Transportable Independent Power Supply “N3 N-CUBE” Adopted as a Disaster-Relief Container Toilet at the Disaster-Resilient Roadside Station “Shimotsuke”

Release Time：27 Mar,2026

<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/ueditor/php/upload/image/20260330/1774860330178883.png" title="1774860330178883.png" alt="1.png"/></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">First deployment of “N3 N-CUBE” at roadside station, contributing to strengthening disaster prevention function NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has had the Transportable Independent Power Supply “N3 N-CUBE” adopted as a disaster relief container toilet at the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) “Shimotsuke” in Shimotsuke City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is a fully self-contained, water-circulation flush toilet system (hereafter, the circulation-type flush toilet system) that operates entirely on 100% renewable energy and can be transported by truck. It serves daily users at the roadside station during normal times and can be deployed to affected areas during disasters, contributing to solving one of the most critical issues in times of emergency—securing toilet facilities. During disasters, disruptions to water and power infrastructure often lead to severe toilet shortages and deteriorating sanitary conditions. These circumstances sometimes cause evacuees to reduce food and water intake, which may result in dehydration, infectious diseases, or even deep vein thrombosis (“economy-class syndrome”). To address these issues, NTN developed a restroom model using the Transportable Independent Power Supply “N3 N-CUBE,” a container-equipped power supply system that integrates a compact wind turbine, solar panels, and storage batteries. Inside the container, it houses both a restroom and a treatment tank that breaks down and purifies wastewater. Its ability to function without external water supply or drainage, maintain sanitary restroom conditions using only renewable energy, and provide “phase-free” utility across both normal and emergency situations has earned high recognition. The system has already been adopted by municipalities throughout Japan*1 and was utilized in recovery efforts following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake*2. As disaster preparedness becomes an increasingly important national priority, Japan&#39;s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has designated 79 roadside stations as disaster-resilient roadside stations (as of February 2026), providing focused support to help them function as wide area disaster-response hubs. In April 2024, MLIT also issued the “Guidelines for Utilizing High Value-Added Containers at Michi-no-Eki”*3 to advance regional revitalization during normal times and enhance disaster-management functions during emergencies. In line with these guidelines, NTN has conducted demonstration tests*4 to verify the effectiveness of “N3 N-CUBE,” showcasing a full sequence of disaster-response operations—from transportation and installation to power generation. Building on these efforts, “N3 N-CUBE” has now been installed and commenced operation at the disaster-resilient roadside station “Shimotsuke,” marking the first deployment of the unit at any roadside stations nationwide. The installed unit features a circulation-type flush toilet system that purifies wastewater using electricity generated by solar panels and recirculates the treated water for continuous use. NTN will continue to promote “N3 N-CUBE” to disaster resilient roadside stations across Japan and will further expand its applications to address a variety of social needs, including pet protection during disasters*5, passive smoking prevention in tourist destinations, and heatstroke mitigation.</span></p>