WO2003091620A1

WO2003091620A1 - Station, system and method for fuelling a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2003091620A1
Application number: PCT/FR2003/000871
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gilles Cannet; Jean-François Deschamps; Philippe Pisot
Original assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
Priority date: 2002-04-24
Filing date: 2003-03-19
Publication date: 2003-11-06
Also published as: FR2839059A1; FR2839059B1; AU2003233382A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a station (86) for supplying fuel, typically fuel gas, to a vehicle (2) equipped with an interchangeable fuel refill (4), and en engine (6) capable of producing propelling power to the vehicle (2) from the fuel contained in said refill (4). Said station comprises automatic means (104) for charging, in the vehicle (2), a fuel refill pre-filled with fuel gas.

Description

Station, system and method for refueling a motor vehicle with fuel gas.

The invention relates to a station, a system and a method for refueling a motor vehicle with fuel gas.

Today, many motor vehicles, land or sea, use, as fuel, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) to produce propulsive energy necessary for the vehicle's movements. At the same time, many refueling stations for these LPG vehicles have been built. These refueling stations typically comprise a LPG storage tank connected to LPG distribution means. These distribution means are formed of a driver-controllable pump associated with a gas distribution pipe connecting the pump to the motor vehicle during the distribution of the LPG. The motor vehicle, meanwhile, is equipped with a tank adapted to contain LPG and means for fluidic coupling and mechanics of the tank to the gas distribution pipe of the refueling station. When filling the motor vehicle tank with gas, the driver mechanically and fluidly couples the distribution pipe from the refueling station to the tank of the motor vehicle. Then he controls the pump to activate the filling of the tank of his motor vehicle. Similar means have been proposed for filling the tank of vehicles driven by hydrogen.

However, to improve the user comfort and safety of motor vehicles, it would be desirable to accelerate refueling of the motor vehicle.

The invention aims to improve the refueling stations to allow refueling vehicles faster fuel, including fuel gas. The invention therefore relates to an automated station, easy to implement and low fueling costs of a motor vehicle equipped with an interchangeable fuel refill and a power generator capable of producing a fuel energy. propulsion of the vehicle from the fuel fluid, typically fuel gas, contained in said refill according to claim 1.

When refueling a motor vehicle, the filling operation of the tank is replaced by a charging operation of a pre-filled fuel refill. The driver no longer has to wait for the tank of his vehicle to fill up. In addition, this loading operation is performed automatically, unlike the filling operations of the vehicle tank. Thus, the refueling of the vehicle, carried out using a refueling station as described above, is made faster and more secure, which is particularly suitable for vehicles driven by combustion or via a fuel cell, by hydrogen.

The invention also relates to a refueling system for a motor vehicle adapted to receive an interchangeable fuel gas refill and equipped with a power generator capable of producing a propulsion energy of the vehicle from the fuel contained in said recharge, said system comprising:

- A refueling station of the vehicle according to the invention, - at least one fuel refill capable of being loaded and unloaded from the motor vehicle by said refueling station, the gas refilling comprising automatic coupling / uncoupling means mechanical and / or fluidic and / or electric charging during the loading and / or unloading of this fuel refill by the refueling station.

The fuel is advantageously hydrogen, in gaseous form, liquid or adsorbed on metal supports, or a precursor of hydrogen, such as methanol, convertible into hydrogen in the vehicle.

The invention also relates to a refueling method of a motor vehicle equipped with an interchangeable fuel refill and a power generator capable of producing a propulsion energy of the vehicle from the fuel contained in said refill , this method comprising an automatic loading step, in the vehicle, a pre-refilled fuel refill and, optionally, a step of automatically unloading the used refill contained in the vehicle.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of particular embodiments, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic partial sectional view of a motor vehicle equipped with a gaseous fuel refill,

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a system and a refueling station in accordance with the invention; FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a refueling method for a motor vehicle according to the invention, and

- Figures 4 to 6 are schematic illustrations of variants of a refueling station according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows schematically, for example, a motor vehicle 2 equipped with an interchangeable gaseous fuel refill 4 and a fuel gas engine 6.

The engine 6 is capable of producing mechanical and / or electrical propulsion energy intended to move the motor vehicle 2 by consuming the gas contained in the gas refill 4. For this purpose, for example, the engine 6 comprises a fuel cell 10 associated with a valve

12 regulating the flow of gas, typically hydrogen, supplied to the cell 10.

