Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Shell Test Digital Payment Processes

Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Shell are advancing digital payment processes for fuel – successful tests at Shell gas stations with automatically paying trucks. Initial prototype tests with Mercedes-Benz Actros series vehicles were successfully conducted at Shell gas stations in Stuttgart. The digital payment function was specifically integrated into the trucks for testing. The truck authenticates itself to the gas station, activates the pump, and pays directly.

(Stuttgart) Mercedes-Benz Trucks is consistently driving the digitalization of its vehicles forward. In practical tests, Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks have for the first time paid automatically for fuel at Shell gas stations in Stuttgart. Experts from Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Shell installed a new prototype of the digital Truck-ID from Mercedes-Benz Trucks in combination with a digital fuel card prototype in the truck system. The Truck-ID acts as a built-in ID card, allowing the truck to independently and uniquely sign transactions. The Shell SmartPay API enables data transmission and thus payment at Shell gas stations using the digital fuel card via the truck’s onboard system. Regular series vehicles were used in the tests, whose software was enhanced with payment and authorization components.

Platform Technology Truck Wallet

A further central technological foundation for the tests is the so-called Truck Wallet, which is also an existing prototype. The Truck Wallet is a platform technology and the central user program for all applications that access the Truck-ID and use it for various purposes. Among these applications is the digital fuel card developed jointly by experts from Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Shell. In this way, it authenticated and authorized the trucks for online payment during the tests against the central gas station system: After the truck was securely identified by the Shell system using its Truck-ID, the Shell SmartPay API released the transaction. A significant part of the security checks was based on matching the GPS data of the trucks with the locations of the gas stations – a prerequisite for unlocking the pumps.
Transport companies have so far equipped their drivers with physical fuel cards, which they can use to pay at selected gas stations. The amount is directly debited from the company’s account. A digitally integrated fuel card in the vehicle would ease the daily work of truck drivers in multiple ways. For example, they would no longer need to go to the cash register after refueling. Additionally, transport companies would benefit from significantly reduced administrative effort and safer processes if they no longer had to issue and collect plastic cards. Furthermore, the digital fuel card would make the widespread fuel card fraud more difficult. According to expert estimates, the annual damage caused to the transport industry by fuel card fraud with heavy trucks can run into the millions.

Efficiency Gains and Cost Reductions for Transport Companies

Dr. Helge Königs, head of the Truck-ID & Truck Wallet project at Daimler Trucks: “We are very pleased that with the recent tests we have initiated a new phase of our Truck-ID and Truck Wallet project. Our first pilot project in 2019 took place under laboratory conditions. Now we have demonstrated in real application that trucks can electronically interact directly with the gas station system on-site and authorize payment processes by signing the relevant data.”
“Through the integration of the Shell SmartPay API, we have jointly developed a digital fuel card that represents an excellent electronic alternative to the classic plastic fuel card. After successfully completing further tests, we can focus on transferring the technology to the series product. Our goal is to establish Truck Wallet and Truck-ID as the basis for a wide range of digital offerings around interactions between trucks and their environment,” Königs continued.
Rainer Klöpfer, Managing Director of euroShell Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG: “Shell is a pioneer in the development of digital mobility solutions. Our collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Trucks to create a more efficient, convenient, and secure in-truck payment authorization solution with Shell SmartPay API and the Truck-ID from Mercedes-Benz Trucks for customers is a perfect example of this.”
“We look forward to further collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Trucks and will jointly examine the development and integration of this innovative solution into our broader Shell Fleet Solutions offering as part of a fully connected ecosystem for our customers.”

Possible Future Implementation in Operational Practice with Fully Usable Software

In operational practice, the implementation of the approach by Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Shell could look like this: a fleet manager at the transport company’s headquarters assigns a digital fuel card to a truck using the Truck Wallet user interface. By placing the fuel card in the truck’s Truck Wallet, he also links the vehicle’s Truck-ID with this card. This process occurs online, allowing the fleet manager to access the Truck Wallets of all trucks at any time. The navigation app associated with the Truck Wallet then informs the truck driver on the road about the nearest gas station as needed. After the driver confirms the gas station in the system and arrives on-site, the app asks for the number of the selected pump. Once the driver has refueled the truck and removed the nozzle, the Shell system transmits the amount of fuel dispensed along with the pump number and fuel price to the Truck Wallet. This, in turn, sends the fuel level to Shell. If all data is correct, the driver receives a release signal via the truck’s navigation system and can drive on directly. At the same time, the transport company receives the invoice-relevant information via the Truck Wallet.
Photo: © Mercedes Benz Trucks