Toyota to build a high-tech city near Mt. Fuji

KUALA LUMPUR: Toyota is planning to build a high-tech city, called the “Woven City”, in Japan at the base of Mt. Fuji. The company aims to build it as early as 2021. It will be a fully-connected ecosystem powered by hydrogen fuel cells spread across a land of 175 acres.

The Japanese automaker aims to build a place where researchers and full-time residents can develop technologies surrounded by an environment of robotics, artificial intelligence, smart homes, personal mobility and autonomy.

Akio Toyoda, the president of Toyota Motor Corporation said, “Building a complete city from the ground up, even on a small scale like this, is a unique opportunity to develop future technologies, including a digital operating system for the city’s infrastructure. With people, buildings and vehicles all connected and communicating with each other through data and sensors, we will be able to test connected AI technology, in both the virtual and the physical realms, maximizing its potential.”

The streets will be divided into three categories -

1. for faster vehicles
2. for personal mobility, pedestrians and lower speed vehicles
3. for pedestrians only

These streets will be arranged in a grid pattern that will “help accelerate the testing of autonomy,” according to Toyota.

To make this vision a reality, Toyota plans to commission Bjarke Ingels, a Danish architect from the Bjarke Ingels Group, which has previously worked on projects like Google’s Mountain View & London headquarters, Lego House in Denmark and World Trade Centre in New York.

Bjarke Ingels said, “With the breadth of technologies and industries that we have been able to access and collaborate with from the Toyota ecosystem of companies, we believe we have a unique opportunity to explore new forms of urbanity with the Woven City that could pave new paths for other cities to explore.”

The streets of the Woven City will only see zero-emission vehicles and autonomous Toyota e-Palettes as the source of transportation. The buildings will be fully-sustainable made from robotic production methods and Japanese wood joinery. The roofs of buildings will get photo-voltaic panels for generating solar power and to charge hydrogen fuel cells.

Toyota wants its employees to live in the Woven City with their families along with visiting scientists, industry partners, retailers and retired couples. The company plans to inhabit only 2000 people upfront, however, plans to add more as the project evolves. The city will also have a central park, neighbourhood smaller parks and a central plaza for social functions and gatherings.

Akio Toyoda also asked interested scientists, academic partners and researchers from all over the world to come and work on their own projects in this state-of-the-art facility. He said, “We welcome all those inspired to improve the way we live in the future, to take advantage of this unique research ecosystem and join us in our quest to create an ever-better way of life and mobility for all.”

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