Horsepower boom despite the climate debate

Horsepower boom despite the climate debate

Increasing environmental awareness and the climate debate are causing the number of electric cars to increase, but at the same time the average performance of the vehicles is also increasing. The average horsepower is currently 123 hp, while the Austria-wide average in 2012 was around 104 hp. This corresponds to an increase of 18.5 percent over the past ten years, according to data from Wiener Städtische Versicherung. "Neither the climate debate nor the corona pandemic were able to slow down this development. The safety aspect with heavier and therefore more powerful cars continues to be a priority for Austrians," says Doris Wendler, CEO of Wiener Städtische Versicherung.

“A look at the federal map shows clearly: Salzburg, Vienna and Vorarlberg are the PS strongholds in Austria,” explains Doris Wendler. Salzburgers and Viennese drive the most powerful cars in Austria with an average of 129.6 and 129.1 hp respectively, closely followed by the people of Vorarlberg with 128.9 hp. The Lower and Upper Austrians are at the bottom of the pack, with an average of 117.8 and 116.3 hp, respectively. That wasn't always the case. A look back shows that the people of Vienna and Vorarlberg were already driving the most powerful cars on Austria's roads in 2012, but the Carinthians were at the bottom of the federal state ranking with a value of under 100. However, one criterion unites all federal states: the average horsepower continues to rise. In comparison, Salzburg recorded the largest increase. Output there increased by 21.7 percent, closely followed by Tyrol (21.5 percent) as well as Carinthia, Styria and Lower Austria. Here too, Upper Austria is in last place.

While average CO2 emissions fell from 155 g/km to 140 g/km between 2012 and 2019, they rose marginally again to 142 g/km in the last two years. Since environmentally friendly mobility is very important to Wiener Städtische, there are generous premium discounts for low-emission vehicles. "Climate and environmentally conscious drivers are rewarded with the climate bonus in motor vehicle liability insurance. Savings begin with emissions of less than 141 g/km - depending on emissions, the premium is reduced by between ten and 20 percent. With a purely electric car, you always save 20 percent on the premium," says Wendler.