Welcome to the Transport research programme of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE)

As before, transport accounts for around 33 percent of Switzerland's total energy demand, and is the country's biggest energy consumer. The main reasons for this are as follows:

• Population growth
• Increase in the proportion of the population using motor vehicles
• Higher degree of motorisation and trend towards heavier, more comfortable cars
• Increasing volumes in practically all transport segments
• Increasing traffic congestion
• More available free time resulting in increasing leisure-time traffic

The Transport research programme therefore aims to examine options and measures to reduce energy consumption, especially in the area of private motorised transport, which is the biggest consumer of motor fuels. In addition to reducing energy consumption and pollution of the environment, the programme also aims to promote Switzerland as an industry and education centre. The following criteria form the basis for efforts to reduce energy consumption in the area of private motorised transport:

• Construction of lighter vehicles
• More efficient drive systems
• Smaller forms of transport