Automatic Fueling Stations

In California, the hose on the fuel pumps at gas stations are enclosed in a second hose that is used to vacuum up the fuel vapors that are released when fuel is being pumped into an automobile gas tank. The metal nozzle is enclosed by an open ended plastic bellows to help trap these vapors.

We do not have self-serve gas in Oregon, and I have gotten accustomed to the service and I like it. I think our gas costs about ten cents more per gallon because of this, but that is the least of my worries. It keeps a few more people employed and that is good in a state where unemployment is a chronic problem.

I remember seeing a guy filling up his car at a self-serve joint in Houston once. He is crouched down behind his car, pumping gas into the filler pipe behind the fold down license plate, and smoking a cigarette. I drove on by, did not stop.

What we need is a robotic fueling system. Some kind of optical target on the vehicle and a robotic arm with a camera attached to the fuel pump that can locate the filler port, connect up and deliver the fuel without releasing any fumes into the atmosphere. Of course this would put all the filling station attendants out of business, so maybe it isn't such a good idea. But have you ever seen the plume of fuel vapor the comes out of an automobile gas tank when you take the lid off? This can't be good either. Converting all the stations in the country to this kind of system would be a major undertaking and would generate at least a couple of engineer jobs, several manufacturing jobs, and a bunch of jobs for installers. And it would reduce the amount of fuel being lost to vaporization, which would have the side benefit of reducing one source of air pollution.

Shell tried a robotic system ten years ago. Since this is the only place I have heard of it, I guess it did not catch on.

Update December 2016 replaced missing picture.