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New tracking system helps cut gas cost

  • Published
  • By Geoff Janes
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Robins Air Force Base is testing a smarter data-tracking system, which if fully implemented, could help the base reach its energy reduction goals and save fuel.

The Automotive Information Module 2, or AIM2, is an upgrade to the current way the military issues fuel and tracks fuel costs in government vehicles. With the new system, once a driver inserts the gas nozzle in the vehicle's fuel tank, the vehicle and fuel pump exchange information through wireless communication and the pump starts to distribute the fuel. The system is designed specifically for this function, and doesn't have the  risks associated with using a cellular phone while refueling.

In January the system was approved for testing in 15 to 17 of the more than 100 vehicles at Robins, and should improve the accuracy of tracking the information, said 1st Lt. Mohamed Savage, 78th Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Flight officer in charge.

"AIM2 removes human error from the data collection process," he said. "For instance, when refueling, drivers would sometimes improperly use one fuel key to refuel multiple vehicles, or would input the incorrect mileage resulting in inaccurate mileage-pergallon data."

But AIM2 will do more than track fuel cost. The upgrade will capture data on fuel use, improve asset visibility and help monitor maintenance.

Further, with a tie to sensors installed at each gate, the system can better track a government vehicle's off-base use, which is important for federal excise tax. According to Savage, due to the base's inability to document accurate off-base use in the past, the installation has had to pay more in taxes than necessary.

"If a vehicle was driven off base just once, the installation had to pay excise tax for the entire quarter," Savage said. "Vehicles equipped with the AIM2 system will be monitored as they leave and enter the base by an AIM2 head unit (operated by wireless communication) located at each gate.

"The information will then be used to calculate each vehicle's exact offbase use," he added. "That significantly reduces the amount of money the installation pays in federal taxes on government vehicles used on public roads."