Turbo-charging the future

Driving around Manila one late afternoon in 1973, Pablo Planas noticed a funny smell coming from under the hood of his jeepney. After dropping off the last of his passengers, Planas parked near a bus terminal and, without giving it much thought, began tinkering with the jeepney’s engine.

"Pinag-ipunan ko ng matagal para mabili ko yung pampasaherong jeep na ’yon," Planas recalls. "Akala ko may sira na kaagad, kaya pinagmasdan ko ng mabuti."

As it turned out, there wasn’t anything wrong with the vehicle. But as Planas revved up the engine, the stench came back. He then realized it was the jeep’s unburned fuel. Planas decided to find out exactly where the smell was coming from.

He inserted a long hose inside the engine and tied the other end to his driver’s seat, enabling him to sniff the fuel while he plied his route. It was an incredible health hazard, and probably looked more like a suicide attempt than anything else, but it was worth the risk.

"Habang pinapatakbo ko yung sasakyan, inaamoy ko yung tambutso. At kada ako magbibitaw ng gasolina, doon ko naaamoy yung unburned fuel," he says. "I learned na ito yung pinaka-source ng pollution. At dahil gusto ko rin makatipid sa gas nung panahon na yon, doon ko na sinimulan ang invention ko."

The resulting Khaos Super Turbo Charger is said to be the only device in the world that makes motor vehicles more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. Basically, it works by providing the right mix of air and gasoline to result in better combustion. And measuring a mere six inches in length, it can easily be attached to a car engine’s intake manifold.

The gadget, which has received numerous local and international awards, increases engine power and minimizes pollution by reducing the level of carbon monoxide emitted by the vehicle. It also prolongs the lifespan of sparkplugs, mufflers and engine oil.

Sitting comfortably in his fifth floor office in Quezon City, Planas patiently explains that once a car’s engine is started and its fuel pipes open when the acceleration pedal is pressed, the engine takes in air as well. When the car stops and the engine idles, the fuel passageway (which is where the air goes) also closes and results in the continuous use of gasoline.

The latest version of the turbo charger is the fourth remake from the original model and is now made of stainless steel, copper, and aluminum. A unit costs P6,500.

"Kung sa pakinabang lang ang pag-uusapan, napakamura na nito," Planas insists. "Makaka-tulong ka na kasi sa paglinis ng hangin, makakatipid ka pa sa gasolina. At kahit saan basta’t makinang tumatakbo sa fuel, gagana ito."

Planas may sound a bit like a radio commercial, but he actually makes a lot of sense in describing it. The device proved so effective–99% to be precise–in pollution reduction that several large corporations in the US, Singapore, Taiwan and China have expressed desire to buy the rights. Planas himself reveals that he has already received invitations to demonstrate the turbo charger abroad, but that he refused because he wants "Filipinos to benefit from it first".

And while some skeptics may still try to dismiss his apparent patriotism as greed (a pretentious owner waiting for the right time to jack up its price), Planas’ rejections of million-dollar offers show just how genuine and true his intentions are in trying to make a difference in his country.

"Kung tatanggapin ko kasi ang mga alok sa akin, baka hindi na kaya pang mabili ng sinumang Pinoy ang produkto ko," he says. "Mga advanced countries na lang ang makikinabang at magkakaroon ng kakayahang bumili nito."

And this is why the full backing of the government is indeed very crucial to the future of Planas’ device to remain a Philippine brand. So far, however, there still doesn’t seem to be any real effort to champion it.

Although the turbo charger was awarded first place in a competition of gas-saving gadgets in 1976, succeeding attempts to get the attention of government officials had failed miserably. Seriously preempted by politics and red tape, the device was generally ignored. This remained so until Planas himself further improved its functions and began marketing it last year through his company, Inventionhaus International Corporation, which he co-owns with New San Jose Builders chairman Jerry Acuzar.

President Arroyo was sensible enough to bestow on him the 2003 Presidential Award for Best Invention, but Planas admits that it will definitely take a lot more than recognition for his product to really take-off. To date, only three local governments–Manila, Quezon City, and Puerto Princesa in Palawan–have expressed support and actually purchased units for their vehicles.

"Sa ngayon, parang may suporta naman ng gobyerno," he figures. "Pero mukhang may kabagalan pa rin ang pagkilos nila dito, eh."

Any frustrations or anxieties Planas might have regarding his device is certainly understandable. He has already devoted nearly half of his life to its advancement and promotion, so seeing his own country dawdling about it must really hurt. "30 years and counting," he sighs. "Sana may mangyari na."

Luckily, Planas still tries to remain positive about the issue (going as far as asking congressmen for a formal meeting), even while his weariness in being left hanging has now made him re-think about foreign interventions.

"Ang mga ibang bansa kasi, pag-nakita na maganda ang naimbento mo, bibilhin kaagad yung patent," he says. "Pero yung mga unang nag-offer sa akin, hindi ako pumayag, kasi kasama ako sa bilihan. Buti sana kung yung device lang."

Planas adds: "All the same, hindi ko na sinasara ang isip ko na-ibenta ito sa iba. Halimbawa ang gobyerno ay talagang ayaw na suportahan itong device, sa ibang bansa nalang ako lalapit. Sayang kapag nangyari yan. Pero at least, kahit na dayuhan man ang mag-manufacture ng turbo charger, magiging available pa rin ito sa atin."

That’s true, although if the gadget does go abroad, the price would not only skyrocket, it might also be the sorriest loss for our country since the flourescent lightbulb invention that got away.

Nasa Pilipinas ang solusyon sa pollution," Planas stresses, noting that there are now some six million motor vehicles in the country.

More than half of these cars–80 percent of which run on gasoline and 20 percent on diesel–are in Metro Manila.

"Isa ang Pilipinas sa may pinaka-worse na pollution sa buong mundo. Kung sa ibang bansa ang kanilang standard level sa pollution is 0.5, ang ipinasa ng ating kongreso, senado at presidente is at 4.5," he shakes his head in disbelief. "Kaya ang tawag ko dito ay ‘Dirty Air Act’. Kaya sana mabigyan tayo ng pagkakataon para maipahiwatig sa mga tao na itong device ay talagang makakatulong sa atin."

Last Sept. 28, the turbo charger showed that it was definitely more substance than hype when it passed an emission test given by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It did so with flying colors, and generated an impressive .08 carbon monoxide output.

Citing a 1985 report, Planas says the country produces tons of carbon monoxide a day, the same unseen chemical which has killed a number of people who supposedly fell asleep inside their cars with the engine running.

"Wala namang masama kung babaguhin ang mali, eh," he says. "Kasi grabeng-grabe na talaga ang problema natin. Dito na nanggagaling ang karamihan sa sakit natin, eh."

Planas’ Super Turbo Charger has been praised as the answer to finally boosting our energy conservation efforts amidst the continuing increase in the prices of petroleum. And if everything goes well, his device will soon–possibly by December–be distributed nationwide by Ford Philippines. Not bad for a high-school dropout who once thought he’d just be driving a jeepney his entire life.

Despite his accomplishments, however, Planas insists that there’s still a lot to do before he finally realizes his dreams. Ever the perfectionist, he says: "Up to now, you see, it’s still a work-in-progress. Ngayon kasi sa mga gas products pa lang gumagana ito. But next year, baka maglabas na rin kami ng turbo charger para sa diesel and tricycle."

"The next step is dapat magamit at malaman na ng buong mundo ang device na ito. All systems go na tayo," he ventures enthusiastically. "And eventually, pollution will simply be a thing of the past."