The familiar rumble of 1959 Chevrolets, once the rhythmic heartbeat of Havana, is fading into the near silence of electric vehicles. This quiet transformation is accelerating as the island faces one of its worst fuel shortages in recent years.
For decades, Cuba’s roads were defined by colorful vintage cars, a landscape that changed very little. But in recent years, as fuel became increasingly scarce, Cubans have turned more and more to electric transportation. This shift is now proving crucial as residents grapple with a deepening crisis, exacerbated by a tightening blockade that has cut off vital oil exports.
In the Alamar neighborhood on the outskirts of Havana, Eugenio Gainza navigates the rutted roads in a state-run, rickshaw-style electric tricycle, picking up passengers. “We make 16 trips a day,” he explains. “There is no fuel. This is the only means of transportation supporting this area.”
For residents like Maria Caridad Gonzalez, these government-operated vehicles are a lifeline, providing a vital way to get around in an economy squeezed by rationing. While private electric transport services also exist, she notes they are often more expensive.
The government recently detailed a wide-ranging plan to ration fuel and protect essential services. Against this backdrop, the move toward renewable energy is becoming a matter of necessity. As resident Barbaro Castaneda observed, this shift is the only thing keeping the island mobile. “Together, it is what is helping the country move forward,” he said. “Otherwise, we would be completely paralyzed.”
