Cost the main barrier to running lower polluting vans

A study by the Department for Transport has revealed that cost is a barrier to running lower polluting vans for 68% of van owners.

During the summer of 2009 the owners of 400 non low carbon vans were sent follow up questionnaires asking about their reasons for not purchasing a low carbon vehicle, and about what incentives may persuade them to do so in the future. Low carbon vehicles are defined as those with the following propulsion types: Gas Bi-Fuel, Electricity, Petrol/Gas, Gas, Gas Diesel, New Fuel Technology, Hybrid Electric, Electric Diesel and Fuel Cells.

At the same time, the Department approached the owners of 450 low carbon vans (400 with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes and less and 50 that weighed over 3.5 tonnes up to 7.5 tonnes) and asked about the reasons why they purchased this type of vehicle, what they used the vehicle for and the incentives to purchase low carbon vans in the future.

Key points from the study include:
• 65% of owners of non low carbon vans were aware of the availability of low carbon vans
• The main reason for not purchasing a low carbon van was reported as being ‘purchase costs’. This was reported by 68% of respondents. The second most common reason given was performance e.g. carrying capacity, reliability – including battery life which was stated by 38% of respondents.

Respondents were asked about what would incentivise them to purchase low carbon vans, scoring various incentives out of 10. The top ranked answers for existing owners of low carbon vans were:

• Reduced operating costs (average score 9.1 out of 10)
• Environmental concerns (8.2).
For owners of non low carbon vans the main incentives were:
• Reduced purchase costs (9.1)
• Reduced operating costs (9)
• Performance, e.g. improved carrying capacity, improved reliability including battery life (8.6).