Electric tricycles have become the most widely used means of transport in Havana as severe fuel and electricity shortages cripple traditional vehicles [1, 2, 3].

This shift reflects a desperate adaptation to a collapsing infrastructure. The reliance on small electric vehicles highlights the depth of Cuba's current economic crisis, where citizens must innovate to maintain basic mobility and livelihoods.

The energy crisis intensified after the U.S. imposed an oil embargo in January 2026 [3, 1]. Since then, fuel scarcity and frequent blackouts have disrupted the city. In some areas, blackouts now last more than 20 hours per day [4], while the price of gasoline has climbed above six dollars per liter [4].

For many drivers, the transition was a matter of survival. Eduardo Romano said that due to the gasoline situation, he had to sell his car from the 1950s and buy an electric tricycle to continue working [1].

These vehicles provide a viable alternative for mass transit. Some electric tricycles can carry up to eight passengers and offer a range of approximately 80 km per charge [2]. Despite these capabilities, the instability of the power grid makes charging a constant challenge.

To combat this, local entrepreneurs are turning to renewable energy. One 21-year-old entrepreneur established a homemade solar panel factory to support the fleet [4]. He has equipped more than 15 electric tricycles with these custom panels [4].

"With the homemade solar panels, we managed to increase the autonomy of the tricycles by 50%," the entrepreneur said [4].

While some reports describe these vehicles as a popular alternative [2, 1], others suggest they have become the dominant mode of transport in the capital [3]. Regardless of their status, the sight of solar-powered tricycles has become a defining image of Havana's streets as the population bypasses a failing state energy grid.

“"Due to the gasoline situation, I had to sell my car from the 1950s and buy an electric tricycle to continue working."”

The transition to electric tricycles and decentralized solar charging indicates a systemic failure of the Cuban state to provide basic energy and transport infrastructure. By bypassing the national grid and relying on improvised technology, citizens are creating a parallel, informal economy of mobility to survive the combined pressure of U.S. sanctions and domestic economic mismanagement.