Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. and Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. will unveil the world's first (Note 1) vending machine that uses
hydrogen cartridges to generate power (hereinafter referred to as "this vending machine") at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai,
Japan (hereinafter “Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025").
Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan and Fuji Electric have developed a vending machine that uses hydrogen as its power source,
which is expected to serve as a new alternative energy that could further drive the ongoing efforts to reduce CO2
emissions with an aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As the next-generation vending machine that is unaffected by
weather or location and emits no CO2 while operating, one unit of this vending machine will be installed at Osaka-Kansai
Expo 2025 site that is conceptualized to be the “People’s Living Lab” where advanced technologies from Japan and abroad
will be brought together, offering many visitors an opportunity to experience “the vending machine of the future."
Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan and Fuji Electric intend to continue contributing to the realization of a decarbonized society
through the development of environmentally friendly vending machines.
Hydrogen energy is highly compatible as a power source for vending machines because it allows the machines to run in
any weather conditions and does not require much space to operate them. Challenges to address going forward include
the infrastructure for supplying hydrogen and optimization of the overall cost.
¦ Operating image of this vending machine
This vending machine consists of two units, the vending machine itself and a generator. A hydrogen cartridge is loaded in
the generator and electricity is generated through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the air. The
generated electricity is then stored in a battery from where it is transmitted to the vending machine and used to run the
machine.
