Save fuel

Transport CO₂ emissions are constantly increasing in Austria (and the EU as a whole). Since 1990 alone, the reference year for the Kyoto target, the transport sector recorded an increase of over 60% by 2002. Ways must therefore be found to reverse or at least mitigate this trend.

In addition to traffic avoidance and modal shift as well as technological developments, the spread of an economical driving style (in the ensemble of behavior-influencing measures) is an easily feasible way to counteract the trend of rising CO₂ emissions from transport without major political resistance and without great expense.

Practice energy-efficient driving

Since 2004, the Austrian Energy Agency has been responsible for the program management of the fuel-saving initiative of klima:aktiv mobil. The aim of the program is to spread energy-efficient driving in Austria. A balanced, fuel-efficient driving style reduces fuel consumption by 5 to 15 %. In addition to reducing CO₂ emissions, a fuel-efficient driving style also increases road safety.

Program objectives

• Development of the nationwide fuel-saving competition (2004-2008)
• Integration of fuel-saving driving into driving school training and testing
• Offers for fuel-saving car training
• Offers for fuel-saving truck training
• Information on alternative drives and fuels
   

Successes of the program to date

• 15,000 drivers have so far completed an offer from the fuel-saving initiative
• Target agreements with companies and public administrations for 15,000 tons of CO₂
• Fuel-saving training for 2.800 drivers of ÖBB Postbus AG (target agreement: 5,000 tons of CO₂)
• Further training on fuel saving for 4,600 train drivers of ÖBB Traktion GmbH (target agreement: 2.600 t CO₂)
• Development of a certification system and the "Passenger Car Trainer Manual" in cooperation with the Austrian Association of Driving Schools for Passenger Cars
• Development of a certification system and the "Trainer Manual for Commercial Vehicles" in cooperation with the Austrian Association of Driving Schools, ÖAMTC, ARBÖ and ÖBB Postbus
• Establishment of an Austria-wide network with 400 certified fuel-saving trainers
• Start of the "Fuel saving with tractors" program