The rollout of the on-board unit (OBU) for ERP 2.0 has sparked questions: what are the possible placements for the processing unit? Why are there three components for motor vehicles while motorcycles have a single-piece unit? And, just how much power does the OBU need? Dive in with us to find out more.
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00:00 [Music]
00:11 Since 1998, every Singapore-registered vehicle has been equipped with a device known as an
00:17 In-Vehicle Unit or IU for short.
00:21 We've relied on the IU primarily for ERP and vehicle parking payments.
00:26 The existing ERP system has been in use for over 25 years and it is now reaching the end
00:32 of its operational life.
00:34 In 2016, LTA announced that the next generation of ERP, also known as ERP 2.0, will begin
00:43 rolling out from 2020 onwards.
00:46 However, this was delayed to 2023 due to a global chip shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
00:54 Last year, LTA started rolling out the new Global Navigation Satellite System-based ERP
00:59 2.0 system and trials for the new On-Board Unit or OBU began with early adopters.
01:07 Selected fleet vehicles were the first to have the new OBU installed and from 1st May
01:12 this year, newly registered cars will come pre-fitted with it.
01:16 While this is intended as an improvement over the old IU, recent public sentiments appear
01:22 otherwise, especially after this viral social media video about the placement of the OBU's
01:29 processing unit.
01:31 So this is the new OBU.
01:35 Let's figure out where the cash card goes.
01:40 Who's the champion who came up with this idea?
01:48 Let's take a look at the new OBU.
01:51 It comes in one piece for motorcycles but for all other vehicles, it consists of three
01:55 components - an antenna, an optional touchscreen display and a processing unit.
02:01 Now, many online comments suggest that the placement of these components is inconvenient
02:06 and that having three separate units is unnecessary since motorcycles only have one.
02:12 So what's the big fuss all about?
02:15 Is the new OBU user-friendly?
02:19 Let's find out.
02:29 We are here at Vicon Changi which is one of the workshops authorised by LTA to install
02:34 the new OBU for this car.
02:37 Hi, I'm Sharada.
02:40 Morning.
02:41 Okay, so I have an appointment to install the new OBU for this car.
02:46 Can you walk me through the process?
02:48 So let us start with the processing unit first.
02:51 The processing unit is where you insert the card and there's a few locations where you
02:55 can choose where you want to install this, subjected to the technical visibility of the
03:00 make and model of your vehicle.
03:02 Right, oh wait, so you're telling me that I have a choice where I can place this processing
03:07 unit?
03:08 Yes, you do.
03:09 I was under the impression I could only choose one spot.
03:12 So it depends on whether you prefer to have this unit hidden from plain sight or you wish
03:17 to have the convenience of accessing your card.
03:19 Maybe I should walk you through suitable locations that can be installed on your vehicle itself?
03:26 Yes, please.
03:28 So as you can see, one of the possible options will be this driver's footwell where you can
03:35 easily access the card.
03:37 Let's move to the other side of the vehicle so that we can go through the other possible
03:40 options.
03:42 So another possible option will be the passenger footwell where you can have a similar ease
03:47 of access to the card.
03:49 However, if you prefer to have the unit hidden from plain sight, an alternative will be to
03:56 install this under the glove compartment.
03:58 Right, I imagine that would be a little bit inconvenient, wouldn't it?
04:03 There's an alternative option of top up using app, whatever app that you're using.
04:09 And you can also sign up for back-end payment.
04:11 So once I put the card in, I never have to take it out?
04:15 Yes.
04:16 Any complimentary ticket, there's a button on the display unit where you can disable
04:20 payment temporarily.
04:21 That means you don't have to remove the card anymore.
04:23 That's actually good to know.
04:27 So maybe let me show you the display unit now.
04:30 Yes.
04:31 So this is how the display unit looks like.
04:35 There's an alternative to this.
04:36 You can also opt to use your own smartphone instead of the display unit.
04:40 However, the display unit will have all the latest functions and updates.
04:45 Yes, so please tell me the difference.
04:47 The display unit is the only way that you can adjust the volume for all the alerts that
04:53 will be emitted by this OBU unit.
04:56 The alerts include school zone alerts, civil zone alert and bus zone alert.
05:02 Ah, alright.
05:03 What are the features of the touchscreen?
05:07 There's also the button that I shared with you just now that disables the payment temporarily.
05:12 That's right.
