Fuel & Charge

Fuel & Charge relates to a digital system for refilling fuel, charging electric vehicles, and inflating tyres by identifying the vehicle carrying the tank or tyre, with minimal human intervention. The invention addresses inefficiencies, safety risks, and data gaps associated with conventional fuel, air, and electric charging processes at service stations.

In existing fuel and air refill systems, most operations are manual. Drivers verbally communicate fuel type and quantity, manually manage door locks and safety procedures, retain physical bills, and maintain separate records of fuel usage and expenditure. Fuel station personnel manually enter vehicle details, announce refilled quantities, and reconcile sales at the end of the day. These processes are time-consuming, prone to error, and unsafe in emergency situations. Furthermore, fuel agencies and government authorities lack structured data linking fuel supply to vehicle type, tank capacity, or usage patterns, limiting their ability to forecast demand, manage fuel rationing, or implement pollution-control measures.

Fuel & Charge overcomes these limitations by introducing a vehicle-identified digital refill and payment system. The system identifies the vehicle using a scanned or transmitted vehicle code, which reveals vehicle information such as VIN, make, model, registration details, and tank characteristics. This identification enables automated coordination between the vehicle and fuel, air, or charging equipment without reliance on manual data entry.

Upon vehicle identification, the system manages fuel or charge dispensing, bill generation, and digital payment with minimal human involvement. Refill data—including volume, price, date, time, and location—is securely recorded and stored in the vehicle's digital logs. The system also supports fuel refill advisories by informing users about fuel price variations across geographical areas, enabling users to refill at locations offering lower prices when available.

The invention further enhances safety and operational efficiency at service stations. Door locks are automatically controlled during the refill process to enable quick passenger exit in case of emergencies. Audio and visual indications assist in declaring fuel type and warning users if the requested refill volume exceeds the vehicle's tank capacity. Passenger counting before and after refill ensures that no occupant is inadvertently left behind in service areas.

Fuel & Charge also enables advanced data analytics by compiling fuel or charge consumption against odometer readings to establish actual vehicle usage, predict service schedules, and estimate vehicle life or scrappage timelines based on consumption rather than age alone. Fuel station operations are improved through precise tracking of nozzle usage, nozzle dwell time, and refill volume, aiding maintenance and planning.

In addition, the system supports fleet-level aggregation of fuel and charge usage, identification of refueling locations for stolen vehicle tracking, and implementation of fuel rationing policies by limiting refill volumes over defined periods. The same principles extend to electric vehicles, where fuel is replaced by electric charge, and to air or nitrogen refill for tyres, using vehicle identification for billing and record management.

Overall, Fuel & Charge provides a secure, automated, and data-driven solution for fuel, air, and electric charging operations, improving safety, reducing manual effort, enabling informed decision-making, and supporting regulatory, environmental, and operational objectives across the automotive ecosystem.