Van users have been warned to treat all fuel consumption figures with caution, unless they’re derived from their own experience.

Steve Clarke, Group Marketing Manager for Fuel Card Services, said, “A recent Which? report showed only 13 of 200 tested vehicles living up to manufacturers’ official mpg figures. Surprisingly, this is hardly news, with various vehicle makers being fined for misleading during recent years. Van users can hardly expect that LCV manufacturers’ claims are any more accurate. Until this environment changes, van users should only trust the statistics they compile themselves.”

The report on a three-year study revealed that manufacturers’ official consumption figures were optimistic, on average, by 13%. “While everyone waits for fuel consumption figures that can be trusted, van users should re-evaluate their fuel procurement,” said Steve. “Many will have been using the same fuel cards for years, not realising how that market has changed significantly. They need to reassess, comparing everything available. It makes no sense to look for fuel-efficient vans but not to refuel them cost-effectively.”