What is On-Demand Fuel?

Ever watched a Formula 1 race and wished filling up your tank was as easy as pulling into the pitstop? Thanks to an exciting new mobile fuel delivery service, it could be. Armed with competitive prices, Zebra Fuels offers on-demand tank refills in Central London. It's as easy as downloading the app, making a request and making a payment. A specially adapted fuel van then arrives at the given address and pumps the tank full of petrol or diesel.

"We’re like a Formula 1 pit stop for your car, van, truck or coach" says co-founder Reda Bennis.

Best of all, Zebra Fuels claims to charge prices that are equal to or cheaper than London fuel stations. The only catch is a £2.99 service fee, though for many drivers it's well worth the convenience.

Fuel, at your fingertips

Earlier this year the company confirmed it had raised £1.8 million in a seed round led by LocalGlobe, a London based venture capital company. It's also won support from Brent Hoberman’s Firstminute Capital, as well as Alex Chesterman, founder of British property search group, Zoopla.

The concept is the brainchild of co-founders Reda Bennis and Romain Saint Guilhem, who were inspired by the on-demand fuel delivery boom currently taking place in the US. The "at your fingertips" trend already exists for food, clothing and rideshare services, and now there's a similar solution for motorists running low on fuel.

"Think Blade Runner meets Formula 1" muses Bennis.

Competitive and convenient

So how does Zebra Fuels manage to keep its prices so competitive? While it sources its fuel from the same suppliers used by traditional petrol stations, eliminating overheads like "sky-high rent" and employee payslips keeps prices down. Bennis even suggests that motorists could end up saving cash by not having to drive out of their way to the petrol station or queue with the engine running. While the service is currently only offered in Central London, Zebra Fuels has plans to expand later this year.

"We can also do fuel deliveries through the night, so customers can wake up to a full car outside their house or a depot of fully-fuelled vehicles and not have to waste their own precious time," explains Bennis. "Ultimately, our goal is to replace the petrol station and in doing so make filling up your car faster, cheaper, less harmful to the environment, and hassle-free."

To stay competitive oil and gas companies need to move with the times. Combining leading universities with top technology vendors, the Centre for Process Analytics and Control Technology does just this. For a closer look at the centre's achievements don't miss 'CPACT Celebrates 20 Years and Looks to the Future'.