Solar tricycles replace vintage cars in Cuba

Electric tricycles have replaced most of Cuba’s vintage gasoline cars as the primary means of transport for hundreds of thousands of residents facing fuel shortages and power outages. The three-wheel vehicles, largely imported from China, cost between $2,000 and $4,000. Many owners have added solar panels to recharge the batteries without using the strained national grid.

Fuel supply and daily impact In January, President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba, which produces roughly 40 percent of its own fuel needs. Since then, only one oil tanker has reached the island, compared with about eight per month previously. Rolling blackouts have intensified, public bus routes have been cut, and shortages of food and medicine have deepened.

Use of the vehicles The tricycles carry passengers, goods, and in some Havana neighborhoods collect garbage. Riders pay about 500 Cuban pesos, less than one U.S. dollar, for short trips. State workers earn roughly $10 a month and private-sector employees about $40, making the fare a notable expense.

Some owners bought the vehicles after selling older cars; others received them from relatives abroad or used business profits to purchase them. Under an agreement with China, one brand is assembled locally. Owners report that solar panels, which cost around $500 to install, allow continued operation during blackouts and reduce reliance on scarce fuel.