimus Technologies is not affiliated or endorsed by Freightliner, Western Star Trucks, or Daimler Trucks North America.