The Government of Cuba has launched 200 electric cars intended for the transportation of dialysis patients and other health services, in an operation coordinated by the Ministry of Transportation, the Business Group for Motor Transport Services, and the state entity Taxis Cuba, with logistical support from the Mariel Special Development Zone and Publicentro.
The vehicles, 100% electric and new, will be distributed across all provinces and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, prioritizing areas with the highest number of kidney patients.
This is the Dongfeng Box 01 model, a compact electric car manufactured in China that has official representation on the Island through Dongfeng Cuba. The version incorporated into the Cuban healthcare system corresponds to the Box 430 model, equipped with a battery of approximately 42.3 kWh and a range of up to 430 kilometers on a full charge, according to the manufacturer's commercial specifications.
The Dongfeng Box 01 features a 95-horsepower electric motor, front-wheel drive, and a top speed of nearly 140 km/h. Additionally, it comes equipped with a 12-inch multimedia display, a fast-charging system capable of restoring a large portion of the battery in about 30 minutes, and space for five passengers.
In addition to dialysis transfers, the vehicles will cover medical discharges, oncology appointments, and other healthcare activities.
These 200 vehicles represent the first half of a batch of 400 electric cars announced by Miguel Díaz-Canel on March 13 during a briefing with official media, where he explained that the investment aims to free the hemodialysis service from fossil fuels and ensure greater stability for medical transport.
The measure responds to a healthcare emergency documented since the beginning of the year. More than 3,000 patients with chronic kidney failure rely on regular hemodialysis sessions at 57 units distributed throughout the country.
Since February, transportation for these patients has been halted in provinces such as Las Tunas, Granma, Pinar del Río, Ciego de Ávila, and Villa Clara due to a lack of fuel, forcing many patients to pay up to 500 pesos per trip or to remain hospitalized in precarious conditions.
The writer Alexander Aguilar López, a hemodialysis patient in Granma, reported in March that the state stopped ensuring transportation while "the leaders' cars continue to circulate."
Simultaneously with the launch of electric cars, the authorities introduced 20 new Yutong buses for interprovincial routes from Havana.
Both investments are backed by the Transport Development Fund, financed through the marketing and importation of vehicles.
The complex energy scenario continues to affect the country. The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, admitted on May 13 that Cuba has "no fuel, no diesel". One day later, the electricity generation deficit exceeded 2,100 MW, leaving more than 70% of the population without electricity.
The chargers intended for the new electric fleet have not yet arrived in the country. Authorities have stated that they will be installed later to reduce the dependence of these vehicles on the national electrical system.
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