While the government has stated its intent at having radio frequency identification (RFID) as the new standard for toll collection in the country, Efkon Asia believes that the SmartTag system should not be abandoned, but instead have its deployment increased, as it would reduce congestion at toll plazas and help speed up implementation of the intended multi-lane traffic free flow network in the future.
The Austrian technology provider of the infra-red (IR) toll collection system believes that a five million-strong customer base and continuous product upgrades make the system – which utilises a Touch ‘n Go (TnG) card and SmartTag toll reader unit – an ideal means to help achieve the government’s congestion-free objective.
According to Efkon Asia director Helmuth Blasch, the customer base for the system is growing, pointing out that this year alone, around 75% of the 270,000 new passenger cars and commercial vehicles registered in Peninsular Malaysia until September 2021 were delivered with either a SmartTAG-compatible built-in toll reader or portable device.
“This is a clear indication that the IR system continues to enjoy the confidence of top vehicle manufacturers, retailers and owners and has proven its worth as an efficient, convenient and cost-effective cashless toll collection system,” he said.
“Coupled with continuous product upgrades that has significantly improved the system’s reliability and user experience, it is the ideal and much more advanced staging point to achieve the congestion-free highway objective outlined in the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Blueprint compared to the fledgling RFID payment system.
“In Germany, the nationwide truck tolling system installed on all highways in a MLFF configuration has proven to be highly effective, catering to more than two million trucks travelling at up to 100 km/h. It uses a similar IR technology, like in Malaysia, to validate payment. We have also successfully replicated this test in Malaysia,” he said.
Blasch said that SmartTAG compatible units, which comply with DSRC (dedicated short-range communication) standards and are ECE R10 certified, operate in the 400THz band and are able to transfer data 10,000 times faster than RFID. “Being battery-powered, every unit is active with a wake-up time of just two milliseconds compared to the passive RFID’s 45 milliseconds,” he explained.
The company said that based on the public response to the recent announcement by the works ministry, most highway users prefer the superior convenience, proven reliability and better user experience of the IR system, which has been in use in the country since 2005.
As such, Blasch said that authorities and highway concessionaires should look at increasing rather than reducing SmartTAG lanes if the objective was to reduce congestion at toll plazas.
He said Efkon has been working closely with the local manufacturers of SmartTAG compatible devices to continuously introduce upgrades. “For consumers, SmartTAG compatible built-in toll readers are directly powered by car batteries, while portable units such as the MaxTAG now come with a powerful and long-lasting rechargeable 1000 mAh battery and USB port for easy charging in the car to ensure availability at all times,” he said.
Blasch said that the company will be moving towards digitalisation sometime in the first quarter of 2022 by enabling Bluetooth connection between its devices and smartphones as well as car media systems. “Connection to an e-wallet for easy top-ups will also be possible,” he added.
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only the gov think the dinosaur RFID they using is more advance, maybe benefit some cronies
Governments the world over are switching to RFID for seamless toll collection, including Singapore. Are you implying Singapore is a dinosaur?
Singapore is not using passive RFID, they are moving from Microwave to GNSS (satellite)
Nevertheless they are using RFID and not old fashioned IR.
Have you seen how Singapore RFID tag looks like? Don’t just look at the word “RFID” only.
Do you know SG device is using RFID and not IR? Don’t just look at the box only.
Yes. Its rfid.Like i said, dont just look at the word rfid. Dont assume all rfid tags are the same just because it says “RFID”.
It is like SmartTAG… place inside windshield. Similar to US.
I’m sorry, for seamless toll collection, better implement paydirect which will beneficial for both tng and smarttag user. Right? You can’t compare with Singapore. Singapore no palang here in Malaysia still use palang and there’s no different pun from smarttag.
TNG said rfid can accommodate 1000 cars per hour compared to tng which is 500/hour. But they didn’t say how much smarttag can accommodate per hour.
