In Trinidad, located in the province of Sancti Spíritus, ten eco-friendly taxis covering four urban routes have drastically cut back their trips. This reduction stems from an inability to fully charge their batteries, as reported by the state-run channel CentroVisión Yayabo.
A representative from the Taxis Cuba agency in Trinidad candidly acknowledged the issue, stating, "Most of the time, the buses can't hit the road. They must maintain a reserve, which means they need to keep at least a 20% charge to protect their complex batteries."
The operational threshold is demanding: vehicles need to exceed 90% battery charge before they can operate, but the window to connect to the National Electrical System (SEN) is so restrictive that this target is rarely met.
"They require more than 90% charge, yet the schedule is so limited that they hardly ever reach the necessary level to start working," the official admitted to the state channel's cameras.
What stands out in the report is the absence of solar panels, which were promised to Trinidad but never materialized. The original plan included a solar charging station at the Taxis Cuba headquarters, an investment that the regime failed to deliver.
Back in June 2024, Transport Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila pledged to "include solar panels for electric charging, aiming for truly clean and autonomous technology." However, two years later, this promise remains unfulfilled.
As a temporary fix, the company established a direct connection to the SEN, financed by the Ministry of Transport's Development Fund and executed by the Electrical Engineering Services Company (ESIE).
This means the eco-friendly taxis, initially introduced as a solution to the collapse of conventional transportation, now rely on the same faltering electrical system.
"This is why the buses are failing on their routes," concluded the interviewed official.
The broader context exacerbates the situation. In May, Sancti Spíritus halted all intermunicipal and rural transport services due to a diesel shortage, leaving the ecomobiles as the only operational urban service in Trinidad. Yet, even they struggle to run normally.
The energy crisis that immobilizes them is long-standing. In May, Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy admitted that Cuba had "absolutely no" fuel oil or diesel.
In November 2025, the regime celebrated the opening of the nation's first experimental electric charging station at the manufacturer's site in Sancti Spíritus — capable of charging only one minibus at a time — but this infrastructure did not reach Trinidad.
Meanwhile, José Lorenzo García, the Ministry of Transport's delegate in Sancti Spíritus, recently announced the production of 50 new eco-friendly taxis, stating, "The production of ecomobiles resumes to continue easing passenger transportation during this challenging time the country faces."
However, this number is woefully insufficient for a province where, according to reports from September 2025, "people have to walk long distances daily with no hope of being able to travel" in these vehicles.
FAQs about Trinidad's Eco-Friendly Transport Crisis
Why are Trinidad's ecomobiles reducing their trips?
The ecomobiles are cutting back on their trips because they cannot fully charge their batteries due to limited access to the National Electrical System (SEN).
What was promised to improve the eco-friendly taxis' charging capabilities?
Solar panels were promised to create a solar charging station at the Taxis Cuba headquarters in Trinidad, but this promise has not been fulfilled.
What alternative solution was implemented for charging the ecomobiles?
A direct connection to the National Electrical System (SEN) was established, funded by the Ministry of Transport's Development Fund and carried out by the Electrical Engineering Services Company (ESIE).