Audi Goes to the Tolls
This week, Audi announced its latest addition to its vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) technology. E-Tag transponders for paying tolls will be built into models from the end of this year.
Highway toll readers, the devices that beep when you pass through a tollway, will be installed into the rearview mirror of American Audi vehicles. Audi report that drivers will be able to control these devices (toggling them off and on, and switching on “carpool lane” settings) from their infotainment panels.
As yet, there is no news on when this technology will be available in Australia. Like Australia, US states have different toll companies and readers per state. Audi’s V2I device, we are told, will be able to handle this without a hitch.
Audi V2I Technology
Audis’ V2I technology is developing quickly in America and Europe. 2017 Q7, A4 and AllRoad models with Audi Connect Prime can also talk to traffic lights. Smart traffic lights can send information to drivers’ infotainment screens, including information on when lights will change with real-time countdowns to green. The drawback? Again, there is no news of when this technology will reach Australia, or Melbourne’s Audi fleet.
V2I, like V2V (vehicle to vehicle) technology is an exciting next stage in Audi development. Designed to increase safety and decrease stress, digital technology like this is paving the way to more autonomous cars. As more vehicles go electric, technology like this will become commonplace. At Volks Affair, our Audi mechanics are excited to see what other developments the German prestige car company has instore, and can’t wait to see tech like this improve Melbourne’s Audi-driving experience.
Australia and Audi V2I
Although smart traffic lights and in-built toll readers aren’t coming to Australia just yet, similar tech is already on our roads. V2I technology receives information from infrastructure, and is a part of V2X developments. V2X, or Vehicle-to-everything, takes information from the world around, including from other vehicles (V2V), pedestrians (V2P) and devices, such as smartphones (V2D). Blind-spot and lane-change warnings, front-collision warnings and emergency braking, are all a part of this technology.
As Audi go electric, we are sure to service and repair more of this technology. Until then, for more information on the future of electric vehicles, check out some of our other blogs, such as this one on electric VW, or this one on electric Mercedes-Benz, or this on BMW’s i3.