The interchangeable gas refill 4 is adapted to be installed in the vehicle 2 in an active position in which it supplies the engine 6 with fuel gas. This gas refill 4 is also adapted to be discharged from the vehicle 2 so that it can be replaced by another gas refill.

The gas refill 4 comprises a reservoir 20 connected to the engine 6 via a gas flow circuit 22. In the exemplary embodiment described here, the reservoir 20 is intended to contain natural gas or, for example hydrogen or their mixtures, in a gaseous state and under high pressure, between 200 and 800 bar, typically between 300 and 700 bars.

However, in a variant, the reservoir 20 is adapted to contain liquid gas stored under pressure and / or at low temperature, in this case associated with an on-board vaporizer.

The flow circuit 22 is equipped, starting from the reservoir 20 towards the engine 6, with a device 24 for closing the flow circuit 22, an expander 26 and automatic means 28 for coupling / uncoupling fluidically. flow circuit 22 to the engine 6.

The closure device 24 is for example an electrically actuatable valve. This valve is movable between a closed position of the flow circuit and an open position in which the fuel gas contained in the tank 20 flows towards the engine 6. This valve 24 is connected via automatic means 30 electrical coupling / uncoupling to means 32 for activating and supplying the valve 24 housed in the vehicle 2. The automatic coupling / uncoupling means 30 are adapted to cooperate with automatic means 34 for coupling / uncoupling. complementary complementary to the vehicle 2 so as to automatically connect the valve 24 to the activation means 32 during charging of the gas refill 4 in the vehicle 2.

These means 30, 34 of electrical coupling / uncoupling are also able to automatically disconnect the valve 24 of the activation means 32 during the unloading of the gas refill 4 of the vehicle 2.

The expander 26 is capable of lowering the pressure of the gas flowing in the circuit 22 so as to supply the engine 6 with fuel gas under low pressure, that is to say between 0.3 and 20 bar relative, and preferably between 0.3 and 10 bar relative. Thus, the fluid connection of the gas refill 4 to the engine 6 is under low pressure, which facilitates the connection since the constraints in terms of safety are less important.

The automatic fluid coupling / uncoupling means 28 are adapted to cooperate with automatic coupling / fluid coupling complementary means 38 associated with the vehicle 2 so as to automatically establish a flow connection of the gas contained in the tank 20 towards the engine. 6 when loading the gas refill 4 into the vehicle 2. Means 28, 38 fluid coupling / uncoupling are also able to automatically interrupt this flow connection during unloading of the gas refill 4. These means 28, 38 are here formed from low pressure fluidic coupling means. In addition, these means 28 and 38 here comprise polarizers, so that only the appropriate refill 4 can be connected to the vehicle 2.

The refill 4 also comprises a device 40 for securing the gas refill, transmitters of information on the state of the gas refill and means 42 for refilling the reservoir 20. The device 40 comprises conventional means for securing the refill. For example, they comprise a relief valve, a non-return valve, fire-fighting means such as a fire extinguisher or an inerting device.

The transmitters of information on the state of the gas refill 4 here comprise a gauge 44 for measuring the quantity of gas contained in the tank 20 and a transponder 46 able to uniquely identify this gas refill 4. The gauge 44 is intended to be connected, via automatic means 50 for coupling / electrical disconnection, to a display 52 housed in the vehicle 2 and to a transmitter (not shown). The automatic coupling / uncoupling means 50 are here similar to the automatic coupling / uncoupling means 30 and will therefore not be described again. The display 52 is intended to indicate to the driver the amount of fuel gas remaining in the tank 20 when the latter is loaded into and connected to the vehicle 2. Finally, the refill 4 comprises a rigid transport frame 56. This frame 56 is integral with all the elements contained in the refill 4, so that all of these elements form a rigid block easy to handle. For example, the rigid armature 56 is created by molding all the elements of the refill 4 in a rigid material. The armature 56 is also waterproof and covers all the elements of the refill 4 so as to protect the elements of the external environment and in particular bad weather such as rain. In addition, the rigid frame is equipped with automatic means of coupling / uncoupling mechanical charging 4 to the vehicle 2 when loading / unloading it. These automatic mechanical coupling / uncoupling means comprise, for example, guide means 60 intended to guide the refill 4 towards its active position, that is to say the position in which the refill 4 is mechanically, fluidically and electrically connected to the vehicle 2. These guide means 60 are, for example here, holes in the rigid frame 56 for receiving guide pins 62 (Figure 2) integral with the vehicle 2. The automatic coupling / uncoupling mechanical means also comprise means (not shown) for locking the vehicle 2 of the refill 4 in the active position, which can be entirely located on the roof of the vehicle.

