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On Thursday, a first prototype for the so-called On Board Unit was installed in a number of cars to be driven by employees of IBM and NXP. The prototype is the first of its kind for road user charging. This prototype demonstrates for the first time a technique that assigns price based on road type, time period and the environmental characteristics of the routes driven in the vehicle. Moreover, the road use fee can be displayed to the motorist in a clear and comprehensible manner. This technique makes it possible to charge each individual vehicle an ‘equitable’ fee for use of the highway network, both on main highways and secondary roads as part of a road user charging solution.

NXP and IBM have asked 50 employees who work at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven to test the system for 6 months. Each participant will have an On Board Unit in his or her car that registers all trips and assigns a price for each trip. Using a secured web site, participants can see what route they have taken, how much this route costs them and whether their choice of route has led to lower costs or not. During the second phase of the test, the driver can travel outside rush hours or use a cheaper route between his residence and work site, which results in a lower price. A competitive aspect is introduced by rewarding those employees who change their driving habits most effectively. The trial is intended to demonstrate the practical application of the technique and to make employees aware that different driving habits will lead to considerable differences in driving expenses in the future.

In Belgium discussions have begun with the city of Leuven for a potential test. In Stockholm, a similar road user charging system is already in place