Amid Cuba's ongoing energy crisis, electric tricycles are providing significant relief for transporting goods and people who can afford them. These alternative vehicles help counter the high costs of imported fuel, with owners charging them during available electricity periods or using solar panels.
Cuba is grappling with an unprecedented energy crisis, where about half of its electricity generation comes from thermoelectric plants fueled by heavy Cuban crude oil that cannot be refined into gasoline or diesel. Consequently, nearly all fuel for internal combustion vehicles must be imported, along with that required for backup generators. This has prompted both state and private sectors to explore alternatives, such as electric tricycles in Havana.
With gasoline prices reaching up to 3,500 pesos (about $8) per liter, these electric vehicles offer a cost-effective solution. Owners charge them during times when electricity is available, and in some instances, they rely on solar photovoltaic panels installed across the country. This photo feature by Ernesto Gonzlaez Díaz captures how these tricycles are helping to ease the crisis in daily transport. The publication includes 18 photos illustrating their role in the Cuban capital.
