What does ETC mean in Chinese for cars?
3 Answers
ETC in Chinese stands for Electronic Toll Collection (Electronic Toll), which is an automatic toll collection system for highways or bridges. According to the State Council's regulations, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and tolls can only be paid through manual channels. During free holiday periods, vehicles can still use the highways, and for users who have installed ETC, passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. The principle of ETC toll deduction: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the goal of collecting tolls without requiring vehicles to stop at road and bridge toll stations. All of this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon and green, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Cost-saving: Reduces expenses, decreases the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowers wear and fuel consumption, and users can also enjoy a 5% discount on tolls; Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC updates faster and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council clearly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, the interoperability of transportation smart cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also explicitly set the goal in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development to "achieve a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with smart transportation development directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications. Precautions for using ETC: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front that has stopped, to prevent the ETC device of the front vehicle from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters from the front vehicle to avoid automatically sensing and paying the toll for the front vehicle. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, which will also result in toll deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, etc., will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for testing. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also result in toll deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or by swiping a card. Excessive thickness of the car windshield can cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have undergone windshield replacement after an accident or for those who have modified their front windshield.
Car ETC should actually be ETC, which stands for Electronic Toll Collection in Chinese. I often drive on highways, and with this thing, I don't have to stop to pay tolls—just zoom right through. Remember last time during a traffic jam, vehicles queuing up for gas formed a long line, but I just slid through with ETC, saving a lot of time. Installing ETC is super easy too—just apply for an onboard device at a bank or service point, link it to your bank card, and it automatically deducts fees when passing toll stations, often with discounts. I recommend all drivers use it, especially during weekend travel peaks—it helps you avoid congestion and keeps you moving smoothly. Just make sure to check the device regularly to ensure it's not loose, so you don't run into issues. Nowadays, highway toll stations prioritize ETC lanes—it's practically a must-have for driving, hassle-free and effortless.
I just installed an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system in my new car, which basically allows me to pay highway tolls without stopping at the booth. Before having it, I had to queue up and pay with cash every time, but now it's as simple as driving through with the card attached. The installation process was easy—just visit a partnered service point or book online, then mount the device on the windshield. After linking it to my bank card, the toll fees are automatically deducted from my account, saving me the hassle of handling change. There are even discounts on highway tolls now, so it adds up to significant savings. Most importantly, it's safe and convenient, especially for long trips with family—no sudden braking to disturb passengers, and the kids can sleep peacefully. I highly recommend new car owners prioritize installing one to avoid wasting time during peak hours.
