Ettifos V2X-AIR selected for Maricopa County's CVAZ project

In a major advancement for connected vehicle technology, Ettifos V2X-AIR has been chosen to support the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) in its ambitious Connected Vehicle Acceleration Zone (CVAZ) project. This initiative, which spans four years from 2024 to 2028, is part of a broader national effort by the U.S. Department of Transportation to promote and scale V2X (vehicle-to-everything) technology.

Funded by a $20 million cooperative agreement from the Federal Highway Administration, the CVAZ project aims to connect 650 roadside units with about 400 on-board units using 5.9 GHz communications. Ettifos, a leading provider of V2X communications technology, will supply its V2X-AIR aftermarket on-board unit (OBU), a compact device designed to integrate existing vehicles into connected transportation networks without the need for factory-integrated V2X hardware.

The V2X-AIR OBU supports C-V2X direct communications, allowing vehicles to exchange safety and mobility information with roadside infrastructure and other connected vehicles. This interoperability is crucial for the seamless operation of various V2X applications, including Emergency Vehicle Preemption, Vulnerable Road User safety, Transit Signal Priority, and Freight Signal Priority. These applications are expected to enhance situational awareness and safety while improving the efficiency of emergency, transit, and freight vehicle movements.

The project covers key corridors and communities in Maricopa County, including Phoenix, Tolleson, Avondale, and unincorporated areas, as well as Arizona Department of Transportation corridors such as US 60. By bringing together V2X solutions from multiple vendors, CVAZ is creating an environment that supports scalable and sustainable deployment.

Ettifos's involvement in CVAZ underscores its commitment to moving V2X technology from the development phase to practical, large-scale deployment. Hojun Kim, CEO of Ettifos, emphasized the significance of this project, stating, "CVAZ represents an important step toward real-world, scalable V2X deployments in the U.S. We are proud to support the project with V2X-AIR and demonstrate how our technology can connect existing vehicles to safer, smarter transportation networks across Maricopa County."

According to Kim, deployments like CVAZ are crucial for proving the value of V2X technology at scale and accelerating its adoption across the country. This project is a significant milestone in the ongoing push to make transportation safer and more efficient through the integration of advanced communication technologies.