Chilean Teens Race Hydrogen Cars Toward Greener Future

Twenty-three teams of Chilean high school students are revving their engines for a competition that could change how the next generation thinks about clean energy.

The H2 Grand Prix 2026 brings together students from 21 technical and scientific high schools across eight regions of Chile to race remote-controlled cars powered entirely by green hydrogen fuel cells. The national finals take place September 1-3 in Santiago, running alongside Hyvolution, the country's green hydrogen summit.

These aren't just toy cars. Students spend the entire school year designing, building, and refining their vehicles with coach teachers, working in mixed teams of drivers and mechanics to create competition-ready machines that run on one of the world's most promising clean fuel sources.

The program is making waves beyond the racetrack. Each team includes female students in technical roles like automotive mechanics and electrical work, fields where women have traditionally been underrepresented. Past champions have traveled the world, representing Chile at international finals in the United States, Switzerland, Germany, and exhibitions in Japan, Azerbaijan, and Ecuador.

This year's winning team earns a trip to the 2027 world finals in Australia. Four competition categories allow students to showcase different skill levels, from modified vehicles to prototypes. A new Women in STEM race debuts this year, expanding opportunities for young women in science and engineering.

The Ripple Effect

Pablo Kusnir, general manager of Corporación SOFOFA, calls the program "much more than a competition." Students develop creative thinking, critical reasoning, and teamwork skills that extend far beyond racing. The initiative connects Chile's growing renewable energy sector with the next generation of workers who will power it.

Carolina Domínguez, Director of H2GP Chile, emphasizes that youth are leading the country's energy transition. Through partnerships between government, private companies, and universities, the program has spent four years developing what they call the "Young Talent +Energy" model, training diverse students with gender equity and innovation at its core.

Schools from Antofagasta in the north to Los Ríos in the south are competing, representing the geographic diversity of Chile itself. Energy Minister Ximena Rincón will open the event, with SOFOFA president Rosario Navarro waving the flag to start the races.

These teenagers are proving that the future of clean energy isn't just about technology but about inspiring young minds to build it.