Van strategy

The BVRLA works with various organisations in the area of van regulation and best practice. Our objective is to ensure that the benefits of renting or leasing a van are recognised and  any legislation which is introduced to the van sector is done so fairly and equitably.  Below is a summary of the work to date. If you want more information on any of this work please contact Amanda Brandon amanda@bvrla.co.uk.

Van best practice

The Department for Transport has launched a new Van Best Practice initiative aimed at helping van users cut running costs, improve safety and reduce environmental impact.

The programme, which is managed by climate change consultants AEA claims a 5% increase in fuel efficiency would save fleets £250m per year and cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 750,000 tonnes. To help van users achieve this saving, two best practice guides offering practical tips and advice for fleet managers and van drivers are now available.

The programme’s Efficient Vans Guide provides users with advice on reviewing existing practices, reducing running costs and introducing improvement measures, while the Fuel Management Pack offers a step-by-step guide to managing fuel use.

To get a copy of either guide call 0300 123 1133 or click the link to access the website - van best practice.

Van CO2 data

From 1 January 2008 all vans have been registered with a CO2 rating. The BVRLA has been lobbying the SMMT and the Department for Transport to get the CO2 data published so that the van user can choose the most environmentally efficient and suitable van as part of the pre-procurement stage.

The database is now available from the business link website and can be accessed from the link below:
Van co2 database

We are continuing to lobby for amendments to this database, because there is no payload information included which is vital to help purchasers determine whether a van is fit for purpose.  

Commission for integrated transport research report

The Commission for Integrated Transport is conducting a study into the increase in LCVs (vans) over recent years, the impact of this increase on congestion and the environment and related issues such as safety. The study is being led by Richard Turner, the former Chief Executive of the Freight Transport Association and the BVRLA sits on the working group which is developing the research. 

Through a questionnaire response BVRLA has advised CfIT that the growth in the van use has had little impact on traffic congestion. While there has been little evidence to show road safety has been compromised by the growth, the BVRLA has stated that van manufacturers should play a much greater role in improving safety and reducing emissions through such things as start stop technology and satellite navigation as standard for vans.  To read our response click here.

For more information on the study, please contact Amanda Brandon, amanda@bvrla.co.uk .

Reducing new van co2 emissions

The European Commission wants to reduce the average van CO2 emissions to 175g/km by 2016, with a further reduction to 135g/km by 2020. Under the proposals, manufacturers would have to ensure that from 2014 75% of the vans they make must generate average emissions of no more than 175g/km CO2. The target will increase to 100% of the fleet by 2016.

The legislation will cover all vans, and car-derived vans used to carry goods, weighing up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight.

There is widespread concern that the 2014 introduction date is too soon and does not give manufacturers enough time to develop vans which would comply with the legislation.

The proposed legislation can be found here: new van co2 emission proposals

Electric vans

The Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme has plans to get 100 vehicles using two different electric van technologies on trial for a period of 18 months by local authorities as part of a package of measures to support new technology development in electric vans.The programme is run by Cenex, a delivery agency established with support from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Cenex have approached the BVRLA for assistance with shaping the output from the trial to allow an accurate picture to be concluded on the running costs of the new technology and therefore a realistic residual value can be set for these vehicles.

For more information on the work of Cenex click the link below:
http://www.cenex.co.uk/

Van usage

The DfT conducted a survey last year of light goods vehicle owners. The results provide a better understanding of van ownership and usage.

From a sample size of 17,380 light goods vehicles registered at addresses in England, 6,565 responses were received. The questions were mainly around use of the van and what is carried, but the last question in the survey related to awareness of the UK drivers’ hours rules. This could be an early indication of where the department is heading in terms of policy for van drivers.

The full results of the survey can be accessed below: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/freight/vanactivitybaseline08/vabs08.pdf