Park your car and refuel effortlessly using the car on-board computer

The aim of the “travolution” project, which is being promoted and pursued by Audi in Ingolstadt, is to enable vehicles to communicate with traffic signals, car parking facilities and petrol stations. This networking feature streamlines road traffic, thereby reducing CO2 emissions. The system permits media-free car park entry, and prevents vehicles from being filled with the incorrect fuel. Additionally, this system offers the unique feature of online payments when refuelling and parking. The charges are automatically debited to the credit or customer card after confirming payment through the multi-media interface, MMI.

“travolution” is a neologism, the term being coined from words traffic and evolution.

The systems house Scheidt & Bachmann has utilised its corporate synergy effect by combining two of its business divisions into the “travolution” project. In 2008, these divisions presented a project prototype at the most significant trade fairs of the two industries - the Petrol Station Division presented the system at the “Automechanika” in Frankfurt/Main, whilst the Parking and Leisure Centre Division presented the system at the “Intertraffic” in Amsterdam.

So what exactly is behind the respective divisional components within the project?

The Car-to-Enterprise refuelling wizard in the “travolution” project offers a large range of innovative applications.

This supplementary feature is particularly attractive not only for petrol stations but also to a large number of vehicle drivers and corporate customers.

The modern Car-to-Enterprise communication solution provided by Scheidt & Bachmann is not merely the trendsetter in terms of the simplest mode of payment at the petrol pump; the system also offers real value addition to the driver. The driver can refill his fuel tank with the help of this system without having the prevalent means of payment at his / her disposal. Moreover, the system also prevents refilling of the tank with incorrect fuel and circumvents the need for cumbersome payment procedures at the petrol station cash counter.

So how does the Car-to-Enterprise communication work when you refuel?

Before refuelling:The vehicle is identified through its vehicle number as it drives onto the petrol station forecourt and is automatically logged into a WLAN network. After logging-in, the MMI vehicle on-board computer automatically displays all the vacant fuel dispensing points that can dispense the correct fuel type.

Refuelling:The driver selects one of the fuelling points using the operator keys on the MMI on-board monitor and reserves it for refuelling. Incorrect products are automatically blocked so that the possibility of refilling the tank with incorrect fuel is ruled out. The customer may then immediately refuel.

Payment:The customer card data for making payment is stored in the vehicle, and this is encoded and transmitted via the WLAN connection to the Scheidt & Bachmann Petrol Station Management System. After refuelling, the driver receives the amount payable displayed on the MMI car on-board monitor, and after confirming payment on the MMI, the invoice is dispatched automatically.

The system also offers certain benefits to the petrol station operator. The automatic authorisation by the Petrol Station Management System facilitates faster release of the fuelling point for the next vehicle, since the time required for payment is eliminated. This is of relevance especially during peak times and for petrol stations serving many customers.

Technical Information

• Secure communication through an encoded WLAN network
• Fuelling point reserved through the MMI on-board monitor
• Petrol station data is transmitted to the vehicles via MMI on-board monitor
• The WLAN connection is used for invoicing
• The invoice is dispatched to the customer

Everything is simple and very user-friendly!