But I found the data here
NST 2015 “the traffic throughput at cash lanes is 250 vehicles per hour compared with 1,200 vehicles per hour for SmartTag lanes at toll plazas.”
So which one is faster?
The throughput of SmartTag lanes is currently limited by the barrier. The barrier is a mechanical device to prevent customers to run through without paying. If you remove that barrier you can, already by now, run through with 100km/h. That was tested in 2008 if I remember right.
Not all RFID is the same. Many country like US and Spore adopting active RFID which more robust and faster reaction. Unfortunately, Malaysia blindly adopting passive RFID which slow in response and unreliable. My best guess is 2015 news is refering to active RFID, Malaysia not yet adopting RFID yet.
Outdated engineer. We are now advancing towards AI, with image recognition and cloud based system. You are promoting decades old tech that have inferior freq travel. Think as an engineer, and be one.
Then is AI toll system implemented yet? time to wake up son
image recognition will be definitely the way in the future, but currently, like in Taiwan or in Turkey, they are at 94% or lower. Means that from 2 million transactions per day on PLUS highways they could miss out on over 100,000. That will have to be discussed I assume
Why not? We must move forward instead looking back at old technology. Grow up son!
Yes but you still need to slow down for it read it just like any smart tag
Why reinvent the wheel, T&G is multiple purpose. What can RFID achieve really?
U r right. They are switching over with the best technology that doesn’t cause pain to the user.
Disinformation. Singapore’s uses a powered active In-vehicle Unit that has more in common with Smart TAG and is much more reliable than our RFID sticker.
lmao EFKON are economically benefitted from SmartTAG, of course they are promoting SmartTAG. RFID > SmartTAG
Why do you ‘Laugh Your Ass Off’ – do RFID not benefit from their sales? A charity organization behind it?
Have you heard the saying,”It is not what you know,but who you know?”
The thing that doesnt seem “logical” is the thing that makes megabucks.
The device that is highly rated by experts in developed countries may be treated as ” so so or biasa”due to “cronyism”,which is prevalent in a country called ‘SEMUAPUNBOLEHLAND”
Nothing really works well
Please phase out smart tags. Years of monopoly resulted in complacency where the device durability and reliability is questionable. Enough is enough!
Smart Tag device? As far as we all know, “Smart Tag” doesnt produce their own device years ago!!! Its now up to any manufacturer to produce and sell their own smartag compatible device as shown.
100% agree. RFID cause jem in Penang Bridge and BKE. Very frequent stuck. SmartTAG is more realible. Government should study more detail… not rely on theory and controlled test alone.
RFID coupled with ANPR will be vastly more reliable than Smart Tag or RFID alone as proven by systems adopted globally, including Singapore.
Number late recognition has nothing to do with RFID. Number plate recognition can be added to anything. RFID and infrared are wireless/contactless means communications.
You can add number plate recognition to smarttag lanes, and the vehicle speed can probably reach 100 kph at toll plazas.
I hope you are not a real “engineer”. Just someone with financial interest in one of the systems. Otherwise, you will be misleading a lot of decision makers who know crap.
It shows the lack of robustness in the actual field. Should take action before getting worse. The issue is use of this type of RFID still the same or worse than SmartTag. Still use “palang”… Spore and US, no need to slowdown !. So what new except force rakyat to buy not proven reliability new RFID. … hint…who behind this?
Singapore does not use Passive RFID
Not sure why some place lot of complains about RFID. I’m among the earliest user of RFID & have been using it since day 1(in KV territory). No problems at all & more smooth than smart tag sangkut.
Same with me. Using RFID since day 1. Only hiccup on the first day. Send again at installation center. They change the sticker location from headlamp to windscreen left top. No problems since then.
Agree, my success rate passing toll with RFID is 99%, happy user. Smartag have to worry about battery
I remember I applied RFID when they first hit the market and went for free installation at then Tesco seberang Jaya on both my cars one is MPV the other, Myvi. To my naiveness I didn’t account the prototype RFID to have bugs and issues so always stuck at the toll due to reading failure and always embarrassed. I stopped using it from 2019. Since then I been using smart tag till now. My friends have no issues in Selangor and encouraged me to transition again but I’m in Penang where it’s sad to hear these irregularities still exist. Cannot bro dun wan risk again kena hon then late for work eh.
