Ford produces the lowest-emission van in the UK, Mercedes-Benz is the only manufacturer to offer Euro V-compliant models and just 13 alternative fuel LCVs are available to buy in the UK.

These are just some of the facts to emerge from analysis of the Van Fuel Data service – an online database launched last week containing fuel economy and CO2 emissions data for every UK LCV.

The service – available by logging on to www.fleetnews.co.uk/vanemissions – is a joint venture between the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), the Department for Transport and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Its launch follows 18 months of lobbying by the BVRLA, which wanted the information made available so van fleet managers could choose the most fuel-efficient and low-emission models in the same way as car fleet managers though the VCA.

The move has been universally welcomed. Martin Nicholls, transport manager at ThyssenKrupp, who runs 400 vans – a mixture of Ford Transit Connects and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, said: “As a large global company we will be very interested to see CO2 emissions for vans.

"As a company we are always looking at our carbon footprint and vans have always been an unclear area.

“This will make interesting reading and will influence which vans we look at in the future.”

Safestyle UK transport manager Martin Larkin, who runs a fleet of 200 vans, added: “This is good news and it’s about time too. For fleet decision-makers it will allow us to chose the best resources with regard to cutting companies’ carbon footprints.”

The database contains 1,418 vans, divided into three main sections – small, medium and large.

There are also separate listings for 4x4-based commercials and pick-ups.

Users can search the database by manufacturer, model, fuel type, emissions standard, gearbox, vehicle load length or CO2 emissions (banded into less than 100g/km, less than 130g/km, less than 160g/km, less than 190g/km, less than 220g/km and less than 250g/km).

From the tables, the Ford Fiesta Van emerges as the lowest emitting LCV in the UK, taking first and second spots with both the 1.4 and 1.6-litre TDCi diesels emitting 110g/km of CO2 and returning an average of 67.3mpg.

Small vans dominate the low emissions top 10 (see table, right), and Ford is likely to add to its showing when its Fiesta Van Econetic model is launched later this year offering claimed combined economy of 76.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 98g/km.

The Econetic version of the Ford Transit is the lowest emitter in the large van section, with 189g/km of CO2 and economy of 39.2mpg, while the Renault Kangoo 1.5 dCi tops the medium van sector with 57.6mpg and 129g/km of CO2.

In terms of meeting emissions standards, Mercedes-Benz dominates – it is the only manufacturer to currently offer vans that meet the forthcoming Euro 5 standard, with 27 Sprinters emitting between 189 and 264g/km.

In the alternative fuel section, Volks-wagen’s Caddy – powered by com-pressed natural gas (CNG) – leads the way with 32.1mpg and 157g/km of CO2.

The Iveco Daily and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are offered as CNG versions, while Renault has a Kangoo powered by a petrol/E85 bioethanol mix

LPG models are not included as the database is only for OE-supplied vehicles.

Go to the van emissions database