The commitment to electric mobility in Holguín faces challenges due to incomplete infrastructure, as three out of the four charging stations installed in the province remain out of service due to a lack of solar support and energy storage systems.
The situation came to light during a work visit by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Marcos Bermúdez de la Torre, who assessed the state of the sector in an area affected by fuel shortages and the deterioration of the vehicle fleet, reported this Saturday by the official newspaper ¡Ahora!
The provincial delegate of Transport, René Rodríguez Morales, acknowledged that "problems persist that prevent us from providing a perfect service to the population," although he assured that alternatives are being sought that have received "great acceptance."
The province has 2,535 electric tricycles. Of these, 30 belong to the Taxi Agency of Cuba and five to the Provincial Transport Company, while the remaining 2,500 are owned by private individuals who operate under special licenses and permits.
The Provincial Transport Company covers 33 routes using leased vehicles that purchase fuel in foreign currency, with plans to expand coverage to 40 routes. Additionally, 10 Ecomobiles are being constructed in cooperation with the KTP Factory, although only one is completed and in the testing phase.
During the meeting, Bermúdez presented three national measures aimed at easing the acquisition of vehicles, expanding the possibilities for importing electric means, and facilitating the participation of both state and private companies in the sector, as part of the 176 economic and social measures approved in June by the National Assembly of People's Power.
Measure 146 removes the restriction that limited individuals to purchasing six vehicles within five years, while Measure 147 authorizes private individuals to directly import electric cars, a possibility previously restricted to electric motorcycles
For its part, measure 148 allows legal entities, both state and private, to assemble, import parts, and sell electric vehicles, including tricycles and motorcycles. However, so far, only 12 vehicles have been authorized under this modality nationwide, in Villa Clara, Mayabeque, and Pinar del Río. Holguín still has none.
The provincial energy landscape adds challenges to the expansion of this alternative. Holguín has only 70 MW available compared to a demand of between 225 and 240 MW, while some neighborhoods have reported power outages lasting up to 51 consecutive hours. Additionally, there has been a near-total halt of interprovincial transport since the beginning of the year due to a lack of fuel.
In August, the province acquired 10 Dongfeng electric cars, purchased for over 19,000 euros each, to provide free transportation for patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment.
Months earlier, in February, the authorities began issuing temporary permits for tricycles and motorcycles in response to the challenges of conventional transportation.
The visit concluded with a call to provincial companies to update their internal procedures and take advantage of the new measures.
However, as long as three charging stations remain out of service and electricity generation stays well below demand, the expansion of electric mobility will continue to be hindered by infrastructure issues that the announced initiatives have not yet resolved.
On June 15, the El Girasol solar charging station was inaugurated, the first "solinera" in Holguín, operated by the private mipyme Frenas Conmigo. It generates 30 kilowatts from inverters and 60 from batteries, operates 12 hours daily, and creates 10 jobs.
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