New Transport Secretary launches van CO2 database to help buyers make lower carbon choices
Mon 08 June 2009
View all news
A new van CO2 database will mean that van buyers will have access to information to enable them to make lower carbon vehicle choices. The announcement of the launch of the new vans database was made by the new Transport Secretary, Andrew Adonis, at the LowCVP conference at City Hall, London.
The online database - which the Government says is the biggest of its kind in Europe - has been compiled by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), and Department for Transport (DfT). It allows users to search for new van models on the UK market and compare their CO2 emissions and the fuel consumption.
Official figures show that vans make up around 15% of road transport emissions in the UK and that these have been rising faster than other types of road vehicle. The DfT says that if everybody buying a new van bought the most fuel efficient model in its class the average buyer could save up to 17% on both CO2 emissions and fuel costs.
Speaking at the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership's annual conference in London, Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said: "It's important to help motoring consumers make the right choice, both for themselves and for the environment. This database is good news for van buyers - it gives them access to emissions and fuel consumption information that could well shape the van they choose, as well as enable them to cut emissions and save money."
"At a time when the Government is working hard to create a stable financial environment to encourage long-term investment in the motoring industry this tool is also good news for van producers by stimulating interest and demand in the models they make."
On behalf of the industry, the SMMT's chief executive Paul Everitt said:
"Van makers are all committed to providing information that will help buyers make better informed choices and this database provides a level playing field for easy comparison. We believe that our efforts in assisting government departments compile this information will not only impact positively on tailpipe CO2 emissions but will also help buyers select the most economical vehicle they need for their business."
John Lewis, Chief Executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and a LowCVP Board member, said: “It is great to see van makers finally waking up to the needs of their environmentally-conscious customers by publishing this data. However, it is disappointing that it took so long to do it and that manufacturers didn’t consult more with users about the best way to publish the information. For example, there is nothing about van payloads in this database.”
The database can be accessed on the Business Link website (see associated link) alongside tips for van buyers on how to choose the right van for their needs and how to save fuel costs from the way they use the vehicle
Related Links
< Back to news list