The 2026 OmniAir Maryland Plugfest was a tremendous success, bringing together the connected vehicle community for a week of testing, collaboration, and innovation in Baltimore. Hosted in partnership with Johns Hopkins University and in collaboration with the Maryland Transportation Authority and Maryland’s Connected Automated Vehicle Working Group, this year’s event expanded beyond core V2X testing to include a Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Workshop, live V2X tolling demonstrations in production vehicles, and OmniAir’s first-ever Hackathon with university teams.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in hands-on testing focused on interoperability, performance, and deployment readiness. These sessions helped validate solutions across diverse implementations and reinforced the importance of testing in real-world conditions before deployment. During one of these sessions, our team reached an industry first by completing an end-to-end capture in which a misbehavior message was both generated and validated. This milestone highlights the growing maturity of V2X security workflows and the critical role of detecting and reporting misbehavior in maintaining trust in connected vehicle communications.
Another highlight was the demonstration of live V2X tolling messages in production vehicles, showcasing how connected vehicle technology can support practical mobility applications beyond safety. The event also reflected OmniAir’s growing focus on V2X-based tolling and in-vehicle payment technologies, areas that continue to gain momentum across the industry.
The CAV Workshop created an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas on connected and automated vehicle deployment, technical challenges, and future opportunities. It added a strategic layer to the week by bringing together experts and practitioners for deeper discussion around the path from testing to implementation.
OmniAir’s first Hackathon brought university teams into the conversation, giving students the chance to explore connected mobility challenges and develop creative solutions. This inaugural event added energy and a fresh perspective to the Plugfest, helping strengthen the bridge between academic innovation and industry deployment.
The 2026 Plugfest demonstrated the strength of the OmniAir ecosystem and the value of bringing together testing, education, and deployment-focused demonstrations in a single event. By combining technical validation with live use cases and emerging talent, the event helped move the industry one step closer to broader V2X deployment.
Thank you to all participants, partners, and contributors who made the 2026 Maryland Plugfest such a meaningful and memorable event. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to advance interoperable connected vehicle technologies in the months ahead.
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About OmniAir Consortium
OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and connected vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories. Learn more at www.omniair.org.
