Hydrogen cars might not get as much attention as electric vehicles (EVs), but they’re also quietly innovating the motoring game. They don’t run on gas or massive batteries. Instead, they use hydrogen to power their engines. The only thing they emit is — you guessed it right, water — parang naglalaba ka lang habang bumibyahe.
EVs need hours to charge. Hydrogen cars only need five minutes to refuel — about the same time, it takes to argue with your tita why you’re eating healthy, even if you just ordered extra rice.
Let’s talk about how hydrogen cars work. Instead of burning fuel, they use a fuel cell to mix hydrogen and oxygen. This creates electricity that powers the engine. The only byproduct is water vapor.
However, unlike your usual vehicles, hydrogen cars don’t have a combustion engine. Hydrogen combustion vehicles — where hydrogen is burned instead of used in fuel cells — are not commercially available yet. With the challenges hydrogen technology faces, they might stay in the lab for a while.
Hydrogen cars sound great, but they come with big challenges. Right now, a lot of hydrogen is produced using natural gas. This process creates carbon emissions, which kind of defeats the purpose of using hydrogen to fight climate change. It’s like trying to lose weight while eating chicharon every day.
The biggest hurdle is the lack of infrastructure. Without the infrastructure, these cars can’t go mainstream. It’s almost the same as having the best smartphone but no WiFi or mobile data — useless. Japan and the US have been expanding their networks, but here, the closest you’ll get is a gas station with an out-of-order CR.
The only two widely available hydrogen vehicles are the Hyundai Nexo, which debuted in 2018, and the Toyota Mirai, which made its debut in 2014. There used to be a third, the Honda Clarity, but it quietly left the scene in 2021.
Rockets also use hydrogen. NASA’s space rockets run on liquid hydrogen mixed with liquid oxygen. This combination gives them super high-speed exhaust, which is perfect for escaping Earth’s gravity. But don’t get too excited — you won’t see a Toyota Mirai taking off for the moon anytime soon.
Before hydrogen cars became a global buzzword, the Philippines had its own moment of motoring history — or mystery. In the 1990s, a Filipino inventor named Daniel Dingel claimed to have developed a car that ran on water. Yes, plain H2O. Imagine filling your tank with water from the gripo and driving off. Dingel’s invention seemed like a dream come true. It even made international headlines. Many were curious about his breakthrough.
But the story took a turn. Experts and scientists worldwide questioned the technology. Dingel refused to disclose the exact mechanics, citing fears of his invention being stolen. Skepticism grew, and eventually, he was accused of misleading investors. He passed away in 2010, leaving behind a cloud of controversy and what-ifs.
The story of Dingel remains a cautionary tale. It’s a mix of hope, frustration, and the classic Pinoy underdog narrative. While some believe he was on to something revolutionary, others dismiss his invention as too good to be true. Whatever the truth, Dingel’s water-powered car is now part of Filipino motoring lore — an idea that sparked imaginations but never got the chance to go mainstream.
If hydrogen cars ever become mainstream here, imagine your tito, with all his wisdom, telling you, “Mas maganda kung may konting asin, para kumapit.” Or your tita asking, “Pwede bang lagyan ng suka para mas matipid?” Science says no, but Pinoy creativity knows no bounds.
Hydrogen cars are the quiet underdogs of the automotive world. But they come with challenges — safety risks, high costs, and the need for massive infrastructure. For now, the Philippines is stuck in the realm of “sana all.”
Still, it’s worth keeping an eye on this technology. Someday, we might see hydrogen cars cruising down our streets. And when that day comes, let’s hope Pinoys resist the urge to mix suka or asin into the tank. Some innovations are better left untweaked.
And as we wait, let’s not forget Daniel Dingel — a man who dared to dream of a water-powered car, even if it was a dream the world wasn’t ready to believe.