According to data analysed by the LowCVP, the van market is the fastest growing sector of UK road transport with vehicle numbers increasing at 3.5% per year and with more than 10% of the vehicles and 14% of the CO2 coming from this sector. The sector is almost entirely (96%) diesel-powered and almost 50% of the vehicles are owned by companies. 

The Guide sets out the business, environmental and operational case for using low emission vans, and aims to provide van operators with the knowledge and resources they need to assess which vans are right for them.

It also provides case studies showing the total cost of ownership and cost savings achievable from different types of low emission fuels and technologies, including one example of how operators using battery electric vans could reduce the whole life costs of a vehicle operating in the London Congestion Charge zone by £18,340, or £5,215 outside London.

The Guide is intended to assist operators in choosing the most suitable low emission van technology or fuel for the type of work they need to do. It covers electric, plug-in hybrid, LPG, CNG and biodiesel.

The LowCVP’s LEV Guide is introduced at the same time as Greenpeace launches a new study (greenpeace.org.uk/greenfleets) which provides an overview of how corporate fleets contribute to global oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and how that impact can be reduced.

According to Greenpeace the EU’s corporate fleet is responsible for about 45% of emissions from road transport, equivalent to 8% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions. (Van operators are an important section of the corporate fleet, with over 1.6 million vans and 2.5million cars registered to UK companies.)

Operators are encouraged to visit the Low Emission Van Information Hub (www.lowcvp.org.uk/lev), created by the LowCVP. The site hosts a Van Cost & Carbon Calculator which allows users to enter their own data and compare different low emission fuels and technologies suitable for their fleet.