DfT carries out low carbon van survey

A Department for Transport survey has revealed that cost is a barrier to running lower polluting vans for 68% of van owners.

Questionnaires were sent out in the summer of 2009 to both owners of low carbon vans, and owners of non low carbon vans.

The survey asked owners about the reasons for buying and not buying low carbon vans, and incentives which might persuade them to purchase low carbon vans in the future.

Key points include:
• 65% of owners of non low carbon vans were aware of the availability of low carbon vans.
• The main reason for not purchasing a low carbon van was reported as being ‘purchase costs’. This was reported by 68% of respondents.

Respondents were asked about what would incentivise them to purchase low carbon vans, scoring various incentives out of 10. The top ranked answers for existing owners of low carbon vans were:
• Reduced operating costs (average score 9.1 out of 10)
• Environmental concerns (8.2).
For owners of non low carbon vans the main incentives were:
• Reduced purchase costs (9.1)
• Reduced operating costs (9)
• Performance, e.g. improved carrying capacity, improved reliability including battery life (8.6).

To read the full report, go to low carbon van survey.

For CO2 emissions of every van on the market, click here