According to preliminary data published on 18 May by the European Environment Agency (EEA), average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of new vans registered in 2016 in the European Union (EU) fell by 4.5 grammes (g) per kilometre, compared to the previous year and the reported fuel efficiency improved by 2.7%.
The average van registered in the EU in 2016 emitted 163.8g CO2/km, which is 4.5g less than in 2015 (2.7% less than the 2015 rate, when the average stood at 168.2g CO2/km). This reduction brings average emissions 6.4% below the EU 2017 target of 175g CO2/km, a target that had already been met in 2013.
The EEA emphasises, however, that further efficiency improvements are still needed to reach the EU’s more stringent target of 147 g CO2/km set for 2020.
The report demonstrates that diesel vehicles continue to make up the vast majority of the new van fleet, constituting 96% of sales.
Under EU rules establishing modalities for attaining the CO2 emissions reduction target for light utility vehicles by 2020 (regulation 253/2014 amending regulation 510/2011), the average target for the fleet of vans of more than 2 610 tonnes without cargo or 3.5 tonnes in charge of each manufacturer, should be brought to 175g CO2/km after 2017 and to 147g/km by 2020. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)