A desperate gasp from a company whose tech is being made obsolete and giving all kinds unverifiable excuses. Yeah right.
You are the past, RFID is the future. No longer will people complain on your easy to spoiled devices or needing to replace battery at the most inconvenient time, or having to find a TNG top up booth.
You should have improved your system to use RFID instead you sat on Smart Tag tech for 10-20 years with zero innovation. You are the Nokia of toll collection and like Nokia making plenty of noise before its demise. You are next.
So long you wrote, in the end of the day the reliablity is what matters instead of new tech but having to stuck in the toll lane. RFID also need to topup la. Both Smart tag and RFID is linked to the app mar. Who said need to find top up booth? If you say for those toll like in PLUS highway then it appkies to both RFID and Smart Tag. Both also need to topup into the card i lnstead of app. Battery weak is also user problem, who ask no change early. LOL
RFID you only need your credit card to topup via online. TNG card you need to find a topup booth, you and this person below who I suspect are the same, are giving wrong info that one can topup TNG online, no you can’t. Knowing Malaysians, we can’t be bothered to check on battery status but causes inconvenience to others when it dies, so a batteryless RFID is one less hassle that Malaysians couldn’t be bothered anyways.
Wrong. All 3 of TNG is link to e-wallet. Auto deduct to e-wallet.
It is you who are out of date, govt troll. You can top up TNG card accounts through the Touch n Go app, exactly the same way as you top up RFID.
So opposition supporters are those going backwards hmm? Quite surprising. But you are giving misinformation, no you cannot topup TNG via app, you can only do that with DirectPay which RFID leverages so once more RFID is superior to Smart Tag. You shot your own foot.
I would like you to show everyone here where is the option in the app that allows you perform the TNG Card reload!
I said you can top up the TNG card ACCOUNTS, not the card itself.
It is the exact same basis as the RFID tag. Both deduct from the exact same e-wallet.
Uhh no you can’t… You can only link your card, and only pay direct supported tolls can use ewallet balance. Otherwise you still have to top up… Where as RFID directly only takes from ewallet.
They meant the PayDirect feature imo.
not at PLUS highway. PLUS highway still require you to topap the physical tng card, that you need to find booth/counter. and most of it will charge 50sen per topup.
Why is RFID is superior to Smart TAG if the deduction comes from the same e-wallet balance?
You say not all highways support e-wallet deduction via Smart TAG, it’s also true that not all highways have RFID lanes.
If some highway operators don’t implement one system, it does not mean the other system is superior.
Reliable? Are you sure? I’ve changed RFID twice, the current one is the third RFID. I even not sure whether it is still working since I didn’t use it for quite some time. I always love to try new technologies, that’s why I tried it when it SAS launched and luckily it was replaced twice without any charges.
if RFID is the future, can you explain why my rfid, sometime PASS sometime FAIL? can you explain and suggest improvement for PASSIVE part? in product , consistency performance isvery important…problem smartag only FAIL because of Power source, if improved with source from battery car our current problem can solve 100%.. which we already know how good performance SMARTAG if not issue with battery power at toll booth
(Like) SmartTag
(Dislike) RFID
Like choosing between a horse drawn carriage & a car. Which is better?
No point choosing a broken car.
Like you, I choose not to pay toll.
Based on my personal experience using both system/device.. The RFID is faster (WAY FASTER) than smartTAG. Not to mention the durability the former device, currently I hv 3 smartTAGs, which two of them are malfunction!!!
absolutely agree, Smart tag is totally not smart to buy, firstly ,it’s damn bloody expensive and it does not last long, it will disintegrate within a short time
For the last 23 yrs, I only used 2 smart tag, 1st one last about 17yrs (still working but consuming battery), 2nd unit is still working properly. For RFID, I changed twice within a year. Not too sure whether it is still working since I didn’t use it for quite some time.
