What is ETC?
3 Answers
ETC stands for Electronic Toll Collection in Chinese. It is currently the most advanced toll collection method for roads and bridges in the world, utilizing dedicated short-range microwave communication between an onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and a microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station. ETC uses dedicated short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station. It employs computer networking technology to perform backend settlement processing with banks, enabling vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping to pay the toll. The fully automatic electronic toll collection system (ETC) is one of the service functions of intelligent transportation systems. It is particularly suitable for use on highways or in busy bridge and tunnel environments. Currently, there are dedicated ETC lanes at highway toll stations. Vehicle owners only need to install a transponder card on the windshield and prepay the toll. When passing through the toll station, there is no need for manual payment or stopping, as the highway toll is automatically deducted from the card, achieving automatic toll collection. This system takes less than two seconds per vehicle for toll collection, and the traffic capacity of ETC lanes is 5 to 10 times that of manual toll lanes. The use of a fully automatic electronic toll collection system can make highway toll collection paperless and cashless, fundamentally eliminating the loss of toll revenue and addressing financial management issues in highway toll collection. Additionally, implementing a fully automatic electronic toll collection system can save on infrastructure and management costs. Documents required to apply for ETC: The vehicle owner's valid original ID card, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp must be provided). If applying on behalf of someone else, the agent's valid original ID card is also required. If applying through major bank branches, a corresponding bank debit or credit card is needed. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding with a debit card. Additionally, the current year's vehicle insurance policy is required. For corporate applications, the agent's ID card (or driver's license), the company's organization code certificate (or business license), and the company seal are needed. ETC toll deduction principle: There are one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, backend settlement is performed with banks using computer networking technology. This allows vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at road or bridge toll stations, all based on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues. Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions, lowering pollution by allowing vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping. Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, reducing wear and fuel consumption. Improved efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can increase traffic efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, more advanced, and higher-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council explicitly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, the interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." The plan also sets a target of "achieving 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 rates for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation developments. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC usage. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to prevent automatic toll deduction for the vehicle in front, in case its ETC device malfunctions or is absent. The speed limit for ETC lane recognition is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may prevent the system from reading the vehicle's device information, leading to toll deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, may cause the tag to malfunction. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or to a highway service center for inspection. If the issue is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance may cause toll deduction failure. Follow the instructions of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or card. Thick windshields may cause poor signal reception. This is particularly relevant for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those with modified windshields.
I've been driving trucks for years, and ETC has really made long-distance transportation much easier. It's essentially a small electronic tag installed on the vehicle that allows automatic toll deduction at highway toll stations without stopping. When I first started driving on highways, I was always worried about queues delaying delivery times. After installing ETC, waiting time was cut in half, and I could even make it to orders on time, especially when driving late at night with fewer cars and smoother roads. Installation is straightforward—just get a card from the bank and link it. Occasionally, foggy weather might cause signal issues requiring manual handling, but it happens rarely. Daily use is incredibly convenient, and many routes offer discounts, saving some costs. Overall, ETC improves transportation efficiency and reduces the risk of fatigued driving, making it a great fit for all driver friends to equip.
As a tech enthusiast, I'm always curious about how devices work. ETC relies on RFID wireless technology, where the small in-vehicle device called OBU sends signals to toll station antennas for fast communication and automatic fee deduction without delay. The principle involves dedicated frequency bands ensuring secure data transmission, eliminating manual steps to reduce emissions with high environmental efficiency, and can be integrated into navigation systems for convenient management. Personally, I've used several brand devices with fast response and good compatibility, occasionally requiring antenna maintenance but rarely encountering malfunctions. From a technical perspective, it's intelligent and reliable, potentially supporting autonomous driving in the future, making it worth expanding to broader applications.
