An individual from Havana, identified as Eduardo Muñoz Mora, shared on Facebook this Saturday the alarming incident of his electric scooter catching fire while charging after a night without electricity. This situation highlights the increasing dangers faced by countless Cubans, who are caught between a fuel crisis and chronic power outages.
According to his social media account, when electricity was restored following the night-long blackout, he plugged in his scooter, only for the charger to burst into flames shortly thereafter.
"For some reason, the charger caught fire, taking half the scooter with it," he wrote.
Muñoz Mora, along with his father and sisters, managed to extinguish the fire before it could engulf their home. "Luckily, my dad, my sisters, and I were able to put it out before the house caught fire," he noted.
The photographs shared show the charger completely charred and melted, with internal electronic components visible through holes created by the fire.
The Aftermath of a Scorched Scooter
The scooter, a Grillo model with a 72V/45Ah battery, was left with its central structure burned, plastic parts melted, and black debris scattered on the ground.
Muñoz Mora explained that he shifted to an electric scooter due to Cuba's ongoing fuel shortages. "With all the fuel issues, I had to switch mobility, reluctantly moving from a combustion engine to electric," he expressed, highlighting the irony of being caught in a systemic trap.
Recurring Electrical Issues in Cuba
The irony was not lost on him. Just minutes after they extinguished the fire, the power went out again. "The funny part of this story is that a few minutes later, the electricity went out again. So much for begging for power, only for it to come back just to burn my scooter," he wrote.
This scenario echoes a documented and deadly pattern in Cuba. The sudden reconnection of electricity following prolonged outages leads to voltage fluctuations, causing lithium battery overloads and triggering difficult-to-control thermal runaway fires.
Statistics and Energy Crisis
The most severe incident occurred on July 30, 2025, in Camagüey, where motorbike battery explosions during a blackout resulted in at least four deaths and three injuries.
The accumulated statistics are alarming. In Villa Clara, 32 fires caused by electric scooters were reported between January and October 2025, with damages amounting to 95 million Cuban pesos.
In Pinar del Río, there were at least 30 similar fires reported in 2022 alone. In Havana, similar events have occurred in Vedado and on Galiano Avenue.
The energy context exacerbates the risk. Cuba in 2026 is experiencing a critical electricity crisis, with deficits reaching up to 1,440 MW during peak hours—recorded last Sunday—and blackouts in interior provinces lasting over 18 hours daily. The longest collapse this year lasted 29 hours and 49 minutes on March 16.
Muñoz Mora concluded his post with a phrase capturing the exhaustion felt by millions of Cubans facing an unending crisis: "I hope everyone reading this has a better Saturday than I did."
Understanding the Risks of Electric Scooters in Cuba
What caused the electric scooter fire in Havana?
The fire was caused by the charger catching fire shortly after being plugged in following a night without electricity.
Why are electric scooters becoming a hazard in Cuba?
Electric scooters are becoming hazardous due to voltage fluctuations from sudden power restorations, which can overload lithium batteries and cause fires.
How does the energy crisis in Cuba contribute to these incidents?
The ongoing energy crisis, with frequent and prolonged blackouts, leads to abrupt power restorations that create dangerous voltage fluctuations, increasing the risk of fires.