Toyota and ADK Japan use energy from regenerative race car brakes to cook breakfast

ADK Japan has released “Toyota Barista”, an onlne film that shows energy born in a hybrid car’s regenerative braking (a technology that recovers energy at the time of braking) being used to prepare breakfast for 171 people at a cafe. The regenerative braking system recovers heat energy generated when a car decelerates and subsequently reuses it.

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Energy regeneration is a fundamental technology for hybrid cars. Toyota hones this technology in the grueling environment of racing and then feeds the results back into commercial automobiles such as the Prius. Until now, the technology has been known only to some fans of racing and automobiles, but Toyota has produced an entertainment film showing energy recovered from braking being used to make breakfast, so as to let the general public understand the technology more easily.

The concept is a café named “Toyota Barista” is opened for one day only. 171 customers are invited to the café in order to try out a new blend of coffee. The customers are expectantly awaiting the baristas when suddenly a TS040 Hybrid race car shows up, which is currently in the “24 Hours of Le Mans” endurance race. When the pit crew gives the go sign, the roar of the engine fills the café and the race starts.

As the driver races through the Le Mans circuit on the screen, every time he steps on the brakes, the energy regeneration system springs into action. The energy recovered is sent through siphons and other cookware to turn out coffees and toast slices one after another. Just as the race comes to an end, an intriguing breakfast is ready: a cup of coffee, half a slice of toast, and one third of a fried egg. Out of the car comes Toyota race-car driver Kazuki Nakajima, who eats breakfast with the customers.

Credits –

CG Designer: Satoshi Shirai