The world's first fully automated car refueling system is on trial at 350 sites in Sweden and is expected to see its first application outside the country in early fall.
The world's first fully automated car refueling system is on trial at 350 sites in Sweden and is expected to see its first application outside the country in early fall.
Developer of the system, which consists of a conventional pump with the feed pipe to the car maneuvered by a robot, is Autofill AB, Stockholm.
To use the new pump, the customer drives into position in order to place a credit card in the payment slot to start the transaction. The customer's car must be fitted with a new filler cap and nearby transponder.
Anders Dahlquist, Autofill's marketing manager, explained that the robot orients its nozzle into the cap by means of the transponder. It only delivers fuel when the card details have been okayed, so no one can leave without paying. Autofill said one German retailer has decided to test the system, and several European oil companies and Shell Oil Inc. have placed orders. Most want to keep quiet about the systems until they make their own announcements, said Dahlquist.
Autofill prefers customers remain in the car during refueling and park the car before entering on-site shops: "This way the customer does not worry about cars queuing behind, and is free to concentrate on purchasing."
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