Innovation award for novel gas refuelling nozzle

The German Association for the Efficient and Environmentally Friendly use of Energy has awarded its 2004 Innovation Prize to Witt-Gastechnik.

The German Association for the Efficient and Environmentally Friendly use of Energy has awarded its 2004 Innovation Prize to Witten (Germany) based gas safety, control, mixing and analysis equipment manufacturer Witt-Gastechnik for the world's first one handed gas refuelling nozzle for car drivers.

The company's UK subsidiary Witt Gas Techniques is based in Warrington, Cheshire.

This new nozzle called Safefill is currently in the final stages of full scale field testing at service stations throughout Germany, offering natural gas supplies to customers.

The new nozzle is set to revolutionise the way cars are refuelled with natural gas throughout the world.

It will allow natural gas to be dispensed at service stations in exactly the same way as with liquid fuel by placing the nozzle in the car's filler pipe, squeezing the lever and refuelling starts.

Peter Drozynski, Product Manager at Witt-Gastechnik said: "Safefill is the first refuelling system in the world that any car driver can use intuitively, safely and without the need for instruction".

"Currently drivers have to use a cumbersome connection requiring both hands".

"Our tests have given drivers the opportunity to select either our new system or the old system".

"Statistics are showing that nearly every driver selected the new nozzle".

"There are over 3 million gas powered vehicles in the world and demand is increasing".

"This new simple refuelling method could help consumers make the decision to purchase more user friendly gas powered cars".

Carl Long, Technical Manager at Witt Gas Techniques in Warrington said: "This is a very exciting product that will help promote natural gas as a user friendly fuel for cars".

"Refuelling will be so much easier and costs to the service station owner will be reduced as this new nozzle can be integrated into existing pumps".

"It looks and feels like a liquid fuel refuelling nozzle".

"It can be used in temperatures between -40 to +85C, weighs only 2.3kg and includes space for advertising on top of the handle as well as being very safe and easy to use".

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