The manufacturers of a gadget that keeps the refuelling nozzle engaged, taking pressure off your grip while at the pump, is targeting the fleet market.  

Pump Pal is ergonomically designed and supports people suffering with any illness or disease affecting dexterity and grip. Including, but not exclusive to: acromegaly; arthritis; oestoarthritis; tendonitis; carpal tunnel syndrome; de quervain’s; tenosynovitis; Raynaud’s disease; tennis elbow; parkinson’s; clateral epicondylitis; Bueger’s disease; ganglion cysts; and repetitive strain injury.

Pump Pal was developed after one of the product’s founders, was heading off on a long family journey.

Filling up his car after an early morning start at minus 3 degrees, he noticed that the stiff trigger and cold metal was causing him discomfort and even pain. 

During market research, Pump Pal’s creators said that the top issues drivers were looking for help with when refuelling were: cold pumps; stiff pump triggers; dirty hands; hand mobility issues; large fuel tanks and poor grip to refuel. The majority of drivers surveyed expressed discomfort when refuelling a motor vehicle.

A Pump Pal spokesman said: “We found a vast number of people using objects to wedge open the fuel trigger - very ad-hoc and not predictable.”

The fuel pumps auto shut off will stop automatically once the tank is full, alternatively the driver can disengage Pump Pal whenever they wish during the refuelling process.