Case
Hertz
The world’s largest airport car hire company
Hertz, the world’s largest airport car hire company, has chosen TSG to provide the solution for fuel extraction at its centre in Kelsterbach, Germany.
The system enables the safe extraction of nearly 100% of all fuel remaining in the vehicles’ tanks – a specialised system in which a nozzle (one for petrol and one for diesel) is inserted into the tanks to ensure a controlled and documented extraction. Key information, such as employee and vehicle identification numbers, as well as the location and time of refuelling, is collected and stored. Thanks to the system, the time required for reporting and documenting all this information has been halved.
Germany’s largest
With around 120 cars refuelled every day, Hertz’s site in Kelsterbach is one of the largest in Germany. Situated near Frankfurt, it is also Hertz’s only self-service kiosk in Germany where customers are responsible for returning the vehicle with an empty tank.
‘To maximise the service life of the vehicles, customers must empty their fuel tanks,’ explained Steffen Matchke, ‘so it makes economic sense to be able to extract all residual fuel from the Kelsterbach fleet.”.
400 cars are emptied each month and this number is constantly rising. In 2012, Hertz selected TSG to provide a comprehensive solution to its challenges, namely refuelling, fuel recovery and comprehensive reporting and documentation of all operations. TSG also provided the full service and expertise required to replace all obsolete equipment.
As simple as filling up
In order to ensure accurate stock control, two Quantium 310 dispensers, fitted with Tokheim’s low-drift TQM meter and capable of dispensing both diesel and petrol, have been installed. Tokheim’s Debowser has also been installed on site; this draws fuel from the vehicles’ tanks using a piston meter to guarantee accurate readings. Whilst the fuel is being dispensed, the volume extracted is immediately displayed on an LED screen. The pump switches itself off automatically once the tank has been completely emptied, with a manual shut-off option also available.
The Tokheim Debowser can pump up to 40 litres per minute into the storage tank. Its power supply and lighting are all housed within the main housing unit, separated by a vapour barrier, which enhances safety in the operating area. This ensures that all electrical equipment is kept away from any contact with fuel vapours.
“Thanks to the defuelling system, we can make significant savings on fuel costs – not to mention the reduction in vehicle repair costs,” reports the Service Manager. “Thanks to the TSG system, the current fuel extraction rate stands at around 90%.”
With this new system, we can capture all data very easily and, most importantly, manage and analyse it. Not only has reporting become easier, but the time it takes has been halved. Switching to Tokheim’s equipment was definitely the right decision.
Control and Data Access
Using Tokheim’s DiaLOG Fuel Management system, a user can control the defuelling pump, the Q310 fuel dispensers and all the data that is collected. Access is restricted to employees with PINs, magnetic and chip cards or RFID tags only. At Hertz, a token and a vehicle unit number are required to log in initially, after which a simple refuelling menu appears.
Detailed reports in half the time
Using a PC, tablet or smartphone and TSG’s integrated software, all data can be accessed and processed on any web browser with an internet connection. The user is provided with vehicle stock numbers, fuel stocks and reports, which can then be customised to suit their personal preferences. The required records and the interface design are easily accessible to the user. Thanks to the comprehensive interface, all information can be exported to Excel or SAP programmes, and external driver/vehicle data can be imported with ease.
A particular advantage for the Kelsterbach site is the consistent and detailed reporting of all extracted fuels. Given rising fuel costs, careful stock management and comprehensive documentation play a pivotal role in the company’s profitability.
