Downsizing fleet vehicles will reduce your emissions and costs

Research carried out by Ricardo for the Department for Transport found that fully loading a van increases fuel consumption by around 9% to 10% (AEA Technology, 2010). As a result, a fully utilised small van is generally more efficient than a partially loaded large van.

Using smaller vehicles wherever possible can deliver carbon, operational and capital cost savings. We recommend avoiding a one-size-fits-all procurement model and instead assessing vehicle suitability at the point of replacement.

As the market for zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) remains smaller than that for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, a direct replacement may not be available for every vehicle. However, there is a wider range of smaller ZEVs available for cars and vans, providing more opportunities to downsize.

Table 14, ‘Range of vehicles from the same manufacturer’, illustrates the differences in carbon emissions and fuel consumption across the Volkswagen car range and Ford van range.

*Fuel costs are based off the average UK fuel prices in 2019 excluding VAT. Petrol 100,609ppl, diesel 105.01