Toyota has revealed plans for a prototype city on a 175-acre site at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan that will be powered by an “ecosystem” of hydrogen fuel cells. Designed by Danish firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), the “fully sustainable” Woven City will feature mostly timber structures with rooftops covered in photovoltaic panels to power hydrogen cells. Toyota reports that full-time residents and researchers will be able to test emergent technology from the “living laboratory” city, including robotics, personal mobility devices, and smart homes. “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,” said president Akio Toyoda in a press release. “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.”

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