The average van sold in the European Union in 2014 was around 2.4 percentÌýmore fuel-efficient than those sold in 2013, according to data from the European Environment Agency,ÌýEEA.
Fuel efficiency has continued to improve and new vans now emit almost 6 grams of CO2/km below the European Union'sÌý2017 target.
Emissions levels were lowest among new vans sold in Portugal (145.1 g CO2/km), Malta (145.7 g CO2/km) and Bulgaria (148.6 g CO2/km). At the other end of the scale, emissions were approximately 30 percentÌýhigher for the average vans sold in Slovakia (193.3 gCO2/km), the Czech Republic (191.1 g CO2/km) and Germany (190.4 g CO2/km).
In 2014,Ìývans hadÌýaverage emissionsÌýof 169.2 grams of carbon dioxide, CO2,Ìýper kilometer -Ìý4 gÌýCO2/km less than those sold in 2013.
"This is significantly below the 2017 target of 175 g CO2/km, which was already reached in 2013, four years ahead of schedule," according to the announcement.
TheÌýdataÌýis published by the European Environment AgencyÌýwhich started monitoring the emissions of light commercial vehicles in 2012. The final data will be published in the autumn after van manufacturers verify this preliminary data.
The EU market for vans grew by 18 percentÌýin 2014 and in comparison to 2013 andÌýregistrations increased in all EU member states except for Malta and the Netherlands.
More than 60 percentÌýof the vehicles were registered mainly in three countries,ÌýFrance atÌý24 percent, the United Kingdom withÌý21ÌýpercentÌýand Germany withÌý15 percent, according to the statement.
Diesel vehicles make up the vast majority of van sales with 97 percent. Alternative fuel vehicles usingÌýliquid petroleum gas,ÌýLPG,Ìýor natural gas, represent less than 2 percentÌýof the fleet, with electric vehicle sales comprising less than 0.5 percent.
The average emission levels vary across Europe, according to the data.Ìý
The increasing fuel efficiency of vans observed in 2014 is similar to that recently reported by the EEA forÌýnew passenger carsÌýsold, which improved by 2.6 percentÌýbetween 2013 and 2014.
According to the EEA's official website, European member states report CO2Ìýemission levels based upon a certification test procedure.ÌýThese levels are measured under laboratory conditions using the New European Driving Cycle,ÌýNEDC,Ìýas specified in EU legislation. TheÌýcertification procedure is designed to make the measurements for all vehicles comparable, but it does not necessarily represent real-world conditions.Ìý
Carbon dioxide is the primary reason for global warming as a buildup of CO2 actsÌýlike a planetary duvet and trapsÌýheat in the atmosphere.ÌýClimate change refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-twentieth century and its projected continuation.Ìý
Preventing dangerous climate change is a key priority for the European Union and theÌýEU hasÌýsetÌýtargets to reduce emissions by 20 percent byÌý2020 and by 40 percent by 2030.Ìý
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
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