If you touch the fuel tank with one hand while touching a metal part of the "pump" nozzle, it equalizes the electrical potential between the two and no spark or discharge will occur. If you fill using a portable plastic fuel container, no discharge will occur. NOTICE: it is also recommended that you touch the body of your car or truck before fueling to REDUCE the possibility of a static discharge from the pump nozzle to the vehicle. Also note; the vehicle is insulated from ground by the rubber of the tires. Chances of a static discharge from the pump nozzle or your body to a part of the vehicle is phenomenal unless you prepare and use care to cause it to happen. Just touching the vehicle while standing on the ground pretty much eliminates the possibility. If you insist on creating the possibility, cruise up to the fuel pump, do not dismount and use rubber gloves when removing the dispensing nozzle from the pump and the fuel tank cap. Now while sitting on the un-grounded vehicle, remove your rubber gloves and without touching any of the plastic components with your skin, hold the nozzle so it does not touch the fuel tank and start the fuel flowing. Now while the fuel is flowing and you are touching the metal part of the pump nozzle, move the metal part of the nozzle to the plastic part of the fuel tank. If done properly, you might cause a static discharge.
Also note: the STOP RIDE notice from Polaris indicates that "if fuel spills during refueling" it may ignite from static discharge. There is a greater chance of the fuel igniting while refueling without spilling if the engine is left running!
If the safetycrats had their way there would be a warning on parachutes on the danger of the parachute not deploying and the resulting possibility of injury or death. How about the danger of deploying the parachute before exiting the interior of the airplane?
Has the NHTSA, OSHA or electric vehicle manufacturers advertised the danger of charging an electric vehicle inside a structure or in direct sunlight? If you notice, whenever an electric vehicle is plugged-in for charging, it is outside of a structure. What is the potential for fire or explosion in a parking garage filled with charging electric vehicles? Note: there will be no charging ports on the upper deck as all the vehicles there will be in direct sunlight.
Ride on and accept that there is a greater danger of running into a tree or over turning the vehicle than having it ignite while refueling.