From 10 times I use RFID, about 7 times RFID not detect, and cause jams as I need to reverse.
Better use smart tag. Smart tags are more reliable than the RFID.
There must be something possibly wrong with the Rfid lane you use….
Extremely prominent here in Penang bridge toll in my experience since day 1 launch. I travel scarcely south side or BKE wise but had my fair share of reading failure. Maybe I should give RFID a try again with smartag on standby
Both RFID and SmartTag are dinosaur technology. Satellite-based Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is the way to go. https://www.zdnet.com/article/singapore-readies-satellite-road-toll-system-for-2021-rollout/
Malaysia always has thunder storm, ASTRO unable to solve the problem as for many years. Satellite really the answer for toll?
with RFID sticks at the headlamp, its prone to scratch (wash car maybe) or even a small accident damage headlamp and our heats could possibly damage the RFID, the question is when one is stuck at the booth due to RFID damage, does one need to use touch and go card, if so, we are still back to square one, using T&G which could used for smart tag and also perform manual tag and not prone to damage as it kept inside the car.
As per understanding, country like UAE only stick on dedicated location on windscreen, kind of one system with one method of installation.
Tolls collection are seemless like Singapore, send bill to resident once a month, but I know this would not work for Malaysian, because too much of the car is not the driver’s car, the house is not the car owner’s house. hahaha!
U choosed to stick the RFID at the headlamp. I choosed to stick mine on the passenger side top corner of the windscreen and it works perfectly fine.
RFID for the win.
only issue i see with RFID is imporper installation or not following their instruction to install 5cm away from metal, which results in no detection.
another issue is lane positioning is wrong when entering which also delays the clearance. On my pickup, i have to move slightly to the right as the RFID reader is installed on the left side.
On my sedan, i don’t need to do this due to its smaller size.
Since you sell it, you said it is better. Aiyoo..same like goshop everything very good buat no one use it.
That is the most copium statement. Its like asking CEO of KFC if KFC fried chicken is the best fried chicken. Of course hes gonna say “yes 10000 better than any fried chicken”.
Once a while driving socar/gocar into the RFID lane. ALAMAK!!! THIS IS NOT MY CAR!!!
Sorry for bro and sis behind me.
A company selling IR based systems trying to justify their products. The way he described infrared light as 400 THz signal is a hilariously “creative” way to make it sound high tech also it is just the same as the good old TV remote. For an identification device, you don’t need much data or high speed. It need to be simple and reliable. RFID is much simpler and reliable. Since beginning, Smarttag is a complicated workaround solution to extend the range of TnG cards.
I use RFID on Penang bridge almost daily for the last 2 years. Never really have any problems. I can drive pass at approx 30-40kph. With eWallet auto reload, I never need to worry about TnG card reload and balance.
I’m using SmartTAG for more than 10 years … and daily commute thru 5 toll including Penang bridge. Never have a single problem. In-fact also use for parking.
Wait until RFID deteriorate..where the built-in battery weak or damage by uv and humidity. Then you know why….
The best system is no toll system
TNG is just incompetent. I’ve been using rfid tag for 3 years and it still gives problem. Called the ldp toll management, they tak tahu. Call TNG they tak tahu. Just a bunch of..
Aiya… Both for croni… Ni need toll…
I can see at the tolls that RFID is not faster than Smart Tag.
Yet there are still idiots holding the Smart tag out of the window instead of mounting them, the excuses that I always come across cannot place as confirm someone will break in & steal. The stupidity is, how many cases do break-in of SmartTag do actually happen. The stupid logic!
They do it because their car has tinted in the front windscreen. If put tinted usually Smart tag cannot detect. My car has this issue also.
Our country still not dare to remove the boom gate and stomach kind of toll gate (3 lanes to 10 or 12 lanes and back to 3 lanes again).
