Carbon emissions from vans still rising as UK drivers stick to diesel
August 28th, 2024
Despite a growing interest in electric and plug-in hybrid vans, many UK businesses are hesitant to make the switch due to limited options and higher costs.
Research from Transport and Environment, a clean transport advocacy group, reveals that there are now a million more vans on the road than in 2014, with nearly all of them still running on diesel. While the rise in online shopping has led to more delivery vans, the majority are still used by small businesses and sole traders.
Since 1990, carbon emissions from light vans have increased by 63%, even as emissions from cars have dropped by 19% thanks to the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. This trend is prompting campaigners to urge the government to offer financial incentives for zero-emission vans and to improve charging infrastructure.
While nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions have seen significant reductions—down 88% from cars and 91% from HGVs since 1990—vans are lagging behind. NOx emissions from vans have only decreased by 38% since 1990 and have even surpassed those from HGVs since 2015. NOx is linked to asthma in children, and roadside emissions remain illegally high in some areas.