{{Short description|Roadside assistance service in the European Union}} {{More citations needed|date=July 2011}} thumb|eCall SOS button in a Volkswagen e-golf.{{Credit|Marius Vassnes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Lowercase title|title=eCall}} '''eCall''' (an abbreviation of "emergency call")<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-tech/101706/what-is-ecall-automated-emergency-call-technology-explained | title=What is eCall? }}</ref> is an initiative by the European Union, intended to bring rapid assistance to motorists involved in a collision anywhere within the European Union. The aim is for all new cars to incorporate a system that automatically contacts the emergency services in the event of a serious accident, sending location and sensor information (Telemetry). eCall was made mandatory in all new cars approved for manufacture within the European Union as of April 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/ecall-all-new-cars-april-2018|title=eCall in all new cars from April 2018|date=28 April 2015 |access-date=21 December 2021}}</ref>
== History == The concept of eCall was presented in 1999 by European civil servant Luc Tytgat, during the launch of the European Commission's Galileo project.<ref>Europeans, Euronews, 1999</ref> One year earlier, 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 2000, the medical research institute ISM Salzburg, Austria (Institute of Applied Science in Medicine, Salzburg 1995-2004) <ref>Project AIDER, Accident Information and Driver Emergency Rescue System (€4,883,146) 5th framework, IST, no.28058, https://ludwig-m-auer.eu/en/presentation-project-aider/, https://ludwig-m-auer.eu/en/list-of-projects/</ref> initiated project AIDER, a research and development project in the frame of R&D-programs of the European Union, together with 11 partners from research and industry: Calls via the AIDER system were planned to be forwarded to the emergency Call Center; incoming calls should contain the exact place and severity of the accident, analysed by aid of multiple sensors and a 360° TV-camera. In addition, vital parameters of injured passengers were to be recruited by aid of non-touch or non-invasive sensors. Data were to be evaluated by aid of a triage-software system developed in the frame of the project, and these data were to be transmitted to emergency doctors underway in a helicopter or ambulance. Moreover, audio- and video-connectivity to the car in accident was to be established in the moment of the crash. ISM proposed the project for cooperation to Mercedes-Daimler; the company forwarded the project plan to FIAT-Torino, and it was approved by the EU-commission with FIAT as the leading partner.<ref>https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/IST-2000-28058</ref> The project was performed from 2001 to 2004 with a financial volume of about € 5 Mio. Commercial exploitation of the entire project volume, especially the medical part, was, however, not realised until today.
In 2001, the project was first presented as a European calling system, in the context of the German youth science competition Jugend forscht.<ref>[http://www.jugend-forscht.de/projektdatenbank/der-gsm-schutzengel-automatisches-notrufsystem-zur-lokalisation-von-unfallopfern-mittels-gsm-technik/6.html "GSM-Schutzengel (Automatic Emergency Call System to locate accident victims using GSM Technology)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125220955/http://www.jugend-forscht.de/projektdatenbank/der-gsm-schutzengel-automatisches-notrufsystem-zur-lokalisation-von-unfallopfern-mittels-gsm-technik/6.html |date=25 November 2015 }},''Jugend forscht'', 2001. Retrieved 4 July 2012.</ref><ref>[http://gsm-schutzengel.de/ "GSM-Schutzengel (GSM Guardian Angel) emergency calling service"], ''GSM-Schutzengel'', 2001. Retrieved 4 July 2012.</ref> In 2007, the project was postponed. In 2011, the project was pushed again by the European Commission.<ref>[http://www.telecompaper.com/news/eu-adopts-automobile-emergency-calling-service-ecall "EU adopts automobile emergency calling service eCall"], ''Telecom Paper'', 8 September 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2011.</ref> In the summer of 2013, the project was adopted and was scheduled to be completed by 1 October 2015.
On 6 September 2013, trade associations operating in the automotive after market (like AIRC, CLEPA, FIA, FIGEAFA) welcomed the European Commission's eCall initiative and fully support the Europe-wide mandatory introduction of eCall by 2015 in all new type-approved cars and light commercial vehicles. AIRC (Association des Reparateurs en Carrosserie) General Secretary Karel Bukholczer said that eCall represents an important initiative to reduce fatalities and the severity of injuries on Europe's roads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://clepa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/eCall_-_EU_Associations_Common_Position_Paper-_19_09_2013.pdf|title="EU legislation on eCall – Joint Position Paper" (EU Associations)|access-date=1 June 2018|archive-date=15 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115203133/http://clepa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/eCall_-_EU_Associations_Common_Position_Paper-_19_09_2013.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Slovenia introduced eCall in December 2015.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davekeating/2018/04/01/starting-today-all-cars-in-europe-can-call-the-police-themselves/|title=All Cars in Europe Can Now Call The Police Themselves|last=Keating|first=Dave|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-09-26}}</ref> Italy deployed a pilot program in selected regions in May 2017, and Sweden adopted eCall in October 2017.<ref name=":0" />
Since 2018, eCall is part of an UNECE effort to standardize the devices with the UNECE Regulation 144 related to accident emergency call components (AECC), accident emergency call devices (AECD), and accident emergency call systems (AECS).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unece.org/transport/documents/2021/02/status-agreement-annexed-regulations-and-amendments-thereto-contracting|title=Status of the Agreement, of the annexed Regulations and of the amendments thereto - Contracting Parties to the Agreement, their date of application of the UN Regulations and designated Type Approval Authority(ies) and Technical Service(s) | UNECE|website=unece.org}}</ref>
