A group of Cubans has developed an electric "polaquito" as an alternative to the gasoline shortage affecting the country, amidst the energy crisis impacting transportation on the island.
The initiative was shared on Facebook by Harvey Soblado, in the Murasaki POWER group, where he posted a video demonstrating the vehicle's operation and explained that this is the second prototype of this kind built in Cuba.
According to the information provided, the team used a 2,000-watt motor combined with a 5,000-watt battery, along with technical adjustments and tests on various terrains to enhance the vehicle's performance.
Soblado himself pointed out that the project is the result of the collective effort of several mechanics, including Richard and a specialist identified as Contreras, based in Matanzas.
During the demonstration, the vehicle exhibited remarkable acceleration and the ability to move in difficult conditions, which its creators consider a significant advancement given the technological and material limitations currently in place in Cuba.
The prototype is still in the development phase, with the intention of continuing to make improvements based on the experience gained from this second model.
This type of initiative reflects how Cubans seek makeshift solutions in the face of a lack of fuel and resources, in a context marked by blackouts, economic crisis, and challenges to daily mobility.
Recently, a video of an electric tricycle equipped with an integrated solar panel went viral on social media, capable of recharging while in motion without the need for gasoline or an electrical connection.
The material, published on TikTok by user @hectorrsp2358, has become a showcase of Cuban ingenuity in the face of the worst fuel crisis the island has experienced in decades.
Similarly, a clever invention amid the energy crisis has caught attention on social media, after it was discovered that a Cuban managed to adapt a Fiat Polski car to run on charcoal as fuel, in response to the severe gasoline shortage affecting the country.
Videos circulated on the internet show the car equipped with a system installed in the rear that allows for the generation of combustible gas from charcoal, a technology known as gasifier or biomass gasification.
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