Cuba's electric tricycles replace cars amid fuel shortages and blackouts

Cuba's iconic vintage cars have largely vanished, and small electric tricycles—mostly Chinese‑made—have become the primary transport for hundreds of thousands of residents. Many owners have added solar panels to the tricycles’ awnings, allowing them to recharge without relying on the island’s strained power grid.

The three‑wheelers cost between $2,000 and $4,000 and are financed through savings, remittances, or small‑business profits. "This is how people get around now," said 40‑year‑old Liecer de la Cruz, who owns one. Fares are about 500 Cuban pesos (under $1), a notable expense in a country where monthly wages average $10–$40.

A U.S. tariff threat in January limited oil shipments to a single tanker in March, deepening fuel shortages, rolling blackouts, and shortages of food and medicine. Tricycles now carry goods, serve former bus routes, collect garbage, and provide essential mobility. Engineer Carlos Álvarez installs solar‑panel kits that cost roughly $500 but quickly pay off by keeping vehicles running despite blackouts. Brands such as Zonsen, Jinpeng and locally assembled Vedca dominate the streets of Havana.