«Fully Loaded, But Priced Like a Stripped-Down Tesla». What (Dis)satisfies Chinese Electric Car Owners

"Budget Electric Chinese Car"

For Maxim (name changed), an electric car became his first car:

"I have a Dongfeng Box. It's a Chinese electric car, you could say from the budget class. It's my wife and I's first car. We bought it a year ago.

At first, we were choosing a used car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) for around $10,000. But for that amount in Belarus, you can only buy decade-old junk with a mileage of around 200,000 km. We didn't want to bother with bringing cars from abroad either, and it wasn't that much money.

One day, we accidentally rode in a Box as passengers and decided to invest in it. The initial payment in the lease with installments was exactly $10,000. The total amount came out to $20,000 for 2 years at 0% in dollars ($17,000 for the car + $3,000 for extras: comprehensive insurance, winter tires, charger, anti-corrosion treatment, films, etc.). And now we are already buying it out so as not to pay VAT in 2026 when the law on zero VAT on electric cars expires.

Павялічыць

The Box has a range of about 300 km in summer and about 200 km in winter, depending on driving speed and air conditioning use. I charge at the fast "Malanka" stations. According to rough estimates, it turns out to be two to three times cheaper than for an ICE car. For those who charge at home, it's five times cheaper than fueling an ICE car.

In Minsk, the charging infrastructure is quite developed. But in my hometown, the charging situation is sad - there are only a couple of fast chargers. On the highways between regional cities, there are also not many chargers, one or two fast chargers for the entire distance. Accordingly, trips to other cities must be planned.

But it's good that new charging stations are appearing every year. In case of unforeseen situations, I carry a cable for charging from a regular outlet and a cable for charging at slow chargers (which only have an outlet, without a cable). Sometimes there are problems starting the charging - for example, it starts on the fifth try or doesn't start at all. But this doesn't happen to me often.

A year ago, the Box was the cheapest electric car in Belarus that you could buy in an official dealership. Now there are competitors from Geely, and if I were buying a car now, I would also study them.

In terms of impressions, a Chinese electric car is a tablet on wheels. Various driving and parking assistants, 360-degree cameras, a bunch of cool things on Chinese marketplaces, decent quality. For such money, among new ICE cars in Belarus, it simply has no competitors, only a "Lada" with a manual transmission or the cheapest Geely.

Cons:

1. Long charging time compared to refueling an ICE car. You need to charge for about an hour +/- 30 minutes.
2. I would like a larger battery so that you can drive 400-500 km in summer and 300-350 km in winter.
3. It is unknown what will happen to the body in two or three years, as these cars have only been produced recently. Some already have paint blisters on the welding seams and rust spots are appearing.
4. Long waiting time for body work. The cars sell quite well, almost everyone has comprehensive insurance, and everyone goes to the dealer for any issues. You can wait two months to repaint a door.
5. For CarPlay and Android Auto to work, you need to buy a separate official set-top box that plugs into the USB port.

"It's Profitable So Far"

Alesya (name changed) from Minsk owns a Chinese electric car BYD Dolphin (2025 restyling).

"Let's start with charging stations. On a ten-point scale, I rate the charging stations in Belarus at 6+. But I'm glad that more and more charging stations are opening in regional cities. The flow of electric cars is not decreasing, there is definitely a demand for such transport. In Minsk, I would especially highlight taxis, whose drivers like to occupy all the available charging stations.

Павялічыць

I usually charge at stations in Minsk. And once a month, when I visit relatives, I put it on slow charge in the garage (in another small town). Unfortunately, there is nothing like that near my work. And I would really like to have something nearby, preferably slow charging.

Every month I drive 250 km on the highway. Before such trips, it is important not to miss the rare charging station on the highway, especially if you could not leave with a one hundred percent charge. So far there have been no big problems with this, except that you can get stuck at a gas station while another car is charging.

There are gradually more stations outside of Minsk. But I will say as an electric car owner: this is definitely not enough for such a number of Chinese electric cars. Chinese electric cars have captured the world, and in order to be able to fully travel around Belarus in such cars, you need to make more chargers with Chinese GB/T ports. Make more of these ports, people will be happy and grateful for it.

