Why non-intrusive access matters
Traditionally, connecting to a vehicle’s CAN bus meant hunting for the right wires, stripping insulation, and making physical connections — all while hoping nothing went wrong in a network that’s essential for safety. For lease fleets, this could void the warranty. In electric vehicles with high-voltage systems, it introduces serious risks. No professional should have to take on that kind of uncertainty. Squarell eliminated this risk in 2009 with the introduction of CANcliQ: a contactless CAN bus reader that reads vehicle signals through wire insulation, without any physical connection to the vehicle network.
How CANcliQ works
The CANcliQ easily clips onto the CAN bus wires without the need to cut them. It reads CAN signals through the wire insulation. No data is sent back to the vehicle bus, the connection is completely isolated and only. Once clicked shut, the connection is permanent and vibration-proof.
• Place over CAN bus wires: no stripping, soldering or crimping required
• Close permanently with one click
• Reads through wire insulation (0.8 to 2.0 mm diameter)
• Supports CAN bus, FMS, J1939 protocols
• Galvanic isolated, so no signals are sent back to the vehicle bus
• IP67 waterproof housing
• Installation takes less than two minutes
CANcliQ is the start of every Intelligence data set
Each Squarell Intelligence data set, including fuel parameters, diagnostic codes, safety signals, and EV battery readings, starts with CANcliQ capturing raw CAN bus signals without interfering with the system. After that, SOLID+ or REMOTE+ uses Squarell’s reverse-engineered software to turn these signals into structured, harmonised Intelligence.
This is the hardware foundation that makes it possible to access 350 relevant parameters across 1,000+ make-model combinations without ever compromising the vehicle’s electrical integrity.
The role of reverse engineering
CAN bus signals don’t follow a universal standard, except for a few FMS parameters. Each car maker has its own unique message IDs, scaling methods, and encoding styles. Squarell’s engineering team carefully breaks down these proprietary protocols using a methodical approach of reverse engineering, one vehicle at a time, across different brands and model years.
This reverse-engineering effort, accumulated over 15+ years, transforms a simple contactless reader into the gateway to deep vehicle intelligence. The CANcliQ captures the signal. Squarell’s DCF software interprets it. Your platform uses it.
DatacliQ: Reliable Contactless Vehicle Communication
In addition to the CANcliQ, the DatacliQ is a patented contactless vehicle data reader and retrieves data from CAN bus, J1708 or ISO 11992. It is an optional device that can be ordered in combination with a Squarell In Vehicle Monitoring System device. The DatacliQ is available in different colours to indicate which data protocol is supported.
