Method and system for vehicle refueling

A method for a vehicle, comprising:

• responsive to a request to refill a fuel tank,
• maintaining a refueling lock engaged while depressurizing a fuel tank;
• displaying in real-time, via a puddle light, a countdown of time remaining until the fuel tank is depressurized on a ground surface outside the vehicle;
• and
• disengaging the refueling lock after the time has elapsed.

A system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a fuel system including a fuel tank, a fuel vapor canister, a valve coupling the canister to the fuel tank, a fuel tank pressure sensor, a filler pipe for receiving fuel in the fuel tank from a source external to the vehicle, and a refueling lock for controlling access to the filler pipe;
• a refueling button coupled to a vehicle dashboard for receiving an operator request to refill the fuel tank;
• a vehicle body including a driver door, a refueling door coupled to the filler pipe, and an exterior rear view mirror coupled outside the driver door;
• a puddle light system coupled to an underside of the exterior rear view mirror, the puddle light system including a light source and a lens for projecting an image onto a ground surface adjacent the vehicle body;
• an acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) including a speaker and a microphone mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle body;
• and
• a controller with computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory which when executed cause the controller to:
• responsive to operator actuation of the refueling button,
• indicating in real-time, via one or more of the puddle light system and the AVAS, an estimated duration until the fuel tank is depressurized and fuel can be received via the filler pipe.