Cuban Mechanic Creates Charcoal-Powered Car to Beat US Oil Embargo

A 56-year-old Cuban mechanic with only an eighth-grade education has ingeniously converted his 1980 Polish Fiat to run on charcoal instead of gasoline. Juan Carlos Pino's homemade invention helps him navigate severe fuel shortages caused by US sanctions that cut off oil shipments to Cuba in January.

A resourceful Cuban mechanic has turned to an unconventional fuel source to keep his car running amid severe gasoline shortages on the island nation.

Juan Carlos Pino, 56, has successfully converted his 1980 Polish-made Fiat Polski to operate on charcoal rather than gasoline, demonstrating the type of creative problem-solving that many Cubans have mastered during decades of US economic sanctions. The mechanic, who completed only eighth grade, developed this solution after Washington halted oil deliveries to the Caribbean nation in January.

Working from his repair shop in Aguacate, a community of 5,000 residents located approximately 45 miles east of Havana, Pino has become a local sensation. The town previously prospered around a sugar refinery that has since closed, leaving the area surrounded by cattle ranches and stone quarries where workers carry long hand saws as they walk to their jobs.

Residents now flock to see Pino’s modified two-cylinder Polski as it travels through the town’s damaged streets, easily recognizable by its custom-built 15-gallon fuel container welded to the rear. People stop to photograph themselves with the vehicle, with some expressing amazement while others inquire about having their own cars converted.

“In a crisis like this, it’s the best option we have,” said Pino, who wants to modify a tractor next. “We need mobility, we need to be able to plant crops.”

INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION

Pino constructed his charcoal-burning system entirely using salvaged materials and discarded parts. The charcoal combusts within a repurposed propane cylinder that he sealed using a transformer cover. His filtration system consists of a stainless steel milk container packed with worn clothing.

Material shortages have been a persistent challenge in Cuba under its government-controlled economy. Conditions have deteriorated further since the US removed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power, eliminating Venezuelan petroleum supplies while warning other nations against providing fuel to Cuba.

Rolling electrical outages have become routine occurrences. Gasoline distribution is severely limited through rationing. Black market fuel now costs $8 per liter, equivalent to $30 per gallon in US currency – six times higher than government-set prices.

This situation sparked Pino’s innovation. The inventor previously designed a motorcycle-based apparatus capable of milking three cows simultaneously. He explained that he had been considering the charcoal vehicle concept for years, initially inspired by his deceased uncle. Pino also acknowledged assistance from open-source technology shared by Edmundo Ramos, an Argentine inventor who operates DriveOnWaste.com.

During a separate interview, Ramos revealed that additional Cubans have contacted him seeking guidance, including someone operating a 50-kilowatt generator to supply electricity to an entire neighborhood.

“An ice maker contacted me first and said he cannot make ice. Then an ice-cream guy contacted me, then a shop owner,” Ramos said.

According to Ramos, virtually any motor can be adapted to burn charcoal by redirecting heated gas rather than gasoline into the carburetor system.

‘INVENTION OF THE YEAR’

Pino unveiled his charcoal-fueled Polski on March 4. During an initial road test, the vehicle successfully completed a 53-mile journey and achieved maximum speeds of 43 mph.

Fellow Cubans have reacted with astonishment.

“This is amazing. It’s left me speechless,” said Yurisbel Fonseca, 27, who stopped his motorcycle to get a closer look and take pictures.

Narvis Cruz, 53, called it “the invention of the year.”

Cruz understands Cuban mechanical improvisation well. He operates a 1953 Pontiac powered by a 1940s Perkins motor combined with a Mercedes transmission, steering components from Czech manufacturer AVIA, and a differential produced by East German company Ifa.

“That’s Cuba,” Cruz said. “A salad made of everything.”