Automotive e-ssentials

TÜV SÜD Works with CATARC to Promote Safe Application of eCall Product

Recently, TÜV SÜD Greater China, in collaboration with Intelligent Connected Vehicle Office of Automotive Test Center (Tianjin), China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CATARC"), has completed the testing project of Vehicle Road Emergency Call System (hereinafter referred to as "eCall"). This is the first cooperation regarding this type of product between both parties since their execution of strategic cooperation agreement in 2017. TÜV SÜD experts from the eCall Product Service Team of Mobility in China have co-operated closely with the technical team of CATARC to interpret and analyze the difficulties of the testing standards in relation to eCall products. Besides, TÜV SÜD has also conducted a complete laboratory assessment for CATARC, indicating full compliance of CARTAC's testing capability and laboratory conditions based on eCall standards.

According to the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018 of WHO, the number of road traffic deaths has continued to grow in recent years, with approximately 1.35 million losing their lives every year in road traffic accidents. In most countries, losses arising from traffic collisions account for 3% of GDP. To cut down these losses, EU have issued mandatory regulations for vehicles circulated in their territories to be installed with eCall systems. It aims to reduce the response time to emergency calls by introducing intelligent vehicle safety system based on tele-information services, and thus to reduce injuries and deaths and property losses out of accidents.

eCall is an electronic safety system for automobiles, comprising several components, including the control (telematic) unit, microphone, loudspeaker, antenna (GSM, UMTS, GPS or Galileo), the button for launching the system manually, and the cables connecting these systems. When severe traffic accidents occur, vehicles provided with in-vehicle system (IVS) will automatically call 112 to seek local emergency medical services. This system will transmit a minimum set of data (MSD) via cellular communication network. This MSD contains information on number of passengers, time of accident and GNSS coordinates of accident location, and a voice connection to a public service answering point (PSAP) will be set up subsequently.

"Definition of vehicle safety is not limited to active safety and passive safety, but also includes the rescue measures after accidents," said Ms. Zeng Zi, Head of eCall Product Team of Mobility, TÜV SÜD Greater China. " With the rapid progress of automotive technologies, TÜV SÜD always adheres to its understanding on cutting edge regulations study to ensure the safe application of new products and technologies. In the future, TÜV SÜD will continue to delve into the study of eCall system testing standards and certification regulations, to ensure the high reliability of such products and to add value to enterprises, consumers and the environment."