The author of the arrow indicating the side of the fuel filler cap has died
James Moylan, who invented the simple arrow on the dashboard indicating which side the fuel filler cap is on, died on December 11 at the age of 80. His idea, which emerged in 1986, eventually became an industry standard and is used in most cars today.
Moylan worked at Ford and proposed adding the arrow to the dashboard after a personal experience: on a rainy day he stopped on the wrong side of a gas pump and realized that drivers lacked a simple hint. Moylan formalized the idea as an internal product enhancement proposal, noting that such an arrow would be especially useful for fleet and rental cars.
Ford implemented the arrow in 1989 models, starting with the Escort and Mercury Tracer. Later, other automakers adopted it, although it became a widespread feature later in the 1990s.
Today, this principle is used not only in gasoline vehicles. For example, in electric vehicles, the arrow indicates the location of the charging port, and in models with multiple connectors, their purpose. Moylan's simple solution has become an unnoticed but important part of everyday driving experience.
Source: Autonews