The automatic coupling / uncoupling means 28, 30 and 50 are actuated, for example, by the translational movement of the gas refill 4 when it is loaded into the vehicle 2 or when the vehicle 2 is unloaded.

FIG. 2 represents a system 80 for refueling the vehicle 2 with fuel gas. This system 80 comprises a filling station 82, connected via means of transport 84, to a refueling station 86 of the vehicle 2. The filling station 82 is remote from the refueling station 86 so as to prevent the circulation vehicles such as the vehicle 2 near this filling station 82. Thus, the safety standards applicable to the filling station 82 are less stringent than those imposed on a filling station in which motor vehicles are likely to enter.

The station 82 comprises means 90 for filling the gas refills 4. These filling means 90 are able to fill slowly the gas refills 4 to prevent heating of the fuel gas during the filling of the reservoir 20 and thus limit the need for a oversizing the walls of the tank 20 to fight against the overpressure due to this heating during filling.

The means of transport 84 are intended to transport, on the one hand, the filled gas refills at the station 82 to the station 86 and to transport the empty gas refills stored in the station 86 to the filling station 82. These transport means are made for example from motor vehicles or trains.

The refueling station 86 is intended to automatically replace the empty gas refill 4 contained in the vehicle 2 with a full 4 gas refill. For this purpose, it comprises a magazine 96 for storing full gas refills 4, a magazine 98 for storing empty gas refills 4 and, between the magazine 96 and the magazine 98, automated means 100 for replacing the gas refills. 4. The magazine 96 is adapted to receive transport means 84, refills of full gas so as to constitute a reserve of full gas refills. The magazine 98 is adapted to transmit to the means of transport 84 the refills of empty gases intended to be filled by the filling station 82. The automated means 100 comprise in the exemplary embodiment described here automatic discharge means 102, automatic loading means 104 separate from the preceding and automatic means 106 for moving the motor vehicle 2 between an unloading station 108 and a loading station 110. The unloading means 102 are able to extract automatically the vehicle 2 the gas refill 4 when the vehicle 2 is located on the unloading station 108. These means 102 are also able to transport the extracted empty gas refill to the store 98 and to deposit the empty gas refill in the store 98. For this purpose, the automatic unloading means 102 comprise a conveyor 112 orthogonal to the extraction direction of the empty gas refill outside the vehicle 2 to transfer it to the magazine 98. The direction of circulation of the empty gas refills is represented by an arrow going from the unloading station 108 to the magazine 98. The loading means 104 are able to extract automatically from the magazine 96 a gas refill 4 full and transport it to the loading station 110. It comprises for this purpose a conveyor 113 separate and independent of the conveyor 112 and orthogonal to the direction of setting up the refill in the vehicle. The flow direction of the full gas refills is represented by an arrow going from the magazine 96 to the loading station 110. At the loading station 110, the means 104 are able to set up, in the vehicle 2, the refill of full gas by performing a translation along the vertical of the vehicle 2.

The automatic means 106 for moving the vehicle 2 are here for example formed from a transport tray 112 of the vehicle or, alternatively, with the aid of a driving system of the driving axles of the vehicle 2. These means 106 are adapted to simultaneously move two vehicles, one to the unloading station 108, the other to the unloading station 110. Thus, if, simultaneously, a first vehicle is present at the unloading station 108 and a second vehicle is present at the loading station 110, a loading operation of the first vehicle and an unloading operation of the second vehicle are performed simultaneously. Bold arrows represent, in FIG. 2, the direction of circulation of the vehicle 2 in the refueling station 86.

In the example described here, means 114 for processing and recording the data provided by the sensors 44 of the different refills, and in particular the residual gas content of the used refill to be extracted from the vehicle 2, are installed at the position The means 116 for recording the operations carried out by the refueling station 86 are arranged at the level of the loading zone 110. For this reason, these means 116 are able, moreover, to cooperate with the transponder 46 of the Figure 1 and / or the associated transmitter. The operation of the refueling system 80 will now be described with the aid of FIG.