05:14 So that's only available now at the touchscreen.
05:18 Alright so what I'm hearing is that the touchscreen comes with all these alerts which are very
05:23 useful and right now the smartphone doesn't have that?
05:26 Yes.
05:27 Ah, okay.
05:28 Alright, so I'm really considering the touchscreen but I read a few comments online of people
05:34 saying it's quite extra, you know, very bulky, distracting.
05:39 So is there any workaround there?
05:42 Well, actually when you do not need the touchscreen, you can actually fold it down.
05:46 So let me show you.
05:47 This is how it works.
05:48 Well, that solves the problem.
05:49 Exactly.
05:50 But when you need it, you can always fold it back up.
05:55 I have made a decision.
05:56 I will go with the touchscreen.
05:58 Alright, then we will proceed with the installation for you.
06:01 Once it's done, we'll call you.
06:02 Fantastic.
06:03 Thank you so much for all the information.
06:04 You're welcome.
06:05 It's been so helpful.
06:06 Okay, I'll see you later.
06:07 Alright, I'll see you later.
06:08 Okay, bye.
06:09 Bye.
06:10 Existing car owners will be notified progressively for OBU installations from the second half
06:16 of this year.
06:18 It will be free of charge if it is done at LTA-authorised workshops within two months
06:23 of receiving the notification.
06:26 As for how long it'll take, it really depends on the make and model of your car.
06:31 Now, what if you're getting a new car that is delivered from 1st May onwards?
06:42 I'm here at Moto Image Subaru to have a chat with their country manager.
06:47 Hi, Mai.
06:48 Hi, Sharda.
06:49 Welcome to Moto Image Subaru.
06:52 Thank you.
06:53 So good to be here.
06:54 You know, I just came from Vicom to install in my Subaru the OBU.
06:58 So I want to know, do newly registered cars come with the OBU installed?
07:02 Yes, yes.
07:03 So from 1st May 2024, all newly registered Subarus that are delivered to our customers
07:08 will come with the pre-fitted OBUs.
07:10 Oh, okay.
07:11 That's good to know.
07:12 And what are some of the options that are recommended?
07:14 Let me show you.
07:15 Yes, yes.
07:16 Which one?
07:17 Here?
07:18 Right there.
07:19 If the customer prefers to have the device hidden, we'll offer the option of having it
07:23 installed hidden under the driver's seat.
07:25 I really love that it's very, very hidden though.
07:27 So that's one option underneath the driver's seat.
07:30 And what's the second option?
07:32 The owners can also have the preference of having the OBU installed at the passenger
07:36 footwell.
07:37 Ah, all right.
07:38 I've seen that one and I've seen a few other options.
07:41 So at Subaru, you only have two options.
07:44 Yes, at Subaru we offer these two options.
07:46 Passenger footwell?
07:48 And under the driver's seat.
07:49 Can we go back to the driver's seat?
07:52 Okay.
07:53 To me, that looks a little bit inconvenient.
07:55 How is the driver?
07:56 Well, how am I supposed to access this processing unit all the way at the back there?
08:01 Like, how do I put the card in?
08:03 So some car owners actually prefer to have their devices hidden.
08:07 I mean, some of them prefer to have a very clean and tidy car.
08:11 So they rather have the device installed under the driver's seat.
08:14 All they need to do is to have a Seabus card installed at all times.
08:17 I do remember now, everything is quite automated, isn't it?
08:20 Yeah.
08:21 So I'm also curious, at which part of the process will new car owners be asked about
08:26 their preferred OBU setup?
08:28 Given that the OBU is rather new, so most customers have not seen or touched the setup
08:32 at all.
08:33 So here at Subaru, we offer customers two options, either to have the processing unit
08:38 installed at the passenger footwell or under the driver's seat.
08:41 So all the showroom cars are already equipped and installed, so that customers who come
08:45 in here to view the cars are able to see where they want it installed.
08:48 After they confirm their booking, our sales team will actually enquire with the customers
08:52 and explain where they want to have it installed.
08:55 Okay.
08:56 Yeah.
08:57 You know, I was very glad to find out that I had more than one option at Vicom when it
09:02 came to placing the processing unit.
09:05 Have any of your customers probably reacted the same way?
09:09 Given the options available, so far we have not received much enquiries.
09:12 Right.
09:13 Okay, well it's probably still new.
