A new van buyers’ guide has been launched by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the Vehicle Certification Agency and the Department for Transport’s Act on CO2 campaign.

The guide’s launch comes just weeks before the first database of new van co2 emissions is published.

The guide is designed to inform individual and small fleet buyers on issues that affect a van’s environmental impact and is part of a wider DfT project looking at van CO2 emissions.

“The aim is to ensure that buyers consider their usage requirements rather than simply choosing the van with the lowest published CO2 figure.

"It also emphasises the clear link between emissions and fuel consumption – a big part of a vehicle’s running costs,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.

“For some time now, businesses running large numbers of commercial vehicles have been accustomed to getting emission data from vehicle manufacturers when buying vans, but rarely does the individual or small fleet buyer know the importance of this to their bottom line.

"The guide gives clear, straightforward advice to van buyers, that will save them cash and cut CO2.”

The online van database, compiled by SMMT and detailing CO2 emissions from vans by model type, is to be introduced this spring.