John Procter, media manager at SMMT, warned delegates at the Fleet Van Conference:“You have to accept that the price of diesel is out of your control."

Instead, he urged them to focus on what is in their control – fuel consumption.

“Drivers can directly influence real life fuel consumption,” he said.

“Spend time and effort educating drivers and focus on service, maintenance and repair. There will be a long-term benefit on your bottom line.

“And by maximising fuel use you will be reducing CO2 emissions. It’s win win.”

He suggested that diesel will be the main fuel choice for Light Commercial Vehicles for some time to come, despite Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressing an interest in low carbon alternatives.

Mr Procter believes that electric vehicles bring their own challenges.

“To charge electricity at the same rate that fuel is dispensed at the pump the vehicle would need to be plugged into a large power station generating 10 mega watts,” he said.

“Petrol and diesel are the ideal energy solution for cars and vans. The fuels are easily poured, pumped and stored, and there are no ashes. However, the end result is CO2.”

Help with van selection

Mr Procter also announced that the SMMT is producing a van buyer’s guide.

“The guide advises you to consider usage requirements rather than going for the van with the lowest emissions on paper.

"The SMMT wants to encourage van buyers to choose the right vehicle for the job. We also want to demonstrate the link between CO2 emissions and running costs.”

In addition, the SMMT is working with the VCA on an online database to help fleet managers make more informed decisions. Mr Procter pointed out that results for vehicles will vary if vehicles are used in different ways.

“It depends on the person with their foot on gas pedal,” he said.