Washington. Coca-Cola has announced the unveiling of the world’s first hydrogen-powered vending machine at the upcoming World Expo 2025, which is going to be held in Osaka, Japan next month. The initiative is a significant move from the beverage maker as it plans to further intensify its efforts towards the environment. The company claims to have developed the technology in collaboration with Japanese electrical equipment manufacturer Fuji Electric. Moreover, Coca-Cola aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, for which it is focusing on reducing CO2 emissions.
How hydrogen-powered vending machine works
This new vending machine does not require an electrical outlet. Instead, it uses hydrogen cartridges, which generate electricity through a chemical reaction. This process takes place due to the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, the electricity generated from which is stored in the battery and then used to run the vending machine. The company claims that the power source for this hydrogen vending machine is very efficient, as it provides the ability to operate the machine in any weather and does not require much space to run it. Coca-Cola has also decided to install 58 vending machines at the expo.
Challenges and future plans
Although Coca-Cola has not clarified how long the vending machines will be operational before replacing the hydrogen cartridges, the company has admitted that optimizing the infrastructure and overall cost for the supply of hydrogen after the launch will remain a major challenge. Along with this, the company will need to ensure that a suitable and accessible network is ready for the supply of hydrogen, so that the machines continue to function effectively.
Reactions on social media
Coca-Cola’s initiative has received mixed reactions on social media. Some users viewed this “eco-friendly” move with skepticism, while others praised the technological initiative. “Eco-friendly vending machines run on grey hydrogen, which is produced from the greenhouse gas methane,” one user commented, while another added, “Have they forgotten those old vending machines they ever made?” Another user also wrote, “It sounds a bit strange in Western countries, but Japan has vending machines everywhere, and a huge industry in refilling them. It makes little sense to put them anywhere and use hydrogen flasks instead of trucks.”
Hydrogen: The fuel of the future?
Hydrogen has long been seen as an alternative to fossil fuels. Hydrogen-powered cars have been on the market in the last decade, but their commercial success has been limited so far. Still, Coca-Cola’s initiative could be a step towards wider use of hydrogen and it could become an important fuel option in the future. This new initiative of Coca-Cola is not only important from the technical point of view, but it is also an attempt to move a step forward from the environmental point of view, which can become an inspiration for other companies as well.
