The European Commission is planning compulsory new CO2 emission and fuel consumption targets for vans and other light commercial vehicles, with trucks and buses likely to follow in the future.

Although not finalised yet, the EC is targeting an improvement in average fuel consumption for vans from the 2002 average of 33mpg to 37.4mpg by 2012. CO2 emissions would have to fall at the same time – from 2002 average levels of  200g/km to 175g/km by 2012.

These targets represent the first stage of the EC’s plans to green up vans – more stringent targets of 40.9mpg and 160g/km are then planned for 2015. According to the SMMT (the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), the EC is expected to finalise legally-binding CO2 emission and fuel consumption targets for vans by the end of 2008.

Since the beginning of 2008, van manufacturers have been required to provide CO2 emissions figures for their vehicles to governments – although not to the public. It’s not hard to imagine that this might result, in the not too distant future, in UK VED (road tax) for vans taking a similar route to that for cars, with different rates being applied dependent upon emissions.

We shall see.