Tired Afghan Taxi Drivers Find Creative AC Solutions

Is your air conditioning out of order? Afghan taxi drivers have found an inventive way to keep cool for themselves and their passengers amid the extreme heat.

In Kandahar, Afghanistan, where temperatures frequently soar above 104°F (40°C), you can see blue taxis equipped with air conditioning units strapped to their roofs, routing cool air through passenger windows via exhaust hoses.

“It started getting really hot about three or four years ago. The air conditioning systems in these cars stopped working, and getting them fixed was too pricey. So, I went to a technician and had a custom cooler made,” explained driver Gul Mohammad.

This 32-year-old spent 3,000 Afghanis (about $43) on his device, which he connects to his taxi’s battery and regularly refills with water.

“This works better than built-in A.C. The original units only cool the front; this cooler distributes air throughout,” added fellow driver Abdul Bari.

Some drivers even use devices powered by solar panels mounted on their taxi roofs.

As one of the world’s poorest countries, Afghanistan is also struggling significantly with climate change issues.

Heat waves are common, and drought conditions are worsening across the nation.

Murtaza, a 21-year-old technician, noted that the demand for these coolers has been steadily increasing over the past few years.

“Many cars weren’t even equipped with air conditioning, which is why we’re installing these solutions,” he stated, during an interview at his small workshop in central Kandahar.

Afghan cities are often filled with outdated vehicles, many of which have been passed on from nearby countries.

“When there’s no cooler, it becomes extremely uncomfortable,” said Norullah, a 19-year-old passenger standing close to the cold air blast. “These drivers are tackling the situation, and that’s fantastic.”