The process starts with a step 140 of refilling the gas refills 4 by the filling station 82. This step 140 is then followed by a step 142 of transporting the full gas refills to the refueling station 86 and the fuel storage station. these full gas refills in the 98 store. Then a step 144 automated refueling of the vehicle 2 fuel gas is performed. This step 144 comprises three successive sub-steps 146, 148 and 150.

During the sub-step 146 the vehicle 2 is loaded on the transport tray 112 and automatically moved by the moving means 106 to the unloading station 108.

In the sub-step 148 the empty gas refill contained in the vehicle 2 is automatically replaced by a full gas refill. This substep 148 has five main operations 152, 154, 156, 158 and 160.

Operation 152 consists of discharging the empty gas refill from the vehicle 2. During this operation, the fuel gas flow circuit 22 is closed by means of the valve 24 and the gas refill is uncoupled mechanically, fluidically and electrically the vehicle 2. The closing of the valve 24 is for example carried out by the vehicle 2 itself. The automatic uncoupling is actuated by a translational movement of the gas refill 4 during its extraction from the vehicle 2.

During this operation 152, the amount of residual gas contained in the gas refill 4 during unloading is recorded by the recording means 114.

During the operation 154, the vehicle 2 is automatically moved from the unloading station 108 to the loading station 110.

Simultaneously with the operation 154, the operation 156 is performed. During this operation 156, the empty gas refill discharged from the vehicle 2 is transported to the magazine 98 by the conveyor 112 and stored in this magazine 98 by the automatic unloading means 102.

The operation 158 is also performed simultaneously with the operations 154 and 156. This operation 158 consists of transporting a full gas refill to the loading station 110. During this operation, the conveyor 113 withdraws from the magazine 96 a gas refill full and then transport it to the loading station 110.

The operation 160 consists in charging the full gas refill in the vehicle 2. This operation consists, by a vertical translational movement directed downward, to come place the full gas refill in the vehicle 2. During the vertical translation movement directed downwards, the pins 62 engage in the holes 60 of the gas refill to guide it to its active position. In addition, this vertical translation movement actuates the automatic coupling / uncoupling mechanical, fluidic and electrical means 28, 30 and 50.

At the end of the operation 160, the sub-step 150 of evacuation of the vehicle 2 is carried out. During this sub-step, the automatic means 106 for moving the vehicle 2 are actuated to evacuate the vehicle 2 from the loading station 110. At the end of this substep 150, the driver of the vehicle 2 picks up his vehicle and exits of the refueling station 86.

Finally, the method of FIG. 3 comprises a last step 166 for transporting the empty gas refills to the filling station 82. This step 166 is carried out by the transport means 84 in a similar manner to the step 142. from step 166, the process returns to step 140 of refilling the gas refills.

FIG. 4 represents a variant of the refueling station 86. In this variant, the conveyors 112 and 113 of the station 86 are replaced by one and the same conveyor 180 and the loading stations 110 and the unloading stations 108 are replaced by one station 182 single loading / unloading. The conveyor 180 is only able to move the gas refills from the magazine 96 of full refills storage to the store 98 of empty refills storage.

The operation of this variant is similar to that described with reference to the method of FIG. 3, with the exception of the sub-step 148 which does not include an operation 154 for moving the vehicle 2 between an unloading station and a station loading. The operations 156 and 158 for transporting the empty gas refill and the full gas refill are performed simultaneously by the conveyor 180. FIG. 5 represents a variant, seen from above, of the refueling station described with reference to FIG. In this variant, the magazines 96 and 98 are grouped together to form a single magazine 186 for storing full and empty gas refills. The conveyor 180 is replaced by a bidirectional conveyor 188, able to move the gas refills from the magazine 186 to the vehicle 2 and, alternately, the empty gas refills of the vehicle 2 to the magazine 186. A carousel 190, able to allow the crossing of the refills of empty and solid gases moving in the opposite direction, is arranged at the loading / unloading station 182 and associated with the end of the conveyor 188. The operation of this variant differs from that described with reference to FIG. the sub-step 148 of automatic replacement of the gas refill of the vehicle 2. In fact, in this variant, the unloading operation of the empty gas refill and a transport operation of the full gas refill to the vehicle 2 are simultaneously realized. These operations are respectively similar to operations 152 and 158. Next, the carousel 190 is activated so that, simultaneously, the empty refill is moved towards the end of the conveyor 188 and the full refill is moved to the loading station. Finally, simultaneously, the full refill is loaded into the vehicle 2 and the empty refill is transported by the conveyor 188 to the magazine 186. These two operations are respectively similar to the operations 160 and 156. This variant has the advantage of decreasing the size of the automated means of replacing the gas refill and also decreasing the time required to perform the substep 148, since most gas refill replacement operations are performed simultaneously.

