eCall

eCall is a European initiative intended to bring rapid assistance to motorists involved in a collision anywhere in the European Union. eCall will be mandatory in all new cars sold within EU after April 2018.^[1]

History

The concept of eCall was presented in 1999 by European civil servant Luc Tytgat, at the launching of the Galileo project, by the European Commission.^[2] The year before, 170 experts met in Brussels, invited by the Commission, to analyse the European dependence on the American GPS system, but also to gather civilian applications propositions.

In 2001, the project was first presented as a European calling system, in the context of the German youth science competition Jugend forscht.^[3][4]

In 2007, the project was delayed.

In 2011, the project was pushed again by the European Commission.^[5]

In the summer of 2013, the project was adopted and a two-year term is aimed at (ending 1 October 2015).

Concept

The eCall initiative aims to deploy a device installed in all vehicles that will automatically dial 112 in the event of a serious road accident, and wirelessly send airbag deployment and impact sensor information, as well as GPS coordinates to local emergency agencies. eCall builds on E112. According to some estimates, eCall could speed emergency response times by 40 percent in urban areas and by 50 percent in rural areas.^[6]

Many companies are involved with telematics technology to use in different aspects of eCall including in-vehicle systems, wireless data delivery, and public safety answering point systems. Standardization of communication protocols and human language issues are some of the obstacles. Prototypes have been successfully tested with GPRS and in-band signalling over cellular networks. At the same time proprietary eCall solutions that rely on SMS exist already today from car makers such as BMW, PSA and Volvo Cars. Once in active deployment, other telematic services such as route advisories and traffic information are expected to explode.

The project is also supported by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), an interest group of European car, bus, and truck manufacturers, and ERTICO. Many of the stakeholder companies involved with telematics technology have membership in ERTICO or ACEA. An advantage of this membership is increased ability to influence developing eCall standards.

In Russia, a fully interoperable system called ERA-GLONASS is being deployed, with the aim to require an eCall terminal and a GPS/GLONASS receiver in new vehicles by 2015-2017.^{[7] [8]}

In North America, a similar service is available by GM via their OnStar service.

In Europe eCall services are provided by Bosch Communication Center the Global BPO division of the Bosch Group.

Countries with currently operating eCall

• Slovenia 1 December 2015

Privacy concerns

As with all schemes to add mandatory wireless transceivers to cars there are privacy concerns to be addressed.^[9][10] Depending on the final implementation of the system it may be possible for the system to become activated without an actual crash taking place. Also, the occupants of the car have no control about the microphone being remotely activated for eavesdropping.

See also

• Enhanced 911
• Event Data Recorder (EDR)

References

External links

• Official website
• eCall description from the eSafety initiative
• eCall Deployment project co-funded by the EC
• eCall System presented at "jugend forscht" competition in 2001
• European Emergency Number Association (EENA)
• Transmitting Location Information (MSD) Via GSM Phone Call for eCall using Gradient InBand PSAP Server
• New My-112 "Smartmatics" OBD solution for eCall
• GLONASS UNION "ERA-GLONASS"