Still very long way to achieve the dream of seemless toll collection…
who know if change government again in very near future, then toll collection contract get extended another 30 years, then cucu generation might see the seemless toll collection lo…
Because we have ppl who will shamelessly tailgate to escape paying toll even
Why still cannot standardized plate number? Then can remove all together tool booth and palang like other countries, smoother traffic. Others go forward why we go backwards?
SmartTag system is faster, only if the device is working… Haha. Most often than not, the SmartTag device is out of battery. I feel like the battery only last for a month (Energizer being used).
On RFID, it is very particular on where you place the RFID Sticker, also depend on the shape of your car, some cars can stick on headlamp and others need to stick on windscreen. But the RFID system is slower to detect, you have to slow down to 10-20km/h to enter the RFID toll, otherwise you have to reverse….
Why not we use the Taiwan eTag system, there is no tolls needed, the system can detect vehicles with speed >180km/h and with 99.99% accuracy…
As for me, I think most importantly is the convenience, smartag is way much better compared to rfid. The difference is so huge. A simple and straightforward example, if my car is in the workshop, I had to borrow or rent a car, I will not be able to use my own rfid. Unlike smartag, I can just take the whole tag out and use it in any other cars.
When your car goes to the workshop and you dont have an RFID sticker with you, I suggest just use touchngo lane for the time being. Dont think it’ll be in the workshop for weeks right?
Lol. What kind of dumb fackery he is talking about?
We need to voice up. Simple logic. Why are they combining RFID and smart tag lanes.. When the idea is to automate, why don’t we separate Smarttag and RFID and reduce the manual contact tngo lanes instead ? What am i missing here ? Enough of this nonsense project that benefit certain parties. The selected RFID system solution is an cost optimized one at the cost of reduced performance. RFID is not necessarily inferior. Our implementation is to be blamed. Teruskan mengondol tanah ini sampai semua kehabisan.. teruskanlah…
They should follow what Dubai did with their Salik system. All they needed are gates to detect car’s
RFID chips mounted on the windscreen. It detects even if you travel at 120km/hr. It’s been around more almost 8 to 10 years now.
Payment device should be portable so that it may be removed and used as and where needed, eg swapping cars, backup, share with family members of friends.
It’s more convenient to use Smartag because I can use it on any car. If someone was to use my car with RFID, the toll charges will be deducted from my account. Correct me if I am wrong.
Hidup kroni ❤️
Who the heck wanna topup again & again & being charged alot for the TnG card?
If TnG card can be refilled online, yeah its good.
50sen per topup? Manually scan?
Using only Cash?
Thats the real dinosaur
Actually both sucks. SmartTag have loads of reliability issues and is not cheap. Why the hell do I pay RM100-RM200 so that I can pay toll? Which is why I have never buy a SmartTag. The FAST TRACK introduced in LDP and KESAS highway years ago was a better technology and can detect pass all the troublesome tints which SmartTag fails. But it lost the job thanks to kabel tak cukup besar as TNG.
RFID is good in terms of maintenance as there are practically none and it is cheap. Problem is the tech sucks so back and it definitely slows down car queue to a crawl. I don’t claim to be any expert here, and no point arguing about which tech is better. If you want to say it’s better, show me results. Don’t kelentong like syiok sendiri 100 days report card. Seriously, why can’t we just follow Singapore system? People already tested and proof for you…just follow use the same thing.! How hard is it?
Abolish toll is the way
i have no preference for Smartag or RFID… in fact i want both to disappear from the Malaysian highway driving scene.
We have been paying toll for the use of the NS Highway since the mid-80s.. its about time we have toll-free highways..
I agreed. Smart tag is much much more better. Except for a few hiccup caused by users themself.
While you all argue about the coolest way of paying toll, most people want to avoid paying.
