Vehicle operators in France can now sign up for real-world trials of 1,000 Renault Mégane equipped with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) connectivity solutions to help improve road safety and cut traffic congestion.

Renault creates 1,000 Megane connected cars with SCOOP technology

Renault says it is testing new V2V and V2X technology that could be used in tomorrow’s autonomous and connected vehicles. 1,000 Renault’s Mégane vehicles have been equipped with the necessary sensors and computers to connect cars to one another and also to static supporting infrastructure, allowing for “hive” knowledge whereby one car can inform others about accidents, breakdowns and other hazards.

SCOOP is a group project focused on intelligent transportation systems. These systems have been developed for moving objects and offer a range of up to 1,000 metres.

Renault is in the process of recruiting fleet partners to be part of this next-generation project, the company added.

Sensors and computers gather and analyse vehicle data such as speed, steering wheel angle, possible tyre grip problems in relation to the weather, windscreen wiper operation and deployment of airbags. If a problem is detected, the car’s on-board computer automatically sends a warning message to other SCOOP-enabled vehicles and to units positioned along motorways.

The on-board computer, which issues the warning messages, uses ITS G5 technology (Intelligent Transportation Systems), operating on a dedicated frequency (5.9GHz).

In the pre-deployment phase, the compant says the units will be installed along 2,000km of roads in the greater Paris region, along the A4 motorway, in the Isère department in eastern France and on the Bordeaux ring road and in Brittany.

Nadine Leclair, expert fellow, Groupe Renault SVP, said, “Groupe Renault is currently in talks with several French companies to include SCOOP-enabled Méganes in their vehicle fleets. In this early phase we are seeking fleet partners who want use the latest connected technology to test new ways of keeping their employees safer on the road.”

The SCOOP project is being conducted by a range of partners in France, including the French Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, regional authorities, infrastructure operators, universities and research centres.