Juan Carlos Pino, a Cuban mechanic with limited formal education, has devised a solution to counteract the U.S. oil embargo. Utilizing the resourcefulness ingrained in many Cubans due to years of U.S. sanctions, Pino, aged 56, retrofitted his 1980 Polish-manufactured Fiat Polski to operate on charcoal, a more cost-effective and readily available fuel source compared to gasoline following the cessation of oil deliveries to the Caribbean island by Washington in January.
Crafting the innovation from his workshop in Aguacate, a town of 5,000 residents located approximately 70 kilometers east of Havana, Pino has attracted attention with his customized Polski car navigating the bumpy local roads, featuring a distinctive 60-liter fuel tank affixed to its rear. Locals flock to witness the unconventional vehicle in action, some snapping selfies, while others express interest in having a similar adaptation made for themselves.
“In times of crisis like this, it presents the most viable option for us,” remarked Pino, who aims to adapt a tractor next, emphasizing the necessity for mobility to facilitate agricultural activities.
Pino’s creation, constructed entirely from salvaged materials, incorporates a charcoal-burning mechanism housed within a repurposed propane tank sealed with a transformer lid. A makeshift filter, comprised of a stainless steel milk container packed with old cloth scraps, completes the setup.
The prevailing scarcity in Cuba, exacerbated by its centralized economic model reminiscent of the Soviet era, has worsened since the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S., leading to a halt in Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba and the looming threat of tariffs on nations providing fuel to the island.
With power outages becoming commonplace and gasoline strictly rationed, the ingenuity of individuals like Pino has become increasingly vital. Having previously devised a multi-cow milking apparatus fashioned from a motorcycle, Pino was inspired to pursue the charcoal-powered vehicle concept, a project he had contemplated for several years, drawing initial inspiration from his late uncle and leveraging open-source technology advocated by Argentine innovator Edmundo Ramos of DriveOnWaste.com.
Innovator Ramos disclosed receiving inquiries from fellow Cubans seeking guidance on similar initiatives, including one individual powering a neighborhood with a 50-kilowatt generator. He highlighted the adaptability of most engines to function on charcoal by redirecting hot gas instead of gasoline into the carburetor.
Pino unveiled the charcoal-fueled Polski on March 4, successfully completing an 85-kilometer journey during an initial trial, achieving a maximum speed of 70 km/h, leaving onlookers in awe of his accomplishment.
“This is incredible. I am at a loss for words,” remarked Yurisbel Fonseca, 27, who paused his motorcycle to observe and capture images of the unconventional vehicle. Another local, Narvis Cruz, aged 53, hailed it as “the innovation of the year,” acknowledging the inventive spirit prevalent in Cuba. Cruz, driving a 1953 Pontiac retrofitted with a 1940s Perkins engine, a Mercedes transmission, an AVIA steering system from Czechoslovakia, and an IFA differential from East Germany, encapsulated the eclectic blend of components characterizing Cuban improvisation.
