In recent times, a viral video sparked heated discussions online: A fan rushed to the Beijing Workers' Stadium to support Guo'an, only to be charged 100 yuan for parking by the staff. "Today there's a game, so it's 100 yuan. If you don't pay, you can't park," the car owner said, expressing frustration over such "extortion" tactics. He called the practice absurd and questioned how to minimize or eliminate human interference in parking fees. Issues like slow access, delayed payments, and difficulty locating vehicles remain problematic. Smart parking, which utilizes electronic payment systems, has emerged as a promising solution.
Electronic payment helps isolate "parking charges." According to an official from the Beijing Municipal Transportation Commission, electronic charging ensures transparency in parking fees and clear tracking of funds. This not only prevents arbitrary charges but also eases traffic congestion and improves parking order. As part of the Beijing Roadside Parking Management Reform Plan, all roadside parking spaces in Beijing were expected to transition to full electronic charging by 2019.
Beijing mainly uses two technologies for electronic parking: magnetic induction and video piles. Magnetic sensors are embedded in parking spots and detect when a vehicle enters. They are stable and easy to install, though they still require some involvement from parking staff for photo-taking. Video piles, on the other hand, are installed in corners of parking spaces and use cameras to monitor vehicle entry and exit, recording license plates and movement. This allows for automatic parking and self-service payments without manual intervention, although it comes at a higher cost and requires more complex installation. Beijing is also exploring the use of RFID tags on electronic license plates to find the most suitable electronic charging solutions for roadside parking.
"Magnetic and video pile technology can identify vehicle identities," said Shen Ao, CEO of Tintin Parking, in an interview with Science and Technology Daily. The mainstream methods for electronic parking payments include scanning codes and ETC (Electronic Toll Collection). For scan code payment, owners link their WeChat, Alipay, or smart parking platform accounts. If free payment is enabled, the system automatically charges after identifying the vehicle. Upon leaving, the payment is deducted without needing to retrieve the phone. If free payment isn’t enabled, manual payment is an option. ETC works similarly, allowing vehicles to pay directly through a linked ETC card without stopping.
RFID and ETC are both contactless technologies, but ETC is used for mobile vehicle identification and offers longer transmission distances, albeit at a higher cost. RFID, on the other hand, is limited to short-range identification and is commonly used for on-street parking, such as subway station entrances where vehicles are scanned upon entry.
Smart parking helps drivers find available spaces. With over 5 million vehicles and only 3 million parking spaces in Beijing, many cars end up illegally parked or struggling to find a spot. The core issue lies in the imbalance between supply and demand, uneven distribution of parking resources, and congestion caused by manual fee collection. In response, national policies have encouraged the adoption of smart parking systems and automated license plate recognition.
According to Forward-looking Industry Research Institute, smart parking integrates wireless communication, mobile technology, GPS, and GIS to manage and provide real-time data on urban parking. It aims to maximize space utilization, improve profitability, and enhance user experience. In simple terms, smart parking combines intelligent parking spaces with automated billing, offering services like real-time parking availability, reservations, navigation, and even car rental options.
Online intelligence enables users to access real-time parking information via apps or WeChat/Alipay, including free spaces, pricing, and available services. Offline, smart parking systems allow faster traffic flow, reduce manual control, and offer specialized spaces like beginner-friendly areas, charging stations, and shared parking. Some innovations, like three-dimensional garages, expand parking capacity in limited spaces.
At the city level, IoT technology connects parking facilities to a centralized platform, enabling the government and private companies to share data and provide public services. Technologies like NB-IoT and LoRa facilitate this by allowing low-power, wide-area communication for parking equipment. At the garage and parking levels, license plate recognition and ETC ensure quick, accurate vehicle identification and charging. Finally, at the individual space level, video piles, magnetic sensors, and smart locks further enhance automation.
Despite high coverage, smart parking usage remains low in Beijing. While it has the potential to transform the industry, broader adoption requires stronger government support.
Automotive Connector
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