My first hybrid car changed how I travel
MANILA, Philippines – I bought my first hybrid car in 2024. I was 29-years-old and I initially dreamt of owning a Nissan Juke. I wanted to reach certain milestones before I turned 30, and I thought it was time to check one off the list.
My work forced me to travel a lot. My Grab receipt would reach thousands in a week. I knew that it wouldn’t be sustainable in the long run.
So, in the summer of 2024, my dad and I visited a showroom in Pasig City. I wanted to check out the Juke, only to find out that it was phased out.
An agent then showed us the Nissan Kicks, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that just released.
At the time, electric vehicles didn’t seem like a necessity. Tesla made it seem like a luxury.
The idea of a hybrid was new to me. The Kicks did not have a charger, and instead used gas to generate electricity. It was a walking generator that also had regenerative charging.
Being new to anything EV, the thought of using kinetic energy to charge an ordinary car was exciting. It made me feel like an F1 driver.
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Fast forward to now
Now, in 2026, I still consider that as one of the best decisions and investments I’ve ever made.
A lot has changed in the past two years. Gas prices have skyrocketed, and the cost of basic necessities further inflated.
Even in my early 20s, I considered travel to be expensive. Now, it feels almost inaccessible. But having an HEV granted me cheaper options.
My family and I once took a trip to the Province of Quezon. From Paranaque City, that’s a four-hour drive. It was a back-and-forth trip, and I was still able to use less than half of my tank.
Road trips suddenly don’t seem that scary.
I drive around the city almost daily, and I only enter the gas station once a month. My gas receipt ranges from P2,500 to P2,700. I began to study more about EVs, its environmental impact, and how city and provincial travel could look like.
Since buying my car, I think about travel as an opportunity. I also know that I’m just lucky.
Travel will still feel inaccessible to most of the population in the Philippines. Gas prices may continue to inflate and the cost of cars as well, even EVs. Having an EV won’t make your life better, but it can open opportunities for cheaper travel and knowing that you contribute a bit to the world’s carbon footprint.
I’m not telling anyone to buy an EV now. I’m not saying it’s better. But maybe, it’s worth looking into.
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