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How the EC plans to cut emissions from vans


The European Commission has proposed a new law to cut average CO2 emissions from vans. It wants to set van manufacturers a 'fleet average' target of 175g CO2/km, or 42.8 miles per gallon.

The requirement would be phased in from 2014, when the average emissions from 75% of a manufacturer's new vans would ave to comply, rising to 80% in 2015 and 100% in 2016.

The limit is the same as in earlier drafts, but manufacturer's have been given an extra four years to comply. Only the fleet average would be regulated, manufacturer's would still be able to make vans with emissions over the limit - provided they were balanced by other vehicles.

Vans a growing target for thieves Van fleet managers have been warned by AVCIS, the police vehicle crime intelligence service, that light commercial vehicles are increasingly being targeted by thieves. Vans are targeted for a number of reasons, not least because they often have multiple drivers and there may be a lack of ‘ownership’ – in which case, keys are commonly left in vehicles or in easily-accessible places on sites and at depots. Many are cloned and sold on in the UK, while others are shipped abroad to other right-hand drive countries such as Cyprus.  Because of legislative changes there next year, which mean all foods must be carried in a refrigerated vehicles, AVCIS is preparing for an increase in thefts of such vans from businesses here. Another worrying trend all fleet managers must be aware of is bogus rental and lease companies established to provide criminals with access to ‘legitimate’ insured and taxed vehicles. According to the Finance and Leasing Association, the vehicles are obtained on finance – often fraudulently - and then sub-let on with insurance and tax already in place.  However, to give the ‘rental’ or ‘lease’ company legitimacy, some of the vehicles may be rented out to genuine innocent companies.  Fleet managers should be aware of the problem because these bogus companies may default on their payments to the finance company, in which case a genuine fleet may have its vehicle seized by the finance company.  “This type of sub-leasing is a growing trend,” said Paul Harrison, the FLA’s head of motor finance.  One criminal gang created a bogus lease company in the northwest of England and obtained 250 vehicles on finance.If the average CO2 emissions of a manufacturer's fleet exceeds its limit value in any year from 2014, they would have to pay a penalty for each van registered - €5 for the first g/km over, €15 for the second, €25 for the third and €120 for each subsequent g/km. From 2019, the first g/km of exceedance would cost €120.

However, “most manufacturers are expected to meet the target set by the legislation, so significant penalties should be avoided,” the Commission said.  Manufacturers will also be allowed to group together and act jointly in meeting the specific emissions targets. Independent manufacturers who sell fewer than 22,000 vehicles per year may apply to the Commission for an individual target instead.

CO2 emissions from vans currently average 200g/km.  The 2020 target is set at 135g CO2/km, but may not be mandatory as was suggested in previous drafts.

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