For fifty years, Santa Lucía Izaguirre González has been behind the wheel in Pinar del Río. But it wasn't until the age of 70 that she experienced driving an automatic vehicle. She was assigned one of the ten new Dongfeng Box 01 electric taxis, designated for transporting hemodialysis patients in the province.
Reflecting on her initial drive, Izaguirre described the transition: "When I first sat in here, I was like a madwoman searching for the gear lever. I was used to manual cars, so I instinctively reached for the gear, especially when parking or engaging the emergency brake. Here, everything is controlled by buttons, brake pedal, and accelerator; it's heavenly, requiring no physical exertion."
Izaguirre's career began in 1976 when the taxi agency took on the responsibility of transporting renal patients after hospital stands closed. She has remained dedicated to this work ever since.
Adapting to New Technology
As part of the group of ten drivers selected to operate these new vehicles, three had prior experience with hemodialysis services, while the remaining seven were from the same company.
Izaguirre shared her perspective on the patients she transports: "People say they're difficult and spoiled, but you have to empathize. Imagine relying on a machine every other day. They have unique traits due to their illness, but I've never had issues with them."
Professing her enduring passion for her job, Izaguirre summed up her work philosophy: "Leave your problems at home."
Economic and Environmental Impact
The ten Dongfeng Box 01 electric vehicles were imported by the Ministry of Transport, financed through the Public Transport Development Fund. Yuri Lozano Suárez, director of the Taxi Agency in Viñales, part of Taxi Cuba, described the new fleet as "a breath of fresh air" for a region where over 170 patients require hemodialysis, previously relying on 83 combustion vehicles for transportation.
Lozano highlighted that the electric taxis would save an estimated 120 liters of fuel daily, covering routes from the main city to San Juan y Martínez, San Luis, and Consolación del Sur, with a reported range of 353 kilometers per charge.
Future Plans and Sustainability
The primary mission is to transport hemodialysis patients, but during the four-hour treatment sessions, five vehicles will operate between the hospital and FrutiCuba, while others will serve routes to the Cavada stop. Drivers will earn over 18,000 pesos, plus 70% of revenue from additional passenger transport through a commercial commission contract.
Initially, vehicles will charge from the National Electric System. However, there's a plan to install a solar-powered charging station with 288 panels through a contract with Innova, allowing night charging and services to third parties during peak solar hours.
This initiative is part of a provincial rollout of the national program of 400 Dongfeng Box 01 cars announced in March 2026. Two hundred units were already deployed by May that year, with prior deliveries confirmed in Las Tunas and Matanzas in early July.
The program emerges amidst a severe fuel crisis that, between December 2025 and April 2026, left Cuba without imported crude, jeopardizing the transport of hemodialysis patients across several provinces, a particularly vulnerable group within the healthcare system.
Understanding Electric Taxis in Pinar del Río
Why are electric taxis being introduced in Pinar del Río?
Electric taxis are being introduced to provide efficient and sustainable transportation for hemodialysis patients, reduce fuel consumption, and address the fuel crisis affecting Cuba.
How will these electric taxis impact fuel usage?
The introduction of electric taxis is expected to save over 120 liters of fuel daily, significantly reducing the reliance on combustion engines and contributing to environmental sustainability.
What benefits do drivers receive from this program?
Drivers will receive a base salary exceeding 18,000 pesos, along with 70% of additional income from transporting extra passengers, providing them with a financial incentive to participate in the program.