What is the ETC installed in the car?
3 Answers
The ETC machine installed in the car is called an OBU device. Once installed, activated, and a card is inserted, it can be used normally. ETC is an electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road toll system. It is a road toll method specifically designed for toll roads, commonly seen on highways, bridges or tunnels with toll policies, and certain sections of urban centers to alleviate traffic congestion. 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. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used on highways immediately; they must be activated first. During free holiday periods, vehicles with ETC can still use highways, and no fees will be deducted when passing through ETC lanes. ETC Deduction Principles: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, and by using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the purpose of collecting tolls without requiring vehicles to stop at toll stations. All this is 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 by allowing vehicles to pass toll stations without stopping, thus minimizing pollution. Cost-saving: Reduces wear and tear and fuel consumption by minimizing frequent starts and stops. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC systems more advanced, faster, and higher-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council's "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" explicitly states the goal of "achieving interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC." It also sets a target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development plan. Future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will include promoting ETC use for trucks and exploring 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. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to prevent automatic fee deduction for the wrong vehicle due to ETC device failure or absence. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may result in failure to read the vehicle's device information, leading to toll deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment/loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will render the tag invalid. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or a highway service center for inspection. If the detachment is not due to human error, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may cause toll deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or card. Thick car windshields may cause poor signal reception. This is especially important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those with modified front windshields.
The ETC installed in the car is an electronic toll collection system. As a veteran driver who commutes on the highway every day, this thing is incredibly practical. It's essentially a small device attached to the windshield that pairs with toll station antennas, automatically recognizing the license plate and deducting fees as the car passes, eliminating the need to stop and pay in cash. After installing it, I save time and effort, breezing through toll stations during rush hour traffic and avoiding the hassle of queuing for half an hour. The application process is simple—just visit a bank or service center to apply and link it to a bank card. The device is provided for free, and you should periodically check if the battery indicator light is blue, which means it's functioning normally. There are many benefits: toll fees can be discounted to save money, and it reduces the risk of carrying cash. Occasionally, if the signal is unstable, a simple restart will fix it. I recommend all drivers install one to make travel smoother and more efficient. When installing, remember not to place it on metal film to avoid signal interference. In short, ETC is a must-have assistant for modern driving, enhancing the pace of life.
As a tech enthusiast, the working principle of ETC in cars is super fascinating. It's called Electronic Toll Collection, and its core is based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. A small device on the windshield contains an embedded electronic tag, while toll stations are equipped with wireless induction antennas. When a car passes by, communication occurs via electromagnetic waves, matching vehicle information and calculating fees in real-time, directly deducting from the linked payment card. This eliminates the need for manual intervention, reducing error rates significantly. I've also researched that modern ETC systems have been upgraded to support fee deduction record queries via apps, and some even integrate navigation functions to provide traffic alerts. After installation, the experience is incredibly smooth, unless the device runs out of power and needs replacement or occasionally encounters strong signal interference. This intelligent design saves time and improves efficiency, showcasing how technology changes lives. If you're curious about automated systems, ETC is a great entry-level example worth exploring.
