MARACAIBO, Venezuela - In Maracaibo, the once wealthy Venezuelan oil city, two innovators are trying to push a new trend: small electric and solar-powered cars that offer an alternative for people fed up with regular fuel shortages and long lines as the gas station.
José Cintron, a 43-year-old electrical technician, has developed a solar-powered car, while Augusto Pradelli, 61, has created a micro electric vehicle (EV) that can also use solar panels. Both cars are built on the frame of old golf carts with more powerful batteries.
"These electric motors don''t make noise, they don''t vibrate, they don''t pollute, they are the future," said Pradelli from his workshop in Maracaibo, the capital of Zulia state, in the far northwest of Venezuela.
The two men, who self-funded their innovations, are hoping to work together to develop a hybrid electric car and eventually attain national production, a big dream in a country that was once one of the world''s top oil producers.
Both, however, said the environmental benefits were only part of the lure for people in the city, known as marabinos. More of an attraction was the way solar-powered cars could help with incessant power outages and fuel shortages.
Production has dropped in Venezuela''s state-owned oil industry after years of poor maintenance and a lack of investment. Long queues at gas stations are a regular occurrence.
Maracaibo, with 2 million inhabitants, is the second-largest city in Venezuela, with tropical temperatures of more than 34 degrees Celsius almost all year round. The heat makes walking uncomfortable - another selling point for cheap EVs.
In Venezuela, people often must wait in long lines to get fuel for their vehicles. Fuel shortages are common because oil production has dropped in the country. Poor maintenance and lack of investment by Venezuela''s state-owned oil industry are some reasons for the drop in production.
In Maracaibo, a once-wealthy oil city, two innovators have built small solar-powered and electric cars. And they are promoting the manufacture and use of these cars instead of vehicles that use fossil fuels.
José Cintron is a 43-year-old electrical technician. He developed a solar-powered car. Augusto Pradelli, 61, created a small electric vehicle that can also use solar panels. Both cars are built on the frame of old golf carts with more powerful batteries.
Cintron and Pradelli explained the benefits of solar energy. Pradelli said, "the beauty of solar charge is that as long as there is sun, the car is always charging. The sun is free, and that''s what you have to take advantage of." And Cintron said, "solar energy is the future, we have to stop relying on fossil fuels." He added that the change to solar energy will not happen in a very short period of time, and he said, "oil is not going to go away that easily."
The two men used their own money to build the small solar and electric cars. They hope to work together to develop a hybrid electric car. And they hope that one day the car will be produced nationally, a big dream in a country that was once one of the world''s top oil producers.
Maracaibo has a population of 2 million people. It is the second-largest city in Venezuela. Temperatures there are over 34 degrees Celsius almost all year. The heat makes walking uncomfortable. That is another reason less costly electric vehicles are an appealing choice.
"The president told me: ''Augusto, I''ll buy it from you,''" said Pradelli. He added that he told the president that he would need the support to produce it. He said that to manufacture the vehicles, an industry is necessary.
Speaking from his work area in Maracaibo, Pradelli said, "These electric motors don''t make noise, they don''t vibrate, they don''t pollute, they are the future. The world has to think about how to get out of pollution and global warming."
maintenance –n. work done to keep something in good operating condition (usually used with machinery or physical systems, such as car maintenance, road maintenance, water system maintenance)
frame –n. the structure, casing, or support structure which makes the shape of an object, onto which other material is attached. For example, seats are attached to the frame of a car.
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