An electric tricycle equipped with an integrated solar panel that recharges while in motion, without the need for gasoline or an electrical connection, went viral on TikTok after being posted by user @hectorrsp2358 as a demonstration of Cuban ingenuity amid the worst fuel crisis the island has faced in decades.
The 17-second clip garnered over 51,600 views, 1,280 likes, and 564 shares in less than 24 hours, featuring tags such as #ingeniocubano and #bicitaxicubano. Its creator described it as "The new Cuban Bicitaxi, this is how we roll into the future" and highlighted its advantages: clean mobility, long range, and zero dependence on fuel.
"Family, look, this is not a modern car. A Cuban bicycle taxi with a solar panel recharges while you move, without gasoline, without stress. Today, it’s worth more than a modern car in Cuba. Clean mobility, long distance, and fully electric," wrote the user in his post.
The comments came in quickly: "Suffer, Musk," "A Tesla bike," and "It's true that Cubans do invent" were some of the reactions that reflect the mix of humor and admiration with which Cubans themselves receive these kinds of solutions.
The invention arises in a devastating context. Cuba needs about 110,000 barrels of oil daily but only produces 40,000 locally. Venezuela suspended shipments of between 27,000 and 30,000 barrels a day following Nicolás Maduro's capture on January 3, and Mexico cut its exports — which accounted for 44% of Cuban imports — on January 9. The result: power outages exceeding 20 hours a day in many areas, public transport nearly paralyzed, and informal gasoline prices exceeding six dollars per liter.
In Ciego de Ávila, for example, only 2 of the 135 bus routes are operational due to a lack of fuel. The 96.4% of Cuban small and medium enterprises are at risk for the same reason.
Bicitaxis have deep roots in Cuba's recent history. They originated during the Special Period of the 1990s, when the Soviet collapse left the island without subsidized oil and transportation fell apart. In 2026, electric tricycles have proliferated as an alternative to traditional taxis, costing a third of their price, but they face a critical obstacle: recharging the batteries without stable electricity. The integrated solar panel directly addresses that issue.
This solar tricycle adds to other inventions that have emerged from the same necessity. The mechanic Juan Carlos Pino, from Mayabeque, adapted a 1980 Fiat Polski to run on charcoal using a gasification system, reaching speeds of 70 kilometers per hour. In rural areas without state transportation, the so-called riquimbilis —handcrafted vehicles assembled with parts from Soviet motorcycles and cars— remain the only available means of transportation.
The energy expert Jorge Piñón warned in December 2025 that "2026 will be a dark year for Cuba," a prediction that reality has confirmed abundantly, and which popular ingenuity is trying, in its own way, to illuminate.
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