TOTAL UK Backs New Invention To Prevent Misfuelling Misery

• TOTAL UK trials MagneCap, a simple and low cost invention to help drivers avoid misfuelling
• According to the RAC 150,000 drivers misfuel every year
• Misfuelling repairs cost UK drivers in excess of £800 million
• MagneCap is supported by the Petrol Retailers Association

TOTAL UK is among the first to try and address the problem of misfuelling in partnership with British inventor Tony Miceli and the Petrol Retailers’ Association. A trial of Tony’s invention, MagneCap, begins today in Hertfordshire with the concept to be rolled out across TOTAL’s network of over 850 service stations in the UK if customers adopt it

Misfuelling can prove a costly error leaving drivers with repair bills running into thousands of pounds. Last year around 150,000 people misfueled, an average of over 400 per day, and one in seven motorists has admitted misfuelling at some time*.

Due to the fine tolerances of todays fuel systems the wrong fuel can lead to major fuel pump and high-pressure injection-system damage. This damage may not be covered by insurance because many policies exclude misfuelling.

Misfuelling presents a dilemma about how best to eliminate the problem. Should car manufacturers alter the design of cars, although that would overlook their existing models, or should the design of the service station fuel nozzles be altered by oil companies, again creating difficulties for existing customers. MagneCap is a low cost and practical solution that looks to overcome the dilemma for all parties concerned.

TOTAL has added MagneCap bases to the pumps on five of their forecourts. Magnecap is a magnetic disc that is attached to your fuel cap. There’s a diesel and unleaded version – customers simply choose the right one for their car. Once the disc is attached, customers stick the fuel cap to the MagneCap base on the fuel pump every time they fill up. If their cap sticks and stays in place, they’ve chosen the right fuel. If it falls to the ground, they’re at risk of misfuelling and need to check their fuel selection.

Stephanie Lumley from TOTAL UK Retail said: “Misfuelling is an industry wide issue which is difficult to resolve and costs the British public over £800 million every year. For several months we have been working closely with Tony Miceli in order to refine MagneCap, a simple device that acts as a prompt to customers before they make the mistake of misfuelling. At TOTAL we are committed to trying harder for our customers and want to help wherever possible.

Tony, inventor of MagneCap and director of t2o Limited said: “The growth in diesel cars means the likelihood is that 70 per cent of all new cars in Europe will be powered by diesel in 2010. As more motorists switch to diesel, misfuelling incidents are likely to increase even further and MagneCap is a simple, inexpensive, yet tremendously effective way of preventing this easily avoidable mistake.”

Phil Monger from the Petrol Retailers Association said: “Misfuelling is a growing and expensive phenomenon, which creates additional safety and environmental risks. MagneCap provides an inexpensive solution which enables retailers to make motorists aware of the risk and minimise this costly problem.”