V2V Communication and Fuel Theft Detection System Using ESP-NOW Technology

Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication has emerged as a critical technology for enhancing road safety, reducing traffic accidents, and enabling intelligent transportation systems. Traditional V2V systems often rely on expensive infrastructure such as DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communication) or cellular networks, limiting widespread adoption in developing regions. This paper presents a novel, low-cost V2V communication and fuel theft detection system utilizing ESP-NOW technology with ESP8266 microcontrollers, enabling direct peer-to-peer data transmission without requiring Wi-Fi or cellular infrastructure. The system enables real-time exchange of critical vehicular information including speed, braking events, emergency alerts, road condition warnings, and fuel level monitoring between vehicles within a 200-meter range. ESP-NOW, a connectionless communication protocol developed by Espressif, provides low-latency (under 30ms) and reliable data transmission with minimal power consumption, making it ideal for automotive applications. The architecture comprises multiple ESP8266 nodes installed in vehicles, each equipped with sensors for speed monitoring, brake status detection, fuel level sensing, and emergency button input. Data packets are structured with priority levels: emergency alerts (priority 1), braking events (priority 2), speed information (priority 3), and normal text communication (priority 4). The fuel theft detection module continuously monitors fuel level changes during vehicle off-state, triggering immediate alerts to the owner's mobile application and broadcasting theft warnings to nearby vehicles. Experimental evaluation with 10 test vehicles demonstrates reliable communication up to 250 meters in open space and 150 meters in urban environments, with packet loss below 5%. The system achieves average latency of 18ms for high-priority emergency messages, enabling rapid response to hazardous situations. Field tests show that the fuel theft detection module successfully identifies unauthorized fuel level drops with 98.5% accuracy, reducing false alarms through adaptive threshold algorithms. The system also supports text-based communication between drivers, facilitating coordination for lane changing, overtaking, and emergency vehicle passage. Power consumption measurements indicate that ESP8266 nodes operate for over 30 days on a 5000mAh battery in sleep mode, activating only during vehicle operation. The total system cost under $15 per vehicle makes it accessible for widespread deployment in developing countries. This work demonstrates that ESP-NOW technology provides a viable, cost effective alternative to traditional V2V communication systems while adding valuable fuel theft prevention capabilities, contributing to both road safety and vehicle security.