German and British light vans are among the worst polluters in an increasingly fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly EU fleet, according to the European Environment Agency.

2014 saw an 18% increase in new van registrations in the EU, with 1.4 million new vehicles on the road. These vehicles are on average 2.4% more fuel-efficient than those sold in 2013, and emit 4 grams of CO₂ less per kilometre.

The average van registered in 2014 emits 169.2 grams of CO₂ per kilometre, 6 grams below the EU’s 2017 target.

But Germany (190.4 g CO₂/km), and the United Kingdom (181 g CO2/km), which together accounted for 36% of the EU's new van sales in 2014, preferred models whose CO₂ emissions far exceed the EU average and the 2017 target.