A 21-year-old Cuban genius, with his country on the brink of collapse, sets up a solar panel factory: “It feeds power straight to the engine”

Cuba is facing a historic energy crisis, marked by severe fuel shortages and daily power outages that bring the country to a standstill. Under these conditions, working in the transportation sector has become nearly impossible.

Yet 21-year-old Yadán Pablo Espinosa has found a solution. The young Cuban has created a homemade system that installs solar panels on electric tricycles, helping preserve the livelihoods of many drivers who depend on these vehicles to earn a living and support their families.

The Cuban government had promoted the use of electric tricycles as an alternative to fuel shortages. However, with constant blackouts leaving entire areas without electricity, charging their batteries became just as difficult. That was when the young entrepreneur saw an opportunity to harness the Caribbean sun and provide drivers with the energy independence they urgently needed.

Charging while driving

Together with his father, three brothers, and a friend, Espinosa set up a small family workshop without receiving any government assistance. There, they custom-build iron support frames that are mounted onto the roofs of the tricycles. On top of these structures, they install solar panels ranging from 550 to 650 watts.

The invention doubles as a roof, shielding drivers from the sun and rain while continuously generating electricity. As the tricycle moves, the energy captured by the panel feeds directly into the motor, reducing the strain on the battery. The biggest advantage comes when the vehicle stops at a traffic light, pauses to deliver goods, or the driver takes a break. During those moments, all of the solar energy is redirected to recharge the battery completely free of charge and without relying on an electrical outlet.

A boost for family economies

So far, the workshop has built and installed solar systems on 15 tricycles, and word of mouth continues to grow the waiting list. For workers across the island who use these vehicles to transport food, packages, or passengers, the innovation represents a major breakthrough.

It allows them to keep working during blackouts and other disruptions. Previously, fear of running out of battery power forced drivers to turn down longer trips or end their workdays early, costing them income their families depended on to make ends meet.

Customers such as Joanis Castro, who works in goods delivery, say the improvement is noticeable from the very first trip. With the solar panel installed, the vehicle performs far better, and the battery easily lasts through long hours of work under the hot sun. In a country struggling through one of the worst energy crises in its history, the ingenuity of this 21-year-old inventor has finally given many Cubans a renewed sense of hope.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.