This April, the long-awaited Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan finally opened.
Under the theme of ”Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” the Expo brings together countries and corporations from around the world to showcase their visions and technologies for the future. That vision doesn’t stop at the pavilions.
The 7-Eleven convenience store at the Expo West Gate has installed hydrogen cartridges designed for easy transport.
The electricity generated by these hydrogen cartridges, developed by Toyota Motor Corporation and manufactured by Toyoda Gosei, is used to power a smoothie machine.
Visitors are drawn to the trial, saying it is a true Expo experience.
Behind the scenes was a new challenge: how best to transport the hydrogen cartridges.
Until now, the Toyota team has always transported the hydrogen cartridges for demonstration experiments, but this time they decided to use the 7-Eleven delivery network.
The hydrogen cartridges are being carried by supply trucks together with prepared foods and other convenience store products.
However, at the first transport test just one month before the Expo opening, some people voiced concerns about the safety of hydrogen, and new issues emerged.
How did they manage to reach opening day? Toyota Times News went behind the scenes to find out.
Additional stories include the FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) Mirai at the Yoshimoto Pavilion using hydrogen to generate electricity, as well as the first Daihatsu walking-area mobility, e-Sneaker, which helps visitors move comfortably around the venue. The Expo is brimming with new mobility possibilities.