At the 2018 international CES in Las Vegas, USA, Bosch Connected Devices and Solutions will announce the Telematics eCall Plug (TEP), a retrofit plug-in sensor device. It delivers precise event data such as driving behaviour and crash detection for telematics, fleet management and insurance applications. The smart sensor device easily plugs into a standard 12V car cigarette lighter socket.
Data from the TEP enables innovative usage-based business models, e.g. for insurance purposes, however, it is also setup to be adopted by fleet operators and automobile clubs. The device’s eCall function registers car crash severity and can help to save lives by enabling faster emergency response times.
The TEP intelligently utilises its built-in sensors and microcontroller to reliably and accurately track driving behaviour parameters such as acceleration, braking and cornering forces, then transmits this data to the driver's smartphone via Bluetooth. Bosch's long-term expertise in crash detection and airbag controllers guarantees high quality data, while the cost-efficiency of this new device makes it a very viable alternative to standard ‘black box’ or OBD-dongle solutions.
The collected data can be used to help improve safety by identifying aggressive driving behaviour and enables more personalised behaviour-based insurance, by rewarding safe drivers with discounts on premiums. The data can also help insurers to identify and reduce fraudulent claims. The device can build closer customer relationships through gamification and more frequent customer contact.
The TEP has three configurations: the eCall function only, the driving behaviour data only, or both functions. It neatly plugs into the standard 12V DC car outlet, making its retrofit installation quick and easy in any type of car. There is no connection to the car’s IT infrastructure, where any risk of hacking is eliminated.
Bosch also offers a Software Development Kit (SDK) for the TEP, which contains everything a Service Partner needs for the development of a retrofit automotive telematics solution. The SDK supports both Android and iOS operating systems, and makes communications between a smartphone app and the TEP straightforward, utilising the benefits of the Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) platform.
