Delivery vans common on the Dutch roads emit an average of six times the permitted amount of nitrogen dioxide while making their rounds, according to research by scientific institute TNO.

Of the 12 types of van tested by TNO just one – the Mercedes Sprinter Euro V1 – remained under the limit of 280 milligrams per kilometre. The rest produced an average of 1,500 milligrams per metre, the Volkskrant says on Thursday.

The test involved real-world trials of some 600 kilometres per vehicle, with a variety of roads and driving conditions. Official emissions tests are currently lab based.

The research was commissioned by the infrastructure minister and was published earlier although the names of the manufactures were kept secret. The Volkskrant used freedom of information legislation to obtain the names.

TNO told the paper that the vans’ performance cannot be compared with each other because each make differs in size and load and that has an impact on emissions.

Technical condition

Renault, whose Trafic van was recorded as emitting almost two grammes of nitrogen oxide per kilometre, said the technical condition of the vehicle would have an impact on the test results. ‘The TNO test is non-conclusive because it does not conform to the EU rules,’ a spokewoman told the Volkskrant.

TNO admitted the van had 100,000 kilometres on the clock, the highest of all the vehicles tested.

The worst performer in the TNO test was the Opel Vivaro. Opel declined to comment.