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ABOUT Eco-Drive
Eco-Drive is more than just a light-powered technology. It’s an idea: the idea of sharing with people everywhere the commitment, drive and sustainability of telling the time as long as there is the light to do so. Derived from “Ecology Drive,” the name evokes a technology that’s kind to people and the planet and keeps running indefinitely.
Eco-Drive will be your most loyal supporter when you embark on something new or have to face a daunting challenge. Eco-Drive is powered by light. And there’s no corner of this world without light. Wherever you are, Eco-Drive will inspire you to shine on as you move into your future.
How It Works
Milestones on the Eco-Drive Journey
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1976
The world's firstlight-poweredanalogue watch
“We want to make a new kind of watch that’s kind to the planet and doesn’t require regular battery replacement.” Such was the thinking that inspired CITIZEN to start developing light-powered watches. After lengthy trial and error, we released CRYSTRON SOLAR CELL, theworld’s first light-powered analogue watch, in 1976.
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1986
An everyday watchthat never stops
Back in the ’80s, the standard running time for light-powered watches was just two days. Numerous improvements based on the concept of an “everyday watch that never stops” led to our release of ANALOGUE WITH SOLAR CELL. It could run continuously for 8 days (200 hours) on a full charge.
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1995
Towardsa running timeof over 6 months
The adoption of a lithium secondary battery to extend running time resulted in a model capable of running for 6 months on a single full charge. We debuted the name Eco-Drive in 1994. It became a core technology and a key component of the CITIZEN brand.
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2016
Thinner. Smaller.More multifunctional
Eco-Drive was becoming ever smaller and more multifunctional thanks to improvements in its circuits and motors. Eco-Drive One, the world’s thinnest light-powered analogue watch* with a movement just 1.00 mm thick, made its debut in 2016.
*As of 2019, according to Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.research
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2023
A watchthat keeps runningfor 365 days a year
In line with its commitment to push for longer running times, CITIZEN developed the Caliber E365, a movement that keeps running for roughly 365 days on a single full charge. Our release of Eco-Drive 365, a model equipped with this movement, in 2023, opened a new chapter in light-powered watch history.
Now
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Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Editions
Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Editionsfrom leading CITIZEN brands
