eCall certification logo

eCall Certification

Approval of emergency call systems in the vehicle

Technical requirements for EU eCall type approval / certification

Since April 1, 2018, eCall has been mandatory for all new models of passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1). In order for motor vehicles to continue to be sold and registered in the EU, automotive manufacturers must approve the eCall systems they use on the basis of EU requirements. The eCall tests defined in the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/79 are decisive:

eCall Logo
  • Annex I – Serious deceleration test
  • Annex II – Full impact test ratings
  • Annex III – Impact resistance of audio equipment
  • Annex IV – Coexistence of TPS and eCall
  • Annex V – Automatic release mechanism (document verification)
  • Annex VI – Positioning services (GNSS)
  • Annex VII – Self-test of the in-vehicle system
  • Annex VIII – Privacy and data protection

According to the Implementing Regulation Regulation (EU) 2017/78, Annex I / II, Part I, § 12.8.7, manufacturers must declare compliance with eCall standards in accordance with Article 5(8) of Regulation (EU) 2015/758. The relevant eCall tests are defined in:

  • CEN EN 16454:2015 / ETSI TS 103 412 – eCall end-to-end conformance testing.
  • ETSI TS 103 428 – eCall HLAP interoperability tests
  • ETSI TS 102 936-1, TS 151 010-1 and TS 134 123-1 – GSM / UMTS Conformity
  • ITU-T P.1140 – Voice communication requirements for emergency calls

Regulation (EU) 2015/758 further defines that the tests for eCall type approval should be performed exclusively by a Notified Technical Service.

Technical requirements for UNECE eCall type approval / certification

UN Regulation No. 144 (UN-R 144) also came into force in July 2018. This regulation defines the approval procedures for:

  • Components
  • eCall systems
  • Motor vehicles with eCall system, which has already been approved
  • Motor vehicles with eCall system, which has not been approved yet.

Depending on the type of approval procedure, the scope of testing differs. In total, there are the following test areas:

  • Data transmission and voice connection
  • EMV (UN-R 10)
  • Positioning (GNSS)
  • PLMN access
  • Information and warning signal (self-test)
  • Power supply
  • Resistance test (sledge test)
  • AECS control
  • Hands-free audio performance (audio)
  • Vehicle impact tests (UN – R 94/95)

The UN-R 144 is not only valid for the countries of the European Union, but is currently valid for 56 countries worldwide. Among them are Russia, Japan and Korea.

Next Generation eCall

The pan-European eCall, ERA-GLONASS, and the eCall for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are each based on GSM and UMTS (circuit-switched). European mobile network operators are planning to switch off GSM/UMTS and migrate to LTE/5G in the near future.

Packet-switched Next Generation (NG) eCall based on IMS (over LTE/5G) will be the subject of future EU regulations. The relevant NG eCall tests are defined in:

  • CEN TS 17240 – eCall end-to-end conformance tests for IMS packet-switched systems.
  • ETSI TS 134 229-1 – SIP protocol conformance tests
  • ETSI TS 134 229-5 – SIP/5G protocol conformance tests
  • ETSI TS 136 523-1 – LTE protocol conformance tests
  • ETSI TS 138 523-1 – 5G Protocol Conformance Tests
  • ETSI TS 126 269 – In-Band Modem Conformance Tests
  • ETSI TS 103 683 – Next Generation eCall HLAP interoperability tests

 

Our services

Car in eCall test lab

We were already designated by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) as a technical service for eCall in August 2017 and were the first laboratory in Europe to offer and perform eCall type approval tests. Similarly, we were the first laboratory to be designated by the KBA as a technical service for UN-R 144. In April 2020, we became the first laboratory in the world to be accredited by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) to perform Next Generation eCall tests. In addition, we have been involved in the standardization of eCall test specifications and standards (from CEN and ETSI) for several years and can draw on a wealth of experience from the large number of eCall projects we have conducted.

With our extraordinary expertise in the eCall type approval process and the technical knowledge we have acquired over the years to perform the necessary eCall tests, we are your number one contact when it comes to eCall type approval / certification.

Research Report: Current and Future International eCall Requirements

We have bundled our eCall expertise into an updated eCall Research Report, which provides automotive manufacturers and suppliers with an ideal overview of current and future eCall requirements. Finally, the report, which is subject to a fee, also provides guidance for an efficient global eCall type approval strategy.

The 28-page document, which is available in English, can be ordered directly from us for a price of 1,899 euros.