Its not just cars that can go green, according to a new study vans could also become much more environmentally friendly simply by using smaller engines.
New research carried out by consultants TNO and CE Delft on behalf of Transport & Environment (T&E) suggests that new vans could be made up to 16 per cent more fuel efficient and 10 per cent cheaper to buy simply by reversing the upward trend in horsepower and using smaller engines.
The new findings come as the European Parliament’s Transport and Industry committees are set to vote on new fuel efficiency/CO2 standards for new vans today (24 June).
Much of the political debate over the new proposals has centered on the costs of advanced technologies needed to meet the new standards. But new study shows that the official impact assessment for the new legislation ignored the potential for ‘optimal engine sizing’ to cut emissions and actually bring down the costs of new vans without the need for costly new technologies.
Kerstin Meyer of Transport & Environment said: "It’s time to call an end to the van engine power arms race. This study shows that just by returning to the engine power of ten years ago, vans could be cheaper to buy, and much more fuel efficient. It’s a win win for the millions of businesses that depend on keeping costs down, especially in a crisis."
The study shows that ‘optimal engine sizing’, i.e. returning to engine power levels of 1997, can cut fuel costs and CO2 emissions by up to 16 per cent, cut vehicle purchase costs by up to 10 per cent, and cut total cost of ownership by up to 12 per cent. Moreover, optimal engine sizing can be introduced quickly and in existing models.
The 175 g/km target proposed for 2016 by the Commission could be met using optimal engine sizing alone, the environmental NGO says and at the same time make vans cheaper to buy instead of more expensive.
In addition the long-term target of 135 g/km would be significantly easier to meet, T&E suggest.
The European Commission’s impact assessment completely ignored this potential and is hence far too pessimistic about how far fuel consumption can be cut, at what speed, and at what cost, T&E adds.
In fact the NGO is so confident that vans can painlessly meet the proposed targets that it has put forward its own tougher target that likewise can be met without expensive use of new technologies. It would like to see the Commission impose a target of 160g/km by 2015 and 125g/km by 2020 for vans.
