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Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), which manages the statewide SunPass system used on 460 miles of Florida's toll highways, has chosen TransCore's eGo Plus RFID sticker tag to upgrade its current technology that has been in use since the late 1990s.
The paper-thin, batteryless tags will be sold as the 'SunPass Mini', and will be available from summer 2008 at SunPass outlets. The multi-million dollar order is for some 1.5 million eGo Plus tags.
Over the cost barrier
The new tags help overcome the cost barrier to the widespread adoption of electronic toll collection technology, making it more attractive to migrate to all-electronic toll roads and increase the number of customers who pay tolls wirelessly (instead of manually).
The 3 million+ hardcase SunPass tags currently in use will work alongside the new mini tags. Across the US, eGo Plus technology has also been adopted for high speed tolling by Houston's Harris County Toll Road Authority, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Washington Department of Transportation.
Other applications growing
As technology continues to blur boundaries and convenience becomes central to customer service, acceptance of wireless payments systems for other applications such as paying for parking or access to gated communities has also grown. Throughout Florida, for example, the SunPass system has spread to airport parking operations with airports in the midst of deploying interoperable payment systems in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach.
And, with a growing interest in greener technologies, the batteryless tag provides environmental benefits as well. As more customers shift to paying tolls electronically, this reduces congestion and eliminates engine idle times at toll plazas, significantly reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality. The smaller profile tag also uses less petroleum-based raw materials (e.g. plastics). The batteryless design also removes the need for battery disposal when the tag expires.
The eGo Plus sticker tag is a 915MHz RF programmable, beam-powered, windshield-mounted tag. Packaged as a flexible sticker, it is suited for applications that need low-cost, easily installed tags such as toll collection, airport access and transportation management systems, parking access, and security control.
Source: TransCore
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