The Swiss research and implementation programmes, for reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution in transport, aim to eliminate existing obstacles to introducing energy-saving transport technologies and introducing proven vehicles with new forms of drive to the market. The programme has achieved significant advances in light-weight vehicle construction, as a result of Swiss manufacturers' careful support for joint projects. The resulting new vehicles, with thermal, electric, and hybrid drives, are now advanced enough to meet safety requirements. Pilot and demonstration projects have been set up to collect practical experience. The Swiss Light-weight Electric Vehicles programme has short-term (1995-97), medium-term (up to 2000), and long-term (up to 2010) phases. The first phase is focusing on: (1) a large-scale trial with a vehicle fleet in a town of about 10,000 residents; and (2) the implementation of high-efficiency light-weight electric vehicles in production. The Fuels campaign group is focusing on rational use of fuel, promoting an awareness of mobility, and managing the improvement of fuel consumption. The Mercedes Swatch-Mobil is being developed as a `city car of the future'. Horlacher and Esoro are other Swiss companies developing light-weight vehicles.
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