The EEA data shows that there were 1.2 million new vans registered in 2013, with average emissions of 173.3g/km. This means that Europe’s vans achieved their 2017 target of 175g/km four years ahead of schedule

The EEA added that emissions levels are very different across Europe – they were lowest among new vans sold in Malta, Portugal and France, while new vehicles in Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic had emissions approximately a third higher.

The EEA said it has also observed a similar trend of increasing efficiency in new passenger cars sold, which also improved by 4% between 2012 and 2013, meeting their 2015 target two years early.

However, the EEA noted several uncertainties in the data, down to the increased complexities with the vans data compared to that of passenger cars and also down to its current monitoring system, which is said cannot adequately capture these vehicles. From next year onwards, a new data collection method will apply which is expected to improve data quality. The EEA will publish final data on new vans' CO2 emissions in the autumn.

Commenting on the announcement, sustainable transport group Transport & Environment said the target had been reached early because of ‘an extremely weak and unambitious target set in 2010 and confirmed by MEPs in 2013’. 

It added that the progress made by vans in 2013 is less than that achieved by cars, and said ‘emissions reductions may even have been exaggerated by under-reporting of vans in 2012. The weak standard plus flaws in the current fuel efficiency and emissions test mean that vans are not delivering the same fuel-savings and emissions reductions as Europe’s cars.’

William Todts, senior policy officer at Transport & Environment, added: ‘If van emissions are actually falling in the real-world, then that can only be a good thing for Europe’s drivers, economy and environment. But the vans standard for 2020 is much weaker than the equivalent for cars, and manipulation of emissions testing means vans don’t actually achieve advertised fuel economy on the road. We need an equivalent target for vans in 2025 and an updated emissions test as soon as possible to ensure that Europe’s vans lead the way in fuel-efficiency.’