Korean V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communications corporations Ettifos said on the 1st that on the 26th in the United States in North Carolina it successfully completed an on-road demonstration of "V2X remote toll payment (tolling)" in partnership with global automaker Audi and traffic infrastructure specialist Kapsch TrafficCom.
The demonstration was the core program of the "V2X Tolling Workshop," co-hosted by the global V2X certification body OmniAir Consortium and the North Carolina toll road operator. Ettifos used its in-vehicle device "V2X-AIR" to prove interoperability with Kapsch TrafficCom's roadside unit (RSU) infrastructure based on the standard protocol (SAE J3217).
About 100 people, including U.S. state government road officials and payment experts, attended the event, showing strong interest in V2X-based tolling technology.
The demonstration proceeded in two ways. First, in the "integrated OEM model," which integrated V2X-AIR into an Audi vehicle, payment information appeared on the vehicle display as soon as the vehicle passed through the tolling section. It also implemented a function that recognizes the number of occupants and automatically applies the carpool fare.
It also unveiled an "aftermarket device" that can be used with a simple installation. In addition to toll payment, the device provides safety service functions such as forward hazard alerts, showing that V2X technology can support both payments and safety at the same time.
Ettifos is also seen as competitive for establishing a local production system to comply with the U.S. Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements. The company said this has secured a favorable position in the North American tolling infrastructure market.
Jason Conley, secretary general of OmniAir Consortium, said, "Industry collaboration such as the joint demonstration by Ettifos, Audi and Kapsch TrafficCom is key to large-scale adoption of V2X tolling technology," adding, "This workshop brought together global industry leaders and helped establish future standards for electronic tolling and in-vehicle remote payments."
Kim Ho-jun, CEO of Ettifos, said, "This demonstration is a case that proves V2X technology can expand beyond safety services into the remote payment domain," adding, "Based on technology that supports both OEM integration and the aftermarket, we will push to expand the global V2X ecosystem."