Day: September 24, 2025

• Rafael Verástegui and his wife bought two BYD cars after deciding to go electric for the first time.
• They took the compact Dolphin Surf on a 1,000-mile European road trip from Spain to Germany.
• Despite concerns over range anxiety, Rafael said it was more relaxing than taking a gasoline car.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rafael Eduardo Wefers Verástegui, Head of Service at an IT consultancy in Barcelona, about owning two BYD vehicles. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I work at an IT consulting company as head of service, and live in the greater metropolitan area of Barcelona.

My wife and I own two BYD electric cars: the four-seater Dolphin Surf city car and the five-seater Dolphin hatchback.

It’s been our first full EV experience, and it’s been very positive so far. Until recently, we had a Smart Fortwo Coupé, which we owned since 2005. But my wife works in an area of Barcelona with pollution restrictions, so we decided it would be time to renovate our fleet.

I started researching EVs and hybrids, and then I stumbled across BYD. We bought my wife’s car, the Dolphin Surf, when it debuted in Spain in May, for around €16,690 ($19,700) with subsidies.

In July, we went on a roadtrip from Spain to Germany to visit family. We were traveling with our two small dogs, and our luggage.

Intially, the plan was to take the Dolphin Surf and an RV up to the Pyranees, and then park the BYD and take the RV the rest of the way to Germany.

At Bordeaux, the RV’s engine broke, and I had to take it back to the garage where the Dolphin Surf was parked.

We still wanted to visit our family and didn’t want to throw away our vacation plans, so we decided “screw it,” and switched from an RV to a small compact EV.

1,000-mile test drive

Initially, I was very cautious and decided against relying on the built in navigation system, instead just charging when I felt like I needed too. But by the time I’d crossed the French border, I had a good feeling for the total range of the car, and felt relaxed about charging.

We would drive for two to two and a half hours and then have a break. If you have two small dogs plus two people, you are going to need to have regular bathroom breaks.

We drove through the night. I took the opportunity to have a little power nap while the car was charging, which was always done within 30 to 40 minutes, even when the battery was below 10%.

We did the journey in 22 hours. With a gasoline car, I would usually take 18. The extra four hours allowed me to take regular power naps, which I didn’t do before when I drove a gasoline car, and I arrived more relaxed and without range anxiety. The overall trip was very pleasant.

The experience of driving over 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) was so good that when I decided I needed a car too, we went for a BYD again, buying the larger Dolphin hatchback in August.

BYD rolls into Europe

These are our first EVs, and it’s a huge difference compared to driving a gasoline car. With an electric vehicle, you have to think about hot and cold weather and how it will affect the battery and range.

On the other hand, the driving experience is more pleasant, with no noise, no vibration, and no additional heat from a combustion engine — which is good because Spain gets quite hot.

I find the software is really good, especially the in-built navigation software. It makes route planning very easy, and it communicates with the charging providers to tell you which charging points are busy and which ones are fast.

The assistance features can be a little bit intrusive. My wife’s Dolphin Surf is constantly telling her to pay attention to the road and that she’s driving too fast. We use the assisted driving features a lot, and in the Dolphin, the notifications are a little bit more subtle and a little bit softer.

We’re getting used to the sight of BYD’s cars on the street now, and we’ve seen more since the rollout of the Dolphin Surf in May.

I think it’s great that Chinese automakers like BYD are bringing more competition to Europe’s car market, and it’s good to have some disruption in the sector.

I don’t see the big European players right now competing on the same level as the Chinese manufacturers, and a bit of innovation and fresh air is definitely needed.

Brussels – Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has defended the comprehensive sanctions proposed by her institution this week in response to Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, reports 24brussels.

In a written interview with the Leading European Newspaper Alliance, von der Leyen acknowledged the devastating impact of the October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel, stating that they have fundamentally shaken the nation.

“But the latest developments are particularly worrying, with a man-made famine and the financial drying up of the Palestinian Authority,”

she remarked in comments released on Sunday.

Why does Von der Leyen stress the two-state solution?

von der Leyen emphasized that the two-state solution, which envisions the establishment of a Palestinian state coexisting peacefully with Israel, remains the only viable path to sustainable peace in the region.

“What we have seen from the Israeli government in recent months is a clear attempt to undermine the two-state solution.”

This position led the European Commission to propose a series of targeted measures aimed at fostering a way forward, von der Leyen explained.

Why is the EU considering sanctions against Israel?

The European Commission has outlined several punitive actions designed to persuade Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to alter its course amid ongoing conflict. In her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic,” hinting at a reduction in support for Israel and the introduction of sanctions.

The proposed measures include sanctions targeting “extremist Israeli ministers” and settlers, a halt to bilateral support for Israel, and a temporary suspension of the EU’s association agreement with Israel, which currently grants it preferential access to European markets.

“Europe needs to do more,”

von der Leyen asserted, adding that while she aims to unify the bloc’s response, EU member states must also assume “our own responsibility” regarding the issue.

“Europe’s goal has always been the same. Real security for Israel and a safe, present future for all Palestinians,”

she stated.

How has Israel reacted to the EU’s proposed sanctions?

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar swiftly criticized von der Leyen’s statements, claiming they supported Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas.

“The remarks made this morning by the President of the European Commission are regrettable. Some of them also echo the false propaganda of Hamas and its partners,”

Saar stated via social media.

“Once again, Europe is sending the wrong message, which strengthens Hamas and the radical axis in the Middle East.”