Is public transportation a good idea in Havana?

Public transportation is hardly more palatable. Buses in the Havana area are far fewer – and more crowded and uncomfortable – than in previous years. And half the routes to points outside the capital have been eliminated this year, according to state-run media, as fuel and spare parts dwindle.

Are electric cars a godsend for Cuba?

Until recently, Cuba’s roads had changed little in the six decades since former leader Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution: the old cars puffing sooty exhaust, rutted pavement, light traffic. Now, electric vehicles are proving a godsend for many in the communist-run nation.

Are electric scooters a solution to Cuba's transportation problems?

Cuba has been flooded in recent years with “motorinas,” as the electric scooters are called on the island, which have been promoted by the government as efficient alternatives amid extreme gas and diesel shortages, and as a solution to the country’s transportation problems.

How many electric cars are produced in Cuba?

Between 2020 and 2022, the last year for which figures are available, Cuba-based companies produced more than 23,000 electric vehicles, according to official data. Since then, demand has grown, alongside an economic crisis that has slashed both fuel supply and public transportation.

Are electric motorcycles a problem in Cuba?

“Electric motorcycles are solving a lot of problems in Cuba, they are already used for almost everything,” explains Omar Cortina, a Cuban hotel worker who recently purchased his first electric vehicle – a lime-green scooter powered by a lithium battery.

Where do Cubans go on electric motorcycles?

HAVANA (AP) — The young people come and go on their electric motorcycles at this highway outside Cuba’s capital where they perform stunts and talk about their two-wheelers, which would be largely silent if it weren’t for the music blasting from speakers.