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PREFACE
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.
Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation
and Technology
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