Chinese solar panels power public transportation tricycles in Cuba

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Cuban streets witness a constant movement of electric scooters and tricycles. These have become popular passenger and cargo transportation means. People now queue at bus stops to board not a bus, but an electric tricycle to travel across the town.

[00:00:15]The introduction of electric tricycles amidst the energy crisis caused by US sanctions has brought with it a new source of employment for drivers here.

[00:00:24]These vehicles carry up to six passengers each on specific routes covering limited distances depending on their range. Then they must be plugged into the power grid for charging.

[00:00:34]Widespread power cuts caused by the energy crisis made it difficult for vehicles to be fully charged at times.

[00:00:42]Then 21-year-old entrepreneur Yordan Espinosa came up with a solution, placing solar panels on vehicles.

[00:00:53]This business came thanks to an idea I had when I saw a tricycle coming and I thought it could bear a panel. I made the calculations and saw that it would be efficient. So during the panel installation, I provide the clients with everything so they don't have to search for any materials or cables or panels.

[00:01:10]It's a turnkey project.

[00:01:13]In his workshop on the outskirts of Havana, Espinosa and his brothers got parts to construct the structure where the 650-W Chinese solar panels would eventually be placed on the vehicles.

[00:01:24]The solar panel attached to the electric tricycles roof extends the vehicles range while also charging its battery.

[00:01:31]And most importantly, it does so with no need to depend on the country's shaky power grid and frequent outages.

[00:01:39]I came with these young men because they do an excellent job. They install these panels which extend the vehicles battery lifespan. It's an environmentally friendly process, helps save electricity as we don't have to plug into the grid, particularly under the current energy crisis.

[00:01:55]Cuba assembles electric tricycles from China to use for cargo passenger transportation or to take patients to healthcare centers as a vital alternative for public transportation amid the energy crisis.

[00:02:07]Following the US oil blockade in January, Cuba has only received one shipment of oil from Russia in late March. Some 730,000 barrels of oil has already been used. So far, no other oil deliveries have been announced by authorities.

[00:02:23]Meanwhile, Havana's Espinosa solar panel business has contributed to local passenger transportation alternatives, and it is one solution that addresses the country's severe energy crisis as clean energy transition is priority.

[00:02:36]Luis Chirino, CGTN, Havana.