Vans CO₂ target reached 4 years early because of watered-down target

The progress made by vans in 2013 is less than that achieved by cars, and emissions reductions may even have been exaggerated by under-reporting of vans in 2012. The weak standard plus flaws in the current fuel efficiency and emissions test mean that vans are not delivering the same fuel-savings and emissions reductions as Europe’s cars.

 

William Todts, senior policy officer at Transport & Environment, said “If van emissions are actually falling in the real-world, then that can only be a good thing for Europe’s drivers, economy and environment. But the vans standard for 2020 is much weaker than the equivalent for cars, and manipulation of emissions testing means vans don’t actually achieve advertised fuel economy on the road. We need an equivalent target for vans in 2025 and an updated emissions test as soon as possible to ensure that Europe’s vans lead the way in fuel-efficiency.” 

 

Notes to editors:

Vans are one of the fastest growing sources of CO₂ emitted from transport in Europe, increasing by 26% between 1995 and 2010. Vans now account for 8% of EU’s road transport emissions. Vans produce CO₂ emissions when they burn fuel. Fuel economy is a paramount consideration for businesses operating vans, as fuel bills represent one third of the total cost of ownership of a van.