09:15 Yeah.
09:16 You might get more and more enquiries as time comes.
09:18 Yeah, over time.
09:19 Yeah.
09:20 Alright, well thank you so much, Mike.
09:21 That's been so useful for me.
09:22 It's been a lot of really good information, so thank you so much for chatting with me.
09:26 Thank you.
09:27 Thank you, Sharon.
09:28 The next time you purchase a car, don't forget to ask your salesperson about possible placements
09:35 for your processing unit.
09:47 Why was the OBU designed this way and what were the considerations?
09:51 We reached out to LTA with these questions.
09:55 Now LTA says that a single unit OBU is feasible for motorcycles given the ambient temperature
10:01 outdoors.
10:03 It cannot be installed on your dashboard without having its reliability affected by the heat.
10:09 Now the three-piece design positions the processing unit away from direct heat while keeping the
10:15 antenna near the top of the dashboard so that it can communicate effectively with satellites
10:21 for ERP 2.0.
10:23 But is the inside of a car really that hot?
10:29 I think we have to put it to the test.
10:32 We stationed the car in an open car park from 3pm to 5pm on a sunny day and took a few measurements.
10:39 Our camera overheated and stopped recording a couple of times, but we managed to capture
10:44 the final reading on the dashboard which peaked at 52.5 degrees Celsius.
10:51 Due to the greenhouse effect, this temperature was about 13 degrees higher than the outside
10:56 temperature which measured at 39.4 degrees Celsius.
11:01 Meanwhile, the temperature at the passenger's footwell was 37 degrees Celsius.
11:09 I think it's safe to say that the dashboard of a car does get much hotter than the footwell
11:14 and the outdoor surroundings.
11:16 But if the IU can handle this heat just fine, what makes the OBU different?
11:21 Elte highlights that the IU is a passive unit that activates only at gantries while the
11:26 OBU functions as a mini-computer requiring constant satellite communication to locate
11:33 the vehicle, process ERP payments and notify motorists of real-time traffic updates.
11:39 It removes the need for physical ERP gantries and provides drivers and authorities with
11:45 real-time data for better planning and congestion management.
11:50 And because it requires greater computational power, the processing unit must be shielded
11:55 from high temperatures, much like how you wouldn't place your phone on a hot dashboard
12:01 for hours.
12:02 Now, you must be wondering if the OBU drains your car's battery.
12:08 The LTA says that the power draw is comparable to an in-car camera.
12:13 They are also working with the traffic police to expand the information that drivers can
12:18 receive via the OBU, including red-light camera alerts.
12:22 So what else can we expect from ERP 2.0 down the road?
12:26 Now, in Parliament, Transport Minister Chi Hong Tat said,
12:30 "MOT is open to reviewing the idea of having a one-off increase in our total vehicle population,
12:37 spread over a few years, which is accompanied by higher usage-based charges to prevent traffic
12:44 congestion.
12:46 This includes location and time-based charges like our current ERP system, as well as the
12:51 possibility of having distance-based charging in future, which some commentators have suggested."
12:58 DIRP 2.0 facilitates this as it uses satellite-based technology to allow the possibility for distance-based
13:06 charging.
13:07 Now, that is interesting.
13:09 And while it may be an eyesore to some drivers, the OBU represents a practical solution that
13:16 holds the potential for significant change.
13:19 To be fair, it does look bulkier, especially when compared to the IU.
13:23 However, it comes with a lot more capabilities.
13:27 So perhaps a sleek design was the trade-off.
13:31 I think I can live with that.
13:36 So the OBU has been installed.
13:38 Let's take a look at it.
13:43 Ah, beautiful.
13:48 So this touchscreen display over here will provide me information such as my CPAS card
13:56 value.
13:57 I can also turn on my card payment and turn it off just like that.
14:02 There's also a display here where I can manage how bright the levels are and also volume,
14:10 really loud or really soft.
14:13 Now this screen is also important because it gives me information on my ERP charges.
14:19 It also tells me about bus lanes and the silver and school zones.
14:24 So that is a lot of useful information right there to take in.
14:28 And that's because the OBU system has more computing power than the IU.
14:34 So the OBU may be a three-piece unit for now due to certain limitations, but who knows?
14:41 Maybe it might be further streamlined in the future when technology advances.
14:46 So what do you think?
14:47 Is the OBU system for ERP 2.0 worth the fuss?
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