What will they think of next?

Ford to eliminate twist gas caps on all vehicles

BY SARAH A. WEBSTER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

August 10, 2006

Messy, hard-to-twist gas caps soon may be a thing of the past.

Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, told the Center for Automotive Research's 40th annual Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City that the caps eventually will be 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 Wednesday.

Ford first offered the capless fuel filler on the 2005 Ford GT, a small-selling $137,000 high-performance car.

But now the feature will go mainstream, after it appears on the new Lincoln MKS full-size sedan slated to hit showrooms in 2008. The feature is thought to be the first capless system in a mass-production car.

Here's how it works: When the nozzle of a conventional 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 the cap is unscrewed. After the nozzle is removed, the spring-loaded door seals the pathway shut.

The system eliminates the possibility of losing the gas cap. That can help protect the environment by preventing gas fumes from escaping into the air if the cap is lost or broken. It also means consumers can fill up faster, like cars on a racetrack. And it means less hassle at the pump.

The innovation addresses issues for at least two key target groups. It could be a boon for aging drivers with arthritis and women who don't want to muck up their nails by unscrewing caps.

Ford research, though, found that the capless system was universally liked by drivers -- young and old, men and women, said Mike Cowley, Ford's manager of North America fuel systems.

"We found in our research that it went across all of the segments and demographic groups," Cowley said. "People just don't want to touch their gas cap."

In addition to making it easier to fill up, the capless system opens up more design possibilities because space for a cap isn't needed, he said.

"The future could get more interesting with styling benefits," Cowley said.

"It could turn into something like the GT, where it's part of the styling cues of the vehicle."

The idea may take some getting used to for some drivers.

Southfield resident Cynthia Cardenas, 48, said she would not prefer a capless gas tank.

"That closed-door thing seems more secure," said Cardenas, who owns a Honda Accord.

Aside from the MKS in 2008, Ford would not say when the capless system would be available in other vehicles, but it will be installed across the entire lineup.

Ford spokesman Nick Twork said it's a "go-fast" project.

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

Contact SARAH A. WEBSTER at 313-222-5394 or swebster@freepress.com. Business writers Joe Guy Collier and Angela Tablac contributed to this report.

1. What are the savings to eliminate those "messy gas caps"
2. Who is the vendor who produces them, and where are they located?

I can see that in 2009 that this type of creative, innovative, and consumer sensitive idea will make automobiles fly off the showroom floor. Yeah right.

Henry wasn't concerned with the stables nor the pooper scoopers he put out of business, and the next great innovator will not be concerned when you too become obsolete.