Whether RFID or SMART TAG, the angle of the camera sensor is important so that cars can be detected as early as possible instead of coming into the bay and getting snagged. Properly angled, the drive should be smooth and continuous. This will give ample warning to driver if there is sufficient balance. There should also be a penalty levied if the car reaches without sufficient balance and driven into a parking bay to top-up. Look at Singapore immigration and see the foresight in coming up with solutions
I am a frequent user of Smart tag. I find that the tag is a very good device. Only problem is the user tends not or forget to change their battery inside the tag causing the camera could not catch the card. Another problem is the angle of the camera, highway patrol technician didn’t fix the camera in the correct angle. If the above problems are solved, I think the Smarttag is already good enough to solve all problems.
Tag is SMART. users dumb not able to change out depleted 9V batteries clogging up the lanes! Futhermore, SmarTag is always-on always-broadcasting. KUAT MAKAN BATTERY like GILA!
Taiwan use the best system, a small chip on windscreen it just deduct from your account on normal speed if you passed any road needed to pay and scan.
Smart tag is a device.. while rfid was a, simply put, a sticker.. A STICKER.. As simple as it’s sounds, one wrong car wash is all it need to end it’s life.. only run rfid is a really bad idea if there’s no plan b in case something happened to the system.. especially when your “main plan” was a fragile little sticker.. I don’t mind the rfid, as a matter of fact, I’m all in for it.. except for the “ditching tng and SmartTAG altogether” part..
Personal experience says otherwise. RFID is way, way faster than SmartTag, and the best part is I don’t have to reload the physical TNG card anymore, all done through TNG e-wallet.
PLUS and TnG have taken us, their customer for a ride for too long. The Smart Tag is very expensive and almost zero technology update since its implementation many years ago. They have restricted its toll payment implementation to benefit its own monopolistic businesses plan by limiting partner banks and no online topup. The TnG technology have become a dinosaur without upgrading to the latest technological improvement available as mentioned by the technology supplier. Even the current RFID is a rip-off. Why RFID implementation is so cheap when used it consumer products like logistics, medical, security (identification and access), parking, credit and debit cards (wave and pay feature) etc. The current TnG card is also a RFID device. So why cost so much at Rm35 to install a 1 ringgit passive RFID device?
Yes the RFID is dirt cheap. But selling to us so expensive…. where is anti monopoly act ?
Many type of RFID. The one used is dirt cheap but selling expensive because of “monopoly”. This RFID is passive require the car to slow down and very specific location on placement. Very sensitive to metal and the sticker adhesive residue may damage headlight surface. I don’t think can stand our harsh weather, uv, sunlight and high humidity…especially the plastic sticker used. Should benchmark Singapore, US and Europe RFID which the toll is free flow. .. For the sake of rakyat, independent party should verify.
No matter how fast RFID, or smart tag. Our speed limit need to be increase as well
I hv been using the first generation smartTAG….and is still working…only kena tape the broken battery cover..works superbly at all tolls..i don’t see much hassle to reload ..no charge at tesco, watson…
In Singapore there are dumbasses who jam the brakes just before the RFID ERP gantry. Expect this to happen 1000x more often here.
Not true. We saw a lot of SmartTAG lane, cars stopped because of ineffective SmartTAG.
Please improve this as there’s so many SmartTAG and TouchNGo users.
crony vs crony
Well said… So trouble some and making the people to spend to buy it wsp at this rough rimes.. should just give discount on the toll’s!
Given Smart tag so many years in operations, what are your improvements?
When we pass by toll everyday, I will still see cars stuck at smart tag lane for whatever reasons, and all the cars behind have to reverse to change lane. It’s happening every single day, everywhere. Please show some statistics on these incidents.
Reload touch & go card is another pain.
Moving to RFID, using e-wallet to deduct toll and reload is definitely the future. Cost of Getting RFID is much cheaper than getting smart tag device.
Why they won’t just leave 1 for smart 1 forT and G,
Kalau nak kasi smooth operations kat toll gate bukan tutup gate SmartTag. Tutup gate TnGo tu. Tinggalkan gate SmartTag & RFID tu je.