Is Zhongyuantong ETC Nationwide?

[LaIsabella]

Zhongyuantong ETC is nationwide and achieved national network connectivity as early as 2015. According to State Council regulations, vehicles without ETC installed since 2020 cannot enjoy toll discounts. In the future, highway toll stations will retain only one manual lane, requiring cash payment. Newly installed ETC devices require activation before highway use, though they can be used during holiday free-toll periods without deductions for ETC users. ETC Deduction Principles: Highways feature one or more ETC lanes. Using dedicated short-range microwave communication between onboard units (OBUs) mounted on windshields and toll station antennas, coupled with backend banking settlement via computer networks, ETC enables toll payment without stopping. This operates on a "pass first, deduct later" principle. Benefits of ETC Installation: Time-saving: Eliminates queuing Eco-friendly: Reduces noise and emissions via non-stop passage Cost-efficient: Minimizes vehicle wear/fuel consumption with 5% toll discounts High efficiency: ETC lanes theoretically process vehicles 2-3x faster than traditional methods Policy support: The State Council's 13th Five-Year Transport Plan mandates 50% ETC adoption rate for passenger vehicles by 2020 Future applications: Potential expansion to trucks and integration with V2X smart transportation systems Usage Notes: Maintain 10m distance from preceding vehicles to avoid erroneous charges Keep speed below 20km/h for successful recognition Tampering with OBU devices may require reactivation at service centers Insufficient debit card balances necessitate manual lane payment Thick/replaced windshields may impair signal reception