FIG. 6 also represents a variant, seen from above, of the refueling station described with reference to FIG. 2. In this variant, the conveyors 112 and 113 are replaced by three conveyors 192, 194 and 196, which are distinct from one another and connected to each other via a crossing device 200.

The conveyor 192 is only capable of transporting empty gas refills from the device 200 to the magazine 98. The conveyor 194 is only able to transport full gas refills from the magazine 96 to the device 200. The conveyor 196 is a suitable two-way conveyor transporting the empty gas refills from the vehicle 2 to the device 200 and, alternately, the full gas refills to the vehicle 2. The device 200 is for example a carousel adapted to allow the crossing of two gas refills respectively moving one to the store 98 and the other to the vehicle 2 and vice versa.

The operation of this variant is similar to that described with reference to FIG. 5. However, the operation of unloading the empty gas refill of the vehicle 2 is here replaced by an operation of unloading the empty gas refill of the vehicle 2 and transporting this empty gas refill to the carousel 200. The transport task to the carousel 200 is performed here by the conveyor 196. Similarly, the loading operation of the full gas refill described next to FIG. 5 is here replaced by an operation comprising both the task of transporting the full gas refill of the carousel 200 to the vehicle 2 and the task of charging the full gas refill into the vehicle 2. With the exception of this modification of the loading and unloading operations of the gas refill in the vehicle 2, the order of the operations performed in the substep 148 is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

The refueling station has been described here in the particular case where it comprises automatic means of moving the motor vehicle. However, in a variant of the refueling station of Figure 4, the refueling station may not include automatic means of movement of the motor vehicle, the latter being performed by drivers.

Gas recharge has been described in the particular case where the fuel gas is natural gas. However, alternatively, the gas refill is arranged to contain hydrogen or LPG, or any other gas in liquid, gaseous, solid or adsorbent support form. In a variant also, the gas refill comprises additional sensors capable of delivering, to the automated means of replacing the gas refill, vehicle connection authorizations and control information for the loading / unloading operations of the gas refill.

The guide means 10 have been described herein as holes for receiving pins. However, in a variant, these guide means are formed of rails intended to cooperate with complementary parts associated with the vehicle 2.

Alternatively, only the operation of loading a full gas refill can be automated, the unloading operation of the empty gas refill then being performed manually by an operator on a secure site.

In a variant also, for an optimization of fuel full management, but also for vehicles of captive fleets, such as transport buses, public or private collection services (garbage) or distribution (mail, drugs), provision will be made advantageously in each recharge and / or in the receiving vehicle a transmitter of data relating to the identification of the vehicle and charging and measuring or estimating the amount of fuel available in the refill.

The vehicles are therefore equipped with means for measuring the amount of energy remaining (volume, such as the gauge 44, or pressure in the tank, charge in the battery) and means of identification. These data are transmitted by radio or infrared or induction links (such as the conveyor 46) to fixed terminals arranged on the path of the vehicle and from there to the replenishment station. These data are then compiled and processed, typically at the refueling station, for example in the means 114, 116 mentioned above, to develop the replenishment plan for the entire fleet, the specific procedure of each vehicle and the plan. charge the depot team, initiate supplies or production of fuel or electricity. The data thus collected are also useful for managing the fleet and monitoring each vehicle for maintenance, or each driver to evaluate its energy saving performance for example.

Preferably, the terminals are arranged at a distance from the refueling station so that the data can be processed before the arrival of the vehicle at the station and at their arrival the arrangements can be made to optimize the energy replenishment operations.

Alternatively, the point on the consumption of each vehicle and the entire fleet can be made at different times of the day to predict the time required for replenishment and, if necessary, reassign vehicles with the lowest reserves to the least fuel-consuming routes. The knowledge at regular intervals of the energy reserve gives by difference with the initial charge, the consumption of the vehicle; it can also trigger alarms in case of excessive consumption that may be indicative of a problem of abnormal consumption or fuel leakage.

