California-based V2X communications technology provider Ettifos is supporting the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDoT) across key corridors in Arizona.

MCDoT is deploying a connected vehicle acceleration zone (CVAZ) to accelerate interoperable vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology. Supported through a $20m cooperative agreement with the USDoT, CVAZ forms part of the Federal Highway Administration’s national effort to accelerate real-world V2X deployment and establish scalable models for connected transportation infrastructure.

Running until 2028, CVAZ will use primarily 5.9GHz communications, connecting up to 650 roadside units with approximately 400 on-board units. Ettifos will supply its V2X-Air aftermarket on-board unit (OBU) to support CVAZ V2X applications.

V2X-Air is a compact, BABA-compliant aftermarket OBU designed to bring existing vehicles into the connected transportation ecosystem without requiring factory-integrated V2X hardware. It supports C-V2X direct communications, enabling vehicles to receive and exchange safety and mobility information with connected roadside infrastructure and other connected road users.

The multi-vendor deployment is bringing together V2X technology from various suppliers to create an interoperable environment that supports deployment scalability and sustainability.

CVAZ V2X applications include emergency vehicle pre-emption, vulnerable road user safety, transit signal priority and freight signal priority. These applications are designed to improve situational awareness and safety while supporting the efficient movement of emergency, transit and freight vehicles.

The deployment covers key corridors and communities across Maricopa County, including Phoenix, Tolleson, Avondale and unincorporated areas, as well as Arizona DoT corridors such as US 60.

Ettifos’ participation in CVAZ (www.maricopa.gov/6094/Connected-Vehicle-Acceleration-Zone) demonstrates its focus on moving V2X from technology development into practical, large-scale deployment.

“CVAZ represents an important step towards real-world, scalable V2X deployments in the USA,” said Hojun Kim, CEO of Ettifos. “We are proud to support the project with V2X-Air and demonstrate how Ettifos’ technology can connect existing vehicles to safer, smarter transportation networks across Maricopa County. Deployments like CVAZ are essential to proving the value of V2X technology at scale and accelerating its adoption across the USA.”

Founded in 2018, Ettifos (www.ettifos.com) is a 5G-focused V2X provider invested in enabling smart city and smart intersection deployments and connected vehicles technology. The company supplies OBUs and RSUs tailored to specific project and service requirements.