Gas caps on the way out

[MrMax]

Gas caps on the way out

August 9, 2006
By SARAH WEBSTER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Messy twist-off gas caps may soon be a thing of the past.

Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, told a crowd at the Center for Automotive Research’s 40th annual Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City that the caps are being eliminated on Ford Motor Co. vehicles.

“Capless fuel filling will make its way throughout our lineup going forward, and it’s the direct result of listening to our customers, as we know that even small innovations deliver big customer benefits,” Fields said.

Ford first offered the capless fuel filler on he Ford GT, a specialty car. But now the feature will go mainstream, after it appears on the new Lincoln MKS full-sized sedan slated to hit showrooms in 2008.

Here’s how it works: When a regular gas pump is put into the fuel filler point, it pushes on two tabs that open a spring-loaded metal flap. That allows the pump to sit in the tube that delivers gas to the tank, just as a pump does after one unscrews the cap.

That means consumers can fill up faster like cars on the race track. The innovation could be a boon for aging drivers with arthritis and women who don’t want to muck up their nails by unscrewing caps.

The innovation also helps protect the environment, by preventing gas fumes from escaping into the air.

Fields could not say how soon the capless fuel filling would be installed across all vehicles, but Ford spokesman Nick Twork said it’s a “go fast” project.

“As fast as we can get it out there,” he said.

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http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...EWS99/60809015

[W.A.F.U.]

Might cut down on evap codes set when someone leaves the cap loose. LOL.

[asim]

Cool feature, but we all need to focus on designing better cars with very important features, nonetheless this is pretty cool.

[kenman923]

I like it. Just hope that they can keep fuel thieves out. That's my only concern.

[MrMax]

I wonder how long before other automakers make their own versions of this.

[Relik86]

I think that's a pretty cool idea. You wouldn't believe the number of times I've almost driven away without screwing the cap back on!

[jwrebholz]

Gas thieves will love this.

[Sporer65]

Well at least this with this we won't see people driving away without their gascaps on. Also, I don't think the gas thieves are going to be able to steal any gas because there will still be a lid that probably will be opened in the cab.

[PontiacBixler]

put it on my brand new Camaro baby!

[rubrduck]

Ford is really putting the focus on the fuel entry portion of their cars. Just last year they were clamoring about the BP adverstisement they had on their green gas caps. Maybe for 2008 they'll have a baby wipe dispenser next to the gas door so you can wipe any pump germs off.

[vdoh182]

Originally Posted by jwrebholz

Gas thieves will love this.

You can still have the little door lock, most cars i see dont have a locking cap but rather the door locks and the cap just screws on and off.

[Hoosier Red]

That's kind of cool.

[nphillips]

It is not possible to siphon gas from a vehicle with a rollover check valve.

[TaHoE]

Although this is pretty cool, I would much prefer the better looking, but albiet, probably more expensive sytem on the Cadillac STS SAE 100 Concept:




Quote from the Press Release:

Capless fuel system: Removing a gas cap can be difficult for arthritic, disabled or elderly people. With this system, the user simply pushes an interior button and an electronically activated ball spins open to allow access to the fuel pipe, and closes when the nozzle is removed. In addition, a capless system means there's no cap to lose and no risk of a loose cap triggering a dashboard warning light.

[01cavalier]

It's about time. I love the idea, hopefully GM is on that too.