Cross-border pilot on eCall shows system success

Publication date: 03 July 2007

ADAC has demonstrated that the European eCall system, as recommended by the eCall Driving Group and approved by the EU Parliament, successfully works. Mr Volker Knapp, Managing Director of ADAC and Mr Charles Capelleman of ARC Transistence presented the final results to the European Commission at a 26 June 2007 meeting with DG INFSO Director General Fabio Colasanti. It also presented results of the test during the 5-6 June 2007 Berlin eSafety Conference, hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Affairs.

From 2010, the EU plans to have every new car equipped with an eCall unit. Immediately after an accident, the driver will be able to place an emergency call by pushing a button. In a more serious accident, the driver will be automatically generated when the airbag deploys. Along with the call, the vehicle’s GPS coordinates will be transmitted to the emergency call centre.

eCall is feasible
The conclusions of the feasibility test ADAC conducted in April in cooperation with Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI Global Spa), Adam Opel AG, Airbiquity, Continental Automotive Systems GmbH, Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- und Touring Club (ÖAMTC), and T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH, show that eCall is feasible and operates across borders.

ADAC notes that this was the first field test of the European eCall concept. Nine vehicles were on the road in Austria, Germany and Italy and the drivers placed over 900 test calls from 450 pre-set locations.

The nine Opel Vectra vehicles were equipped with eCall units, GPS/GSM antennae, an eCall button and capability to measure mobile network coverage. Simulated PSAPs operated by ÖAMTC, ACI and ADAC in their respective countries received the emergency calls. The ADAC Technical Centre in Landsberg, Germany analysed and evaluated the data.

“The results of this first cross-border feasibility trial are excellent; they prove that the pan-European in-vehicle emergency call service “eCall” are viable. As automobile clubs, we are looking forward to supporting the implementation of the eCall service across Europe as soon as possible for the benefits of all road users, “ ADAC Managing Director Volker Knapp pointed out during the 26 June meeting with the EC.

The introduction of the eCall system is aimed at reducing the number of road fatalities and minimising the consequences of injuries. ADAC notes that this is why is strongly supportive if eCall and will contribute its know-how, experience and service provider experience.

Consult the ADAC extended version of the eCall results and press release

eCall Machbarkeitsstudie Ergebnis_EN_20070627.pdf (1567 KB)

For more information about eCall, please visit the eCall Toolbox