LowCVP has launched a Low Emission Van Guide and web tool for operators interested in reducing running costs while cutting their carbon emissions.

The Guide is introduced alongside a related new report from Greenpeace which focuses on cutting emissions from corporate fleets. 

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. 

It’s aimed at operators of small to medium sized fleets of commercial vehicles, covering vans up to 3.5t GVW (gross vehicle weight).

The Guide:

  •         Sets out the business, environmental and operational case for using low emission vans
  •         Gives van operators the knowledge and resources required to assess which vans are right for them
  •         Provides case studies showing the total cost of ownership and cost savings achievable from different types of low emission fuels and technologies
  • The Guide shows that in one example, 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.

This 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. The Guide covers electric, plug-in hybrid, LPG, CNG and biodiesel.

Gloria Esposito, LowCVP head of projects, said: “Vans can be significant contributors to damaging emissions, particularly in cities. This Guide fills an information gap, giving operators the tools they need to cut costs and emissions, as well as the chance to clean or polish up their image.”

Ian Wainwright, head of freight and fleet at Tranport for London (TfL), said: “We are very pleased to have helped create this useful guide, which will help improve the environment and reduce operator costs. By matching different sized fleets to the most appropriate low-emission vehicle, any operator can make an informed purchasing decision and reap the benefits.”

Barbara Stoll, transport campaigner, Greenpeace UK, said: “This is much more than just a useful tool for businesses who need commercial vans in their fleets and have to watch their fuel costs. It’s another powerful demonstration that carbon efficiency and cost efficiency are not just compatible, but frequently go hand-in-hand. The beneficiaries will range from window cleaners to multinational logistics companies, and from our choking cities to our melting poles.”

To download the Low Emission Van Guide and/or use the Carbon Calculator Tool, visit the Low Emission Van Information Hub at: http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/lev