Jonas Thor Olsen, co-founder and CEO of Autofuel, views mobility as a vital thread linking independence to everyday life. He aims to ensure that older drivers and those living with disabilities face fewer barriers that can erode their freedom on the road. Guided by this philosophy, he shaped Autofuel's approach, an automated system that connects vehicles with energy sources, to help address these challenges.
The scale of the opportunity is significant. More than 52 million licensed drivers in the United States are aged 65 and older. In parallel, approximately 18 million Americans reported travel-limiting disabilities in 2022. This includes 10 million adults between the ages of 18 and 64 and 7.7 million adults 65 and older. These patterns highlight a substantial population for whom routine tasks, such as refueling or plugging in, can create disproportionate friction.
Amid this landscape, Autofuel positions its technology as a connective layer between driver and energy. The system automates the refueling process, allowing a driver to remain in the vehicle. "Our system can fit right into the way Americans are used to pumping their own gas, but it's designed to make the process easier for people with limited mobility," Olsen states. "We've built Autofuel to work with the dispensers and payment systems already in place, which means stations can add automation without having to change their core setup."
Autofuel is presented as both an on-demand convenience and a potential accessibility aid. The system is designed to identify the car, guide alignment, assist with nozzle insertion or charging cable connections, and facilitate payment, generally requiring only limited interaction from the driver.
For wheelchair users and others who find reaching and handling heavy equipment a barrier, the tactile aspects of refueling are significant. Autofuel's approach aims to remove that step in a way that preserves dignity and independence. The goal is to provide the same simple opportunity to refuel that other drivers experience without turning the moment into a chore.
"The whole idea of a car is freedom, and by having a system like this, you help preserve that freedom for people who may have lost it, or who find it harder to maintain as they age," Olsen states. That idea underpins how the company frames accessibility as an extension of everyday life rather than an added accommodation.
Autofuel also notes that perceptions of safety can shape behavior. The company has observed that some station operators have lower after-hours activity, and some drivers choose to avoid evening refueling for personal comfort. Olsen offers a familiar example: "My wife tends to avoid refueling in the evening because she feels exposed in dark, isolated stations. I believe the option to remain in the vehicle could influence decisions for some drivers." These experiences point to the possibility of modest shifts in consumer confidence around nighttime stops, which may in turn affect station traffic in small but meaningful ways.
Beyond safety considerations, Autofuel recognizes that long-term adoption depends on how intuitive the system feels in everyday use. To that end, the customer experience is designed to be straightforward. A single sign-up stores a user profile, vehicle type, payment details, and fueling preferences. When the driver arrives at the station, the system automatically recognizes the vehicle, provides parking guidance, and initiates service. The process then concludes with a quick confirmation and seamless payment.
Autofuel has also aligned its vision with the broader evolution of vehicles themselves. As electric vehicles and other alternative energy sources become a larger share of the fleet, the company has adapted its robotic system to work seamlessly with charging interfaces and diverse fuel types. Olsen emphasizes that this shift is part of a larger trajectory. "There is a strong trend towards automation," he remarks. "I believe cars are likely to become increasingly automated, and it only makes sense that fueling or charging of those cars will also be automated." He presents this as an extension of autonomy, helping ensure that vehicles can complete their journeys without requiring human intervention for routine energy tasks.
That forward-looking vision is paired with attention to safety standards. Autofuel's system is engineered to operate reliably in higher ambient temperatures, a capability the company notes is essential for deployment across diverse climates. For Olsen, Autofuel's ambition extends beyond convenience. "We don't see ourselves as a company building convenient technology," he states. "We see ourselves as a company building the infrastructure for autonomous vehicles, not of humans serving robots, but robots serving humans."
Overall, the conversation around automated refueling can be understood as restoring everyday choices rather than imposing technical change. By linking clear user flows to thoughtful safety and climate performance, Autofuel presents a path toward making refueling and recharging more inclusive and easier to integrate into daily life for those who might otherwise find it a barrier to driving. To advance that vision, the company is actively seeking an official distributor in the United States, a step aimed at bringing its system to market and ensuring that accessibility and convenience reach drivers at scale.
