In the 1970s, Coca-Cola, the leading soft drink company, launched a campaign that said “I’d like to buy the world a Coke.” In that campaign, a much kinder, more united… and more refreshing world was imagined. More than half a century later, Coca-Cola seems determined to rewrite a new vision, but now with a different ambition: to take care of the planet while offering its drinks, the same as always, but through clean technology. And if you’re wondering how they plan to do that, they’ve launched the first vending machine that works without a plug and runs exclusively on hydrogen cartridges. But they haven’t unveiled it yet, it will be presented at the World EXPO 2025 to be held soon in Osaka, Japan.
How does this Coca-Cola machine work?
If we’ve already seen that hydrogen is becoming the present and future of four-wheeled vehicles, why couldn’t it be for a beverage vending machine? Well, this invention comes from Fuji Electric, a Chinese company, and it will incorporate a fuel cell that uses replaceable hydrogen cartridges, but of course, where are they inserted? In the machine’s module, where oxygen will mix with this hydrogen to generate energy.
In other words, an electrochemical process will be triggered that will generate electrical current, which will allow the vending machine to operate. Incredible, right?
And is it not polluting?
That’s the best part of hydrogen, as we’ve seen with some cars, these hydrogen cartridges do not pollute because in this chemical process, what is generated is water vapor, not CO2 as can happen in other combustion processes, so this would be a truly clean alternative that could compete with traditional options.
Autonomy
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of this invention is that the electricity generated by this device is stored in a battery integrated into the machine itself, eliminating the need for plugs, cables, or external generators, that’s right, not a single cable in sight!!
This makes it an ideal option for outdoor events, rural areas, or environments without access to an electrical grid. Additionally, the machine includes a screen that explains how hydrogen works as an energy source, promoting environmental awareness among users. Coca-Cola thinks of everything, huh?
Much more than a soda machine
Beyond being a conventional beverage vending machine, this prototype could be the gateway to ecology in sectors where we usually don’t see it, such as mobile refrigeration, digital signage, or temporary charging stations. It could even set a precedent to become an essential element in emergency contexts, festivals, or developing areas, allowing many parts of the population to access these devices without needing to be connected to the power grid.
How much could we reduce?
Let’s keep in mind that this is a prototype, and the idea of promoting and expanding it around the world is, for now, practically unfeasible. But let’s do a simple calculation: it’s estimated that in the United States alone, there are around 4 million vending machines, and each one uses about 2,500 kWh per year… We’re talking about vending machines in the U.S. alone emitting 4 million tons of CO2 per year. Do you know how much that is? The annual emissions of 850,000 gasoline-powered cars, an absolute outrage!!! Can you imagine being able to avoid sending all that CO2 into the atmosphere?
Is hydrogen the future of all industries?
Conceiving hydrogen as the future is not a new idea, it’s been brewing in several companies for years, but most are more focused on implementing it in vehicles because it’s much more common to think of a car as a polluting element than a vending machine. But Coca-Cola usually doesn’t stay still, and the fact that such a large company wants to also steer toward the energy transition shows that if they can do it, anyone can. Let’s remember that it’s everyone’s responsibility to reduce the ecological footprint, and the first step toward that will be in Osaka in just a few months!