Something I thought of this morning while pumping some gas. So many other technologies have cartridge-ized things or developed ways of refilling fuel (or similar liquids or powders) in cleaner, less accident-possible ways. That seems to be the way of technological development. So why hasn’t gasoline done that?

It used to be that copy machines and printers required pouring toner into them when they ran out, but eventually the technology people developed ways of putting the toner into a cartridge, so the end user just replaces a cartridge. No more spills or messes. The same has been true in variety of other media, such as laundry detergent and even coffee. So why not gas?

Gasoline is often touted as bad for the environment. In pollution-sensitive areas, there are stickers on the gas pumps saying “Please do not top off tank” because it’s an environmentally protected area and top-offs can lead to gas spilling out onto the ground. Gas tanks underground are notoriously pollutive and if they leak, all kinds of precautions have to be taken. So for all the dangers of gas spills and for all the millions of people who pump gas and are human, why hasn’t there been a method developed for getting the gas into the vehicle tanks without humans having to actually handle the liquid? I’m not asking why we’re not battery-powered or solar-powered or anything. I’m just saying that some kind of container or even hose that latches on and delivers the gas to the tank would eliminate spills and help protect the environment.

If the foreseeable future involves gasoline-powered vehicles, somebody should develop a cleaner, simpler way of delivering the fuel to the gas tanks.

My $0.02.

Current music: Glassworks, by Philip Glass