The deployment of eCall devices was made mandatory in all new cars sold in the European Union on 1 April 2018.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gleeson|first1=Colin|title=New cars to automatically inform authorities of crashes|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/new-cars-to-automatically-inform-authorities-of-crashes-1.3447079|access-date=2018-04-01|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=2018-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Serge|title=L'auto. L'eCall : l'appel d'urgence obligatoire à partir du 1er avril pour les futures voitures|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-radio/l-auto/l-auto-lecall-lappel-durgence-obligatoire-a-partir-du-1er-avril-pour-les-futures-voitures_2661894.html|access-date=2018-04-01|work=franceinfo|date=2018-04-01|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Schmitt-Roschmann|first1=Von Verena|title=eCall jetzt Pflicht: So funktioniert der Unfall-Notruf in Autos|url=http://www.stimme.de/suedwesten/nachrichten/pl/eCall-jetzt-Pflicht-So-funktioniert-der-Unfall-Notruf-in-Autos;art19070,4006730|access-date=2018-04-01|work=stimme.de|date=2018-03-31|language=de-DE}}</ref> IP-based emergency services mechanisms are introduced to support the next generation of the pan-European in-vehicle emergency call service in May 2017.<ref>[rfc:8147 "Next-Generation Pan-European eCall"], ''IETF RFC 8147'', May 2017.</ref>
The ''de jure'' ITU-T Recommendation identifies requirements of an internet of things (IoT)-based automotive emergency response system (AERS), ''i.e.'' eCall, for factory preinstalled and aftermarket devices in March 2018.<ref>[https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-Y.4119 "Requirements and capability framework for IoT-based automotive emergency response system"], ''ITU-T Y.4119'', March 2018.</ref> The ITU-T Recommendation identifies minimum set of data structure for automotive emergency response system: ''ITU-T Y.4467'', and minimum set of data transfer protocol for automotive emergency response system: ''ITU-T Y.4468'' in January 2020.<ref>[https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-Y.4467 "Minimum set of data structure for automotive emergency response system"], ''ITU-T Y.4467'', January 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-Y.4468 "Minimum set of data transfer protocol for automotive emergency response system"], ''ITU-T Y.4468'', January 2020.</ref>
In November 2020, new vehicles in United Arab Emirates started to have the eCall systems.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-09|title=eCall / Emergency Call System as of 2020|url=https://www.roadsafetyuae.com/ecall-emergency-call-system-2020/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=Road Safety UAE|language=en-US|archive-date=8 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908193716/https://www.roadsafetyuae.com/ecall-emergency-call-system-2020/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Concept == thumb|400px|In case of a road accident (1) the in-car part computes the coordinates (2) establishes link to global positioning satellites (A and B), connects to any of the nearest cell towers (C) (3) and performs a voice call (4) to the operator (D, also transmitting encoded digital data), who speaks to the passengers of the distressed car (5) and requests a rescue operation (6) 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 or Galileo coordinates to local emergency agencies. A manual call button is also provided. eCall builds on E112. According to some estimates, eCall could reduce emergency response times by 40 percent in urban areas and by 50 percent in rural areas.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031145502/http://www.trl.co.uk/trl-news-hub/transport-news/latest-transport-news/commission-takes-first-step-towards-rollout-of-ecall-system_800724486.htm "Commission takes first step towards rollout of eCall system"], TRL (Transport Research Library, UK), 9 September 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2011.</ref>
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.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
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.
== Privacy concerns == As with all schemes to add mandatory wireless transceivers to cars, there are privacy concerns to be addressed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice/policies/privacy/docs/wpdocs/2006/wp125_en.pdf|title=Working document on data protection and privacy implications in eCall initiative (WP125)|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/2014/07/briefing-note-mandatory-installation-event-data-recorders-ecall-system/|title=Big Brother Watch briefing note|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref> 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 over the remote activation of the microphone, making a car susceptible to eavesdropping.
== Similar initiatives == 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://u-blox.com/en/ecall-era-glonass.html|title=eCall / ERA-GLONASS|date=21 May 2015|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=3 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703181444/https://u-blox.com/en/ecall-era-glonass.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heero-pilot.eu/view/en/media/news/20130114.html|title=HeERO – As HeERO expands, pan-European eCall moves to next step|last=agence-interactiv.com|website=heero-pilot.eu|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=22 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222204631/http://www.heero-pilot.eu/view/en/media/news/20130114.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=January 2024}}
In North America, a similar service is available from GM via their OnStar service, and by Ford with "Sync with Emergency Assistance".
== Essential patents == As of 2023, Avanci maintains a portfolio of intellectual property required to meet legally required eCall functionality in automobiles at a cost of $3/vehicle for licensing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avanci 4G Vehicle |url=https://www.avanci.com/vehicle/4gvehicle/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Avanci |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Eingestellt von Florian |title=Automakers get final boarding call from Avanci for $15-per-car 4G standard-essential patent license: come September, per-unit fee will go up by one third to $20 |url=http://www.fosspatents.com/2022/07/automakers-get-final-boarding-call-from.html |access-date=2023-08-22}}</ref>
== See also == * Automatic vehicle location * Enhanced 911 * Event data recorder * Fleet telematics system * GPS tracking unit * Intelligent transportation system * Telematic control unit * Telemetry
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website}}
{{Emergency telephone numbers}} {{Authority control}} {{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
Category:2015 establishments in Slovenia Category:2018 establishments in Europe
Category:Automotive Emergency Communication Systems Category:Automotive safety Category:Information technology projects Category:Information technology organizations based in Europe