Talks of the cashless payments have been ongoing for decades, and while they have been integrated into phones and smartwatches, Jaguar and Shell have finally made it a reality for automobiles.
Now instead of walking down to the in pump card reader or waiting in long lines in front of a cashier, you would be able to pay for the fuel using the Shell app via the central InControl touchscreen inside the car. The app is connected to PayPal or Apple Pay, and Shell plans to integrate Android Pay as well to the system later this year.
Paying for a refuel will be easier than ever, as you simply need to open your app using the touchscreen, enter a secret five-digit security code and pick up the pump. The car uses your navigation data to figure out your Shell station to make sure you don’t end up paying at a wrong one. After you have filled up the gas, the system will generate a receipt on the dash to confirm your payment. The information will also be forwarded to your email address, so you have complete control over tracking your car expenses.
Peter Virk, Director of Connected Car and Future Technology at Jaguar talked about the innovation,
“Making a payment from a car’s touchscreen will make refuelling quicker and easier. With this new system you can choose any pump on the forecourt and pay for the fuel even if you’ve forgotten your wallet or can’t find your credit or debit card. You will save time because there’s no more queueing to pay in a shop, and for drivers with children, it won’t be necessary to wake them up, or unstrap them from their seats to take them into the shop.”
The app is part of a wider update to the XE, XF and F-Pace ranges. Jaguar has recently introduced the F-Pace with a new E-Performance Diesel, claiming to use just 4.8 l/100 km (59 mpg) working on a combined cycle and emitting just 125 g/km of CO2. The engine is accompanied by a 237 hp (177 kW) diesel and a 248 hp (185 kW) turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
The users can download the app from February 15, and while it is only available in the UK for now, global support is expected to roll out later this year.
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