Mixing gasoline & electricity in the hands of the masses probably isn't the best idea. . . and I don't think the manufacturer could withstand the liability suits for very long.

I know that service vehicles have pumps on them that do exactly what you describe, but they are hydraulically operated, and so the mechanism is different but the idea is the same. Your idea then, becomes simply to make this system available to the public for purchase. I think there could be some market for it; I know I've certainly felt that impulse before, and I'd be willing to give someone a gallon or two for free if they needed it, and if they wanted to throw me five or ten bucks in gratitude, then, hey.

The current problem is that for one stranded and out of gas on the side of the road, even if he were willing to pay a very high price for gas, he can't.

Having said that, though, yeah, if you're on the highway and you run out of gas, then use the emergency callbox to get a service vehicle to you, and they can eventually come by to help you, and they can pump some gas into your system. By eventually, I mean several hours, though :)

Here's a possible implementation, using the same idea as the aquarium gravel vac: A long rubber tube with a gas station style nozzle at the receiver's end; the trigger controls a valve that allows flow through the tube. The sender's end would have a valve as well, and then just a long rubber part that needs to go down into the gasoline reserve itself. Both parties set up, making sure their valves are shut off. Then, somehow, you'd want to depressurize the inside of the tube, maybe through something that works like the opposite of a bicycle pump (which would make this all manual!); this is the part of the mechanism that I'm the fuzziest one. Then, the sender opens his valve, at which point the gasoline will rush into the tube to fill the low-pressure space, and now the receiver is free to siphon off one or two gallons in a familiar manner. It would be easy to add a flow meter to the device. Then, when finished, you shut off the valves, remove one end, drain into the other end, whatever, and be done.

Perhaps some sort of box near the receiver's end; it can handle the flow meter duty as well as the pumping: you put it on top of a car or something and it pumps out most of the air, and then when you are able to, you put the box down and hole the tube up above it, so then gravity gets the flow started.

In response to the comment about mixing electricity and gasoline, I think that is a bit fatalistic. First, the engine fuel pump is run by electricity. If we were concerned about the mix of the two, we never would have developed the methodolgy to get it done. The electricity that will power the Vehicle to Vehicle Fuel Pump will not come in contact with the fuel, just as the electricity to run gasoline pump does not either.

In response to the comment about mixing electricity and gasoline, I think that is a bit fatalistic. First, the engine fuel pump is run by electricity. If we were concerned about the mix of the two, we never would have developed the methodolgy to get it done. The electricity that will power the Vehicle to Vehicle Fuel Pump will not come in contact with the fuel, just as the electricity to run gasoline pump does not either.

I suppose one could have a hose assembly one connects to a fuel pump outlet terminal under one's hood, for a small quantity of fuel.

As for the "aquarium tube", that is known as a siphon pump and hose., which are hard to use on modent gas tanks, at least to pull fuel from.

Why?

Most people cannot even carry an empty quart container for gas. That includes me. This might be of the best use for those organized people... the ones who rarley run out of gas.

Some like to live on the edge. For others... if the pain of running out of gas is reduced, would they just take more risks? Its not THAT hard to fill up when you get under a quarter tank... but I find myself guessing about half-miles a few times a year. I'm not sure there is any real hope for people like me.

I know a fellow who, some 20 years ago, had an electric fuel pump mounted in his car trunk, with several feet of neoprene hose; when he wanted gas, he'd park next to a car, insert the intake tube into the "donor" vehicle gas tank, and the output hose into his own vehicle's filler.

His motive, of course, was to steal gas, not to donate gas, but I suppose the idea (which is probably highly illegal, for some bizarre reason) could be used the opposite way, for "good samaritan" purposes...

the biggest problem here is that modern tanks have a ball-valve built into the fill hose, to prevent siphoning or insertion of any such tube. the best option to do what you want is a kit to be installed on your vehicle where an auxilliary line comes off of the fuel pump to a connector eirher under the car, or next to your fill cap, nicely tucked away. then you just carry a hose in your trunk which has a connector to fit to your car on one end, you hook up and by just running your engine, you pump fuel out to the stranded car. gas cannot be siphoned or stolen when your engine is not running so you dont have to worry about that.