A New Vending Machine That Keeps Drinks Chilled Without Using Energy

At Tech in Asia, we’re very keen to write about innovations that save energy. So here’s an interesting one from Japan: A new vending machine — by Coca-Cola Japan and Fuji Electric Retail Systems — that can keep drinks chilled for up to 16 hours per day without using any power. They call it the “A011” peak-shift vending machine.

The idea is incredibly simple. It uses energy only during late night when most people aren’t using it – and when it’s cheaper – to chill the drinks. And with its vacuum insulated materials and air-tight doors, it is able to keep the drinks chilled throughout the day. The daytime energy used can be reduced by up to 95 percent. The announcement explains the roll-out plan further:

In preparation for full-fledged market launch, the A011 peak-shift vending machine will be field-tested for two months, starting from July 2, in Saitama Prefecture’s Kumagaya City and Gifu Prefecture’s Tajimi City, the hottest regions in Japan. After verifying the new model’s performance, Coca-Cola will work to maximize their peak-shift functionality, extending the amount of time they can go without using power for cooling during time slots when power is generally in short supply.

A graph depicting when is energy used in relation to energy consumption peak period.

The innovation was triggered by the major Japan earthquake and tsunami last year which caused the country a major shortage of energy. Besides Coca-Cola, many companies have stepped up to contribute their innovations or donations to aid Japan’s recovery. Several companies are also starting to be more energy-saving conscious after the earthquake, which is surely good for Japan and the planet in the long run.