Merridale vLink data transfer for more efficient depot fuelling

New developments for depot fuelling will include the Merridale vLink data transfer cable which makes its debut at the forthcoming Coach & Bus Live 13, being held at the NEC Birmingham.

Designed to speed depot fuelling, vLink is a rugged snap-on and quick release communications cable which enables the fuelling point to automatically authenticate the vehicle being refuelled.

“Vehicle identification is a cardinal security measure for all depot fuelling facilities,” explains sales director, Stephen Hannan.

“Traditionally this has been covered by using smart keys which are allocated to specific vehicles. The primary function of the keys is to allow the fuelling control software to recognise an authorised vehicle.

We have created a low investment solution that does not rely upon troublesome nozzle mounted reader devices or difficult to install vehicle filler neck coil devices.

“Merridale has refined this technology with the evolution of the read – write capability allowing the keys to store and update information such the type of fuel, restrictions on amount drawn and the vehicle mileage at the previous transaction. This has been carried forward with the development of proximity readers and the Datatag readers introduced last year,” says Stephen Hannan.

“For vLink we are using the same technology but the read/write device – a contact plate, is physically attached to the vehicle. The vLink comprises a mating contact plate with a long reach umbilical cable connecting the dispensing control system to the vehicle. In operation it simply snaps on and off after the completion of the fuelling transaction.”

The core enabling technologies have been developed by MIS Fuel Monitoring in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton as part of a Government sponsored Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP) tadalafil citrate 20 mg cialis.

“Our experience has shown that fleet operators want a robust tamper proof solution to replace keys, tags or cards that can be lost, mislaid or transferred without authorisation,” says Stephen Hannan.

“We have created a low investment solution that does not rely upon troublesome nozzle mounted reader devices or difficult to install vehicle filler neck coil devices. Direct data transfer is also a more resilient solution to alternatives such as hand held devices and video vehicle recognition systems.”

The vLink solution can be retro-fitted quite easily to the majority of existing Merridale installations. It can also be used concurrently with smart keys and data tags allocated to contractors or short term hire vehicles or during the interim period as the fleet is being converted to use the new system.

Stephen Hannan concludes. “We are very encouraged with interest shown so far and discussions are under way with a number of launch customers. In particular these are in sectors where vehicles do not have ignition keys or in locations that are especially dirty or hostile. Further developments will see the initiation of a dialogue with the vehicle engine management system, enabling the transfer other data by using the vLink.