THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

April 2008

EASY FUEL

EASYFUEL IS wireless, cashless, cardless and paperless. Based on OTI’s patented multi-application smart card technology, the system has been field tested and certified by AtexQ, FCC, UL and CE. Claimed to be the fuel payment system of the 21st century, EasyFuel is available to oil companies and fleet owners – large or small. So how does it work and why is it so successful? 

How does it work?

A vehicle enters a forecourt or home base and stops at a pump dispensing the designated fuel grade for the vehicle. When the dispensing nozzle is inserted in the vehicle’s fuel tank, vehicle tag details are interrogated by the POS (Point of Sale) with vehicle data, odometer or hour meter readings being transmitted to the POS (Point of Sale) during the authorisation process. 

Communication between the vehicle tag and the nozzle unit localises the transaction to the specific nozzle. An optional driver tag presented to a pump-mounted reader verifies the users to the system for additional security. The POS updates the vehicle tag and while wireless communication between the vehicle and the nozzle is maintained, fuel may be dispensed. The system controls fuel type and eliminates cross contamination and eliminates card fraud and unauthorised fuelling. 

A major feature of the system is its simplicity, ease of installation, wireless communication and the fact there is no need to modify the dispenser hose or nozzle through the installation of swivel couplings. Several oil majors are in the process of extending their systems to accommodate EasyFuel. 

The best way to familiarise yourself with the merit of the EasyFuel system is to contact OTI Africa and ask for a demonstration. 

CHARLOTTE HAMBLY-NUSS and Mark Levin demonstrate how the Centerco anti-siphon device accomodates the EasyFuel nozzle to prevent the dispensing of unauthorised fuel.

GPS Odometer Sender (GOS)

OTI’s GOS is proving to be the answer to the prayers of many fleet managers and transport controllers with the calibration-free GPS unit being well on its way to replacing mechanical speed sending units. 

With the unit’s ability to track 24 satellites simultaneously, it calculates three-dimensional ground speed and is not dependent on vehicle specific parameters thus reducing installation time and eradicating the need for calibration and recalibration. 

The three dimensional velocity  calculations are said to be accurate to within 0.2 km/h. Pulse output rates are updated four times per second. The unit compensates inaccuracies in pulse output that may occur in tunnels and complex RF terrain to regain lost distance. Prominent users of GOS confirm the reliability and accuracy of the unit. 

Frans Haasbroek, national milk transport manager at Parmalat says he has reconciled the GOS recordings with vehicle odometers within 1, 6% over a cumulative distance of 253 000 km covered by his fleet of tankers equipped with the unit. 

Herkie Brits, the well known national transport manager at Vector Logistics, has a similar experience. The result he achieved is comfortably below a 2% difference between vehicle odometers and the GOS unit. 

The GOS unit is an entirely South African initiative undertaken by Cape Town-based Fleet & Time Control. Malcolm Rousseau, part of the founding family of this long established business, motivated the initiative. 

After a tough period of testing, reviewing, assessing and evaluating in September 2007, Fleet & Time Control entered into an exclusive agreement with OTI Africa to manufacture and distribute the unit. “We are all intensely proud that this has been a 100% South  African solution,” says a beaming Rousseau. 

There are detailed explanations available from OTI to explain the full specification and capability of the GOS unit.

HERKIE BRITS of Vector logistics explains ways to ensure fuel cannot be stolen from a properly protected vehicle.