In a conventional vending machine, the temperature rises gradually when cooling is stopped.

Beverage company Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., Ltd. and vending machines and food displays manufacturer Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co., Ltd. announced the development of an energy-efficient vending machine that can reduce its daytime energy use by 95 percent.

The peak-shift vending machine shifts the time of day when it cools products from the usual "peak" day time to night time instead, when there is more power available.

The end result is that it can operate without using power to cool products for about 16 hours a day.

The products stored will be cooled for eight hours at night in temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius. These products are then ready to be served while retaining a temperature of only below five degree Celsius - without using electricity.

In a conventional vending machine, the temperature rises gradually when cooling is stopped for a long period, in which only a portion of the products stored inside are cooled in order to reduce electricity consumed.

With the "A011" vending machine, the rise in temperature will be minimal even after the cooling functions have stopped for a long period of time. Likewise, with more vacuum insulation materials used in the new machine, insulation will improve as it will not be easily affected by outside temperature.

Beginning July 2, the A011 peak-shift vending machine will be tested for two months in Saitama region's Kumagaya City and Gifu region's Tajimi City, the hottest regions in Japan, before it is launched in the market.

Aside from this vending machine innovation, Coca-Cola Japan has been implementing energy-saving efforts through specific round-robin cooling suspension measures in its vending machines since 2011.

This coming July 2, another round-robin cooling suspension will be conducted in all areas in the country except Okinawa that will reduce power consumption by about 15 percent. – C. Dominguez