Abstract: An apparatus driving fastening elements has an energy store, a transmission element movable along a setting axis in a driving direction between a starting position and a setting position for transmitting energy from the energy store to the fastening elements, the transmission element having a rear end in the driving direction, the energy store having a container and a piston, the container defining a cylinder axis and the piston being movable along the cylinder axis in the container, the piston closing off a partial volume of the container, and gas in the closed-off partial volume forming a gas spring, the apparatus having a force transmission device transmitting a spring force of the gas spring to the rear end of the transmission element, the rear end of the transmission element being arranged behind the piston in the driving direction when the transmission element is in the starting position.