A Q&A with Santa, and Fleet Manager Mrs Claus, of North Pole Inc
It's probably fair to say that we're all more environmentally conscious than we used to be - and with climate change steadily working its way up the news agenda, more of us have taken it upon ourselves to do our bit for the environment. The motor industry is no exception, and recent years have seen significant improvements to the fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness of small vans.
There are also efforts to enhance vans??energy efficiency at the European level. The European Union introduced legislation in 2011 setting carbon emissions targets for new vans sold in Europe. From 2017, new vans will be restricted to a fleet average of 175 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.
So if you're looking to buy a small van and you want to avoid an emissions-spewing gas guzzler, what exactly is it that you should be looking for?
According to a database of vehicles from the Department for Transport's Vehicle Certification Agency, the top 5 the most eco-friendly small vans currently available on the market are:
1) The 1.6 Duratorq TDCi diesel Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Panel Van
In addition to only producing 85 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, this van offers a combined urban/extra urban fuel economy of 85.6 miles per gallon.
2) Vauxhall's 1.3 CDTi 16v (95PS) ecoFLEX Start/Stop Corsavan
Following closely in second is Vauxhall's Corsavan with carbon emissions of 89 g/km of CO2.
3) Fiat's 2012 Punto 1.3 MultiJet 85 with Start and Stop
This eco-friendly Punto offers emissions of 90g of CO2 per kilometre.
4) Ford's Fiesta 1.6 Duratorq TDCi Diesel + DPF Panel Van
Very similar to the Ford Fiesta in first place, this small van emits 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre and is has a 62 mph Fixed Speed Limiter. Although not the top spot, this van is still a great choice considering it's a Ford??and therefore offers the added benefit of abundant replacement parts and repairs.
5) Ford's Transit Courier 1.6 Duratorq TDCi (95PS) with Optional Stop-Start and 62 mph Fixed Speed Limiter.
With the optional Stop-Start and the fixed speed limit, this seems a sound choice for economical and environment savings, yet Ford's Transit Courier produces carbon emissions of 90g/km.
All this talk of CO2 emissions might seem somewhat obscure and arcane, but if you want to do your bit to cut your carbon footprint then it's important to take note - an eco-friendly small van can certainly make a big difference.
The Department for Transport's Vehicle Certification Agency offers an online database containing lots of useful van data which you can use to help you make an informed decision on purchasing an eco-friendly small van.