| Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
Part XIII of “Agenda 2026-2046”
In less than two decades, more hydrogen-refueling stations (HRS) will be constructed in industrialized countries and even in the Third World’s poor nations.
Yes, especially if this column’s suggestion that fire, police, and law-enforcement organizations (LEO) stations worldwide engage in installing and operating HRS is followed. And if Catholic churches and other denominations—as he also suggested in 2013, as first coursed through the Diocese of Sorsogon (Philippines)—would put up a pizzeria in their usually large parking areas or courtyards to feed the homeless. At the same time, it should be expanded to a food court to provide a livelihood to its poor parishioners.
Now, it can come with an HRS. Catholic parishes and hospitals can also replace their conventional means of transport with hydrogen-powered vehicles (HPV). They can likewise use them as grand prizes for raffles they conduct periodically. It will enable parishes or other faiths to generate more income and to combat poverty among the congregation members. It is what this journalist meant when he coined 1988 the term “economic purgatory”. That is, not only promoting eternal reward in heaven for following the teachings of Jesus Christ, other prophets, and saints in heaven, but also making life on earth at least a semblance of purgatory. And not a hellish existence because of a lack of livelihood opportunities for poor church members.
Both suggestions will augment the number of present gas stations fully or partially converted to HRS if the present crude-oil cartels permit their franchises to service HFV. It will lead to a reinvention of vehicles, from petroleum or battery-sourced electricity to HFV. More marginalized people will achieve socio-economic empowerment, especially if they use the tenets of cooperative economics, as discussed earlier in this column.
According to Forbes.com, “CarsDirect is reporting that Toyota is selling its hydrogen powered fuel-cell Mirai sedan for up to 70% off the base XLE grade, a car that normally costs $51,285 including destination. That lowers the price to a staggering $17,005 making it the cheapest new car in the U.S. or perhaps we should say Southern California because it’s not available elsewhere. Why? Infrastructure. Because as of mid-2024, according to the energy.gov site, there were only 54 hydrogen refueling stations in the U.S. and 53 of them were located in California.”
The 70% off-the-base discount probably includes the $7,000 incentive the U.S. federal government gives every buyer of “clean cars,” full electric or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
“Yes, hydrogen fuel cells can make the Philippines the “Pearl of the Orient” again, as it was in the 1930s, as a colony of the United States.”
Forbes.com adds: “Toyota says that the Mirai XLE grade boasts a range of 402 miles and delivers 72 miles per kilogram of hydrogen, which means this fuel credit translates to over 30,000 free miles. That’s even if we factor in the fuel’s peak price of $34.55/kg, which California endured last October. Electricity generated from the onboard hydrogen is channeled to a 182-hp electric motor that feels energetic around town. With a 0-60mph time of 9.0 seconds, it’s comfortable but not quick, especially considering the car weighs around 4300 lbs.
“So why didn’t the Mirai sell as well as Toyota had expected? Hydrogen supply disruptions have affected fuel-cell car sales in recent years, in contrast to the strengthening of hydrogen infrastructure for commercial trucks and industry. The infrastructure issue and a challenging hydrogen supply situation have contributed to poor Mirai sales. In the U.S., Toyota tells us that it sold just 499 Mirais in 2024, significantly down from 2,737 units in 2023.
“In addition to the Mirai, at present there are only two other fuel cell cars on sale—the Honda CR-V e:FCEV at $51,350 and the $60,135 Hyundai Nexo. And while these models cost a little north of $50,000 and $60,000 respectively, we can expect the Mirai’s price reduction to put pressure on the other carmakers to follow suit.”
Thus, the proposed conversion to hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles, industries, and agriculture will make “Agenda 2026-2046” more viable in the Philippines and many impoverished Third-World countries. “It is elementary, Mister Watson,” to use an oft-quoted adage. Why? Poor countries’ importations of crude oil and petroleum run into billions of U.S. dollars per year. It will be drastically reduced to negligible levels after a few years of gestation. Long-run hydrogen production from water will render gasoline and diesel products obsolete. Besides, constructing infrastructures to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen, hydrogen liquefaction for export, building of HRS and HFV, and downstream projects will usher in true mini-industrial revolutions in the Third World.
Mister Google said: “In 2023, the Philippines’ crude oil and petroleum industry generated revenues of $14.62 billion, with projections estimating it to reach $21.54 billion by 2032. In 2024, the Philippines imported $3.39 billion worth of crude petroleum. The average crude oil price in the Philippines was $82.1 per barrel in 2023. Importantly, the Philippines is a significant importer of crude oil, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq major suppliers. The country’s total oil consumption 2023 was 471,000 barrels per day.”
For example, the Philippines is still classified as a developing country. In current U.S. dollars, its national GDP was approximately $461.62 billion in 2024. Projections for 2025 estimate the GDP to reach around $497.5 billion. However, a significant portion comes from remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and overseas Filipinos; the total has now exceeded $30 billion annually. Plus more uncounted billions of greenbacks worth of household goods and food shipped on cardboard boxes to their kin by OFWs and Overseas Filipinos, especially the 5-million strong Filipino Americans. Yes, hydrogen fuel cells can make the Philippines the “Pearl of the Orient” again, as it was in the 1930s, as a colony of the United States.
