The FuelOmat®system starts operating whenever a vehicle equipped with a vehicle identification unit approaches a dispenser nozzle equipped with the vehicle identification system antenna. The dispenser will be authorized and started only if the station control unit approves the fueling. At the end of the fueling, as the nozzle is placed back to dispenser, fueling information, unit price, fuel type, date, time, vehicle plate number, vehicle odometer information are registred and stored by the station contoller and followingly transferred to the automation system PC in the station. Simultaneously the same fueling information is transferred automatically to the central server through an appropriate central network connection. This center can be either a bank or an oil company. Fueling information will be stored in the station if the automation system is private, but will be transferred to the head office system if the station is a member of a network of stations. In wide netwok systems established by the oil companies, the customer will only pay to a single account (Bank or Oil Company) and will receive the invoice from a single point. Fueling analysis reports are sent to customers periodically upon request.

Vehicle identification and station automation operate in two different modes:

• Off-line automation: All the vehicle information, Black List/White List is stored in the automation systems located at the station. The vehicle approaching the station is controlled by this automation system and then refueled. Daily sales are transferred to the oil company head-office on a batch transfer. During the batch transfers, the fleet list and black list definitions are updated.
• On-line automation: All the vehicle information, Black List/White List is stored in the servers of company head-office or in the servers of the ISP company that is responsible for central communication and data storage. The vehicle that approaches the station is detected by the station controller and queried on the head office system. Fueling, regional and time limitations of the vehicle are checked from the head-office.

A company desiring to have the Vehicle Identification System for controlling its fleets has to sign an agreement with a oil company. Once the agreement is ensured, vehicle details such as plate number, fuel type etc. are sent to Oil Company. According to this information a vehicle identification unit is programmed in the head office of the oil company by the special programming pods and sent to customer. After receving these units, the customer will have to take the unit to an installation workshop under coordination of the professional TURPAK teams where it will be installed by professional technicians. Only then will the vehicle be ready for fueling in the service stations.

VIS equipped customer has to approach the VIS dispenser. Upon insertion of the fuel nozzle into the vehicle’s fuel inlet, the information found on the VIU of the vehicle will be detected by the VIS unit of the station. SAM Card and encrypted message will define if the vehicle belongs to the right oil company. After performing Black List and White List controls of the vehicle from the automation system the fueling will be approved and the dispenser will be authorized. Whenever nozzle is taken out from the inlet of the vehicle communication with the vehicle identification unit will be interrupted, therefore fueling will stop automatically. At the end of fueling sales information will be transferred to the automation system software as the nozzle is placed back to dispenser. Defining options of the dispensers connected to the automation system, shift openings/ends, price changes will be done with the automation system.

Benefits of vehicle identification system:

• Automatic Refueling:
  • Fueling will start automatically whenever the nozzle inserted to the inlet of the vehicle with Vehicle Identification System
• Automatic Odometer Reading:
  • In order to track fuel consumption kilometer is read automatically from the odometer sensor installed on vehicle.
• Right Type of Fuel in Right tank:
  • The system will make sure that the correct fuel type has been selected, fueling is made accordingly. Fuelling is done automatically only if the vehicle is identified.
• Systematic Reporting:
  • Detailed reports of all fuel sales are generated. Reports of fuel consumptions, details of refuelled vehicles, sales per dispenser and nozzle may be customized. 
• No key, password or card needed:
  • For refueling no additional process, card or password is requested. 
• Full Control on Fuel Consumption:
  • At the end of the process, the station controller will automatically record all the transactions therefore fuel consumption per vehicle will be recorded.
• Fueling Information Receipt:
  • A receipt including the fuelling details is printed automatically. 
• Saving from manpower:
  • Since the system has the ability to run automatically no additional attendant will be needed.  Every driver may receive his own receipt.