The collection and compilation of the data collected in the vehicles on the one hand and resulting from the observation of the climatic conditions, of calendar circumstances (days of the week, month of the year, school holidays etc ..) makes it possible to produce statistics facilitating the operation of the fleet.

As a variant, for hybrid vehicles equipped for example with a fuel cell and a storage battery recovering part of the braking energy in the form of electricity, the knowledge of the "level" of gas in the tanks and the battery charge level will manage the tank fill and battery charge times.

If the fuel gas is cooled to accelerate filling of the refills, the temperature and pressure of any buffer tanks (or lungs) will be adjusted according to the state parameters of the bus tanks.

Alternatively, according to the topography, the lines of the vehicles can converge to a single point of passage in their path and a single terminal can be implemented to collect the data of all buses. It should be noted that the infrastructure of the sensors and transmitters in the vehicles, relay terminals and the data collection and analysis center can be used in parallel or in conjunction with vehicles that are typically refueled by filling the fuel tank. conventional refueling stations distinct from or doubling those subject of the present application.

Although the invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, it is not limited thereto but is capable of modifications and variants that will occur to those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims below.

Claims

A refueling station (86) for a motor vehicle (2) equipped with an interchangeable fuel refill (4) and a power generator (6) adapted to produce vehicle propulsion energy (2). ) from the fuel contained in said refill (4), comprising automatic charging means (104) for loading, in the vehicle (2), with a refill filled with fuel.

2. Station (86) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises automatic means (102) for unloading the refill (4) contained in the vehicle (2).

Station (86) according to claim 2, characterized in that the automatic loading means (104) comprise a first loading conveyor (113) capable of transporting the pre-filled fuel refill towards the vehicle, and in that the automatic unloading means (102) includes a second unloading conveyor (112) adapted to transport the replaced fuel refill to a store (98) for storing the replaced gas refills.

4. Station (86) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the automatic loading means (104) and unloading (102) comprise a common conveyor (180; 188; 196) adapted to carry a pre-fuel refill -Replied towards the vehicle and a refilled fuel refill to the storage depot.

5. Station (86) according to claim 4, characterized in that the conveyor common to the automatic loading means (104) and unloading (102) is associated with a device (182; 200) crossing the fuel refills moving reverse.

6. Station (86) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises automatic means (106) for moving the vehicle (2) to the automatic means of loading (104) and unloading (102) a fuel refill.

7. System (80) for refueling fuel gas of a motor vehicle (2) adapted to receive a refill (4) of fuel interchangeable and equipped with a power generator (6) able to produce a propulsion energy of the vehicle (2) from the fuel contained in said refill (4), comprising:

- a station (86) refueling the vehicle (2) with fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and

- At least one refill (4) of fuel capable of being loaded and unloaded from the motor vehicle (2) by said refueling station (86), the fuel refill (4) comprising automatic coupling means (60, 28). and mechanically and fluidically decoupling the refill (4) with the vehicle (2) during the loading and / or unloading of this gas refill (4) by the refueling station (86).

8. System (80) according to claim 7, characterized in that the interchangeable fuel refill (4) comprises at least one transmitter (44, 46) delivering information on the refueling (4), and in that the refueling station (86) is able to receive this information.

9. System (80) according to claim 8, characterized in that said transmitter (44) is able to transmit information on the residual volume of fuel contained in the refill (4) and in that the refueling station (86) comprises means (114) for recording this residual volume.

10. System according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the refill (4) of fuel further comprising automatic means (3-50) for coupling / electrical disconnection with the vehicle (2).

11. A method of refueling a motor vehicle (2) equipped with a refill (4) interchangeable fuel and a power generator (6) capable of producing a propulsion energy of the vehicle (2) from fuel contained in said refill (4), comprising a step (160) of automatic loading into the vehicle (2) of an interchangeable gas refill pre-filled with fuel fuel and, optionally, a step (152) of automatic unloading of the used fuel refill contained in the vehicle (2).

12. Refueling method according to claim 11, characterized in that the fuel is a fuel gas.

13. Refueling method according to claim 12, characterized in that the fuel contains hydrogen at least partially in gaseous form.