Hybrid and electric vehicles have become a key driver in achieving sustainable mobility by reducing pollutants, greenhouse gases and noise, and in securing the competitiveness of the transport  industry. Austria’s successful automotive industry includes some of the biggest supply-side companies worldwide. With 175,000 employees, it is strongly involved in the engineering and production of drivetrains. Innovation is a key success factor in benefiting from opportunities in the emerging breakthrough of alternative propulsion systems.

The Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) has therefore set up the Technology Promotion Programme A3 (Austrian Advanced Automotive Technology), funding 86 research and demonstration projects for the development of alternative propulsion systems and fuels. In the new A3plus programme, 6 out of 17 R&D and 2 out of 3 demonstration projects deal with hybrid and electric vehicles, reflecting the increased importance of the electric drivetrain replacing or complementing the internal combustion engine.

Global challenges such as reducing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases led to ambitious goals and mandatory national and EU targets for emissions standards, energy efficiency and security of energy supply. International co-operation is a key success factor in meeting these goals. Austria therefore cooperates strongly with EU technology platforms, FP7 partners and the IEA Implementing Agreement „Hybrid & Electric Vehicles”.The Austrian Agency for Alternative Propulsion Systems (A3PS) is an important instrument for international networking and co-operation between industry, universities, research institutes and the BMVIT with these international partners.

This brochure gives an overview of hybrid and electric vehicle technology, presents Austrian R&D  activities in the field of hybrid and electric vehicles, energy storage technologies and electronic control systems, and gives an impression of the high level of expertise in Austrian industry and R&D institutions in the engineering and manufacture of these vehicle components and products.
 

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