Toyota Tsusho Corporation has announced the launch of a pilot experiment for smart clothing embedded with advanced perovskite solar cells to enable self-power generation.
The pilot experiment will be conducted at the Kansai International Expo in Osaka, which opens on April 13. Toyota Tsusho will collaborate with exhibitors in a private pavilion to showcase this high-tech and fashionable smart clothing. The perovskite solar cells used in this clothing, characterized by their thinness, lightness, and high flexibility, offer new possibilities for the development of smart clothing.
In 2023, Toyota Tsusho invested in Enecoat Technologies, a Kyoto-based startup focused on solar cell development. Together, they are working to apply Enecoat’s perovskite solar cells to smart clothing. During the demonstration, these solar cells are cleverly installed on the clothing, providing power for various smart functions such as air conditioning and health management. The realization of these functions not only demonstrates the practicality of smart clothing but also further validates the huge potential of perovskite solar cells in the field of fashion technology.
Additionally, the smart clothing is equipped with a “power control unit” developed by Toyota Tsusho for storing and controlling the generated electricity. It is worth mentioning that Seiren, a textile product manufacturer in Tokyo, also participated in this collaboration, achieving an innovative breakthrough in sewing technology that allows solar cells to be connected to clothing without wires.
