Vans and trucks on UK roads could soon be greener than ever after the government announced a new scheme to introduce technology that cuts fuel consumption and carbon emissions in commercial vehicles.

The Low Carbon Accreditation Scheme will provide vehicle operators with practical information on how to reliably assess the effectiveness of retrofitted measures such as low rolling resistance tyres, more aerodynamic vehicle exteriors or more efficient engine technology.

Operators will also be informed on how to properly introduce such measures.

A lack of reliable and accessible data was found to be one of the most significant barriers to the adoption of low carbon and fuel saving technology in trucks, research suggests.

Commercial vehicles currently account for over 30 per cent of all CO2 emissions generated by road transport, according to government figures. Although emissions from heavy goods vehicles have dropped by nine per cent since 1990, van emissions have increased by 48 per cent.

Announcing the scheme at LowCVP’s annual conference, transport minister Andrew Jones said: “We are always looking at new ways to make the vehicles on our roads cleaner and this new scheme will help the freight industry to embrace the latest technology.

“The UK’s low emission vehicle industry is a huge success story and a source of strength in our economy. This is further proof that the government is leading the way as global demand for these vehicles grows.”