ICE stands for internal combustion engine, which refers to the conventional car engine that uses fossil fuel as a power source. Despite the growing focus on electric vehicles (EVs), ICE will remain one of the major features at the 9th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS).
PIMS is the centerpiece trade show of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi). The event will take place from Oct. 24 to 27, 2024, at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
At the press conference held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in BGC, Taguig, to announce this year's PIMS, the main topic of discussion was the availability of more electric vehicles. Almost all of Campi's car brand members indicated they would showcase their version of an EV during the trade show, which could well be their main attraction.
Of course, as a lover of traditional vehicles, I couldn't resist asking about ICE vehicles. While EVs represent a great modern shift in transportation and mobility, I still love the sound and feel of a combustion engine.
The roar of the engine, the purring of the exhaust pipes, and the vibration when the power is unleashed have always excited my senses. I love the feeling of controlling a powerful machine.
Steven Tan, head of Mazda Philippines, said that while Mazda has explored the production of EVs, the company continues to believe in finding ways to use environmentally friendly fuels. This is why Mazda remains committed to improving emission controls and developing better ICE vehicles.
Michael Breen, managing director of Ford Group Philippines, also confirmed that Ford will continue to manufacture ICE vehicles, as they remain the most cost-effective models for now, with market demand still favoring gas-powered cars over EVs.
Even Toyota Motor Philippines President Masando Hashimoto acknowledged that while they are serious on developing EVs and hybrid vehicles, the world's best-selling car brand remains committed to researching and developing better emission-controlled ICE vehicles, as this is still what the market demands.
Currently, EVs make up less than 10 percent of the total global sales volume of motor vehicles. Market hesitation to adopt EVs stems from several factors, the primary one being range anxiety — motorists are still uncertain about how far a single charge will take them, and they fear being stranded without access to charging infrastructure.
Another concern is battery safety, particularly in flood-prone countries like ours, where flash floods can occur even with minimal rainfall.
While the benefits of future technologies are immense and may indeed offer safer, more efficient transportation for motorists, commuters and pedestrians, for now, the internal combustion engine remains the preferred source of power for mobility.
At the upcoming 9th PIMS, we can expect to see a range of modern vehicles, including EVs, ICE-powered cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. The choices have significantly increased, and it will be interesting to see which brands or models the public gravitates toward to.