I used to have a gasoline car with an automatic transmission. In the old car, my monthly trips of 250 km in both directions cost at least 100 rubles. Now it comes out to about 55-65 rubles. Of course, the savings are felt, as is the comfort in the new car.

But often for this economy you have to "pay" with time. Stand at the stations, wait for the right port to be free, wait for the car to charge. And you also need to adjust the speed of the car to save charge. Charging is still more profitable than refueling a car, but the price does not stand still, it is slowly rising.

It's profitable so far. I have been driving the car for about a year, and the only other expense so far has been an oil change (150 rubles including labor). The dealership recommended doing it every 10,000 kilometers. I "racked up" this distance in six months. There was also the purchase of winter tires, anti-corrosion treatment, various air fresheners, mats. But this is the basic minimum for any car.

There were no more questions with the car. No unpleasant moments at all. I hope there won't be. And there are cool privileges for electric cars in Minsk. There is no road tax, free parking, the right to travel in the bus lane. Very pleasant bonuses from the state, thank you for that.

I have not regretted the purchase once. For its money, this car with such unreal functions inside is just an airplane. I advise everyone to try riding in an electric car and then decide for themselves whether this option suits them. Someone has to drive ICE cars, otherwise the charging stations are not rubber.

It's a little more difficult in winter, but there's nothing critical at all. The range is reduced, yes, but not by half, as they usually say. With proper driving, the numbers are completely different.

"Everything is there, but it costs as much as an empty Tesla Model 3"

Sergey (name changed) bought a Chinese electric crossover BYD Yuan Up a year ago - and recently ordered a second:

"In Belarus, the infrastructure for electric cars in Minsk and the main directions is not bad. Even good. I lived in Latvia for a while, there is definitely nothing like that there. The main owners of electric cars in this country are owners of their own homes. And they register few electric cars there, about 1000 a year [for comparison, in Belarus in 2025, the quota for duty-free import of electric cars established by the Eurasian Energy Commission at 15,000 pieces was almost completely chosen by the end of September].

Павялічыць

I charge the car in a garage box, which I rented. From a regular slow outlet, the car charges halfway overnight, which is normal for a mileage of 15k per year. The car has a real range of about 300 km. It gets to Mozyr calmly for 270 km only with recharging. There are gas stations along the way, sometimes you have to wait your turn, but overall it's normal. There are one or two in Mozyr. There haven't been many yet, but they're good.

Павялічыць

I'm taking the second car with a range of 450 real kilometers, so that you can calmly get there in one direction. Most of the problems are solved by a larger battery, but you need to think about how to charge. Fortunately, a 220V outlet is not difficult to find in principle.

I didn't regret the purchase particularly. The price/quality/options ratio takes its toll: at a price of $20,000 for a new car, which is nicer than in a Lexus, there must be compromises.

I used to have cars with ICE, so there is something to compare with. For the last two months of driving an electric car, I paid 120 rubles - this is to fill up with gasoline once. If you refuel at home, at the rate for individuals, it comes out cheaper. It will be more expensive at paid charging stations on the highway.

The service is plus or minus the same as for ordinary cars. Like comprehensive insurance: you also need to drive the car to the dealer to change something once a year, as with any new one.

And every morning I take my child to the gymnasium along the avenue. And every time I'm happy, flying through traffic jams in the bus lane.

If you have your own outlet in access, which will allow you not to waste time traveling to charging stations - you can take an electric car. Winter doesn't change much, you just put it on charge more often (two or three times a week instead of one or two times). Again, if you have your own outlet or your own place (box, parking, garage, house, work) - it doesn't matter.

But if there is no such available outlet - then you will be sad and annoyed. I drove to a public gas station for six months until I rented a garage.

The advantages of my model of electric car are the ratio of price, quality and options. A well-assembled, stuffed car at a price twice lower than they are offered in Europe. Compare the official prices for a conditional BYD Sea Lion / Seal and so on - they are really twice as high there. I look at this purchase exactly like this: a car at a 50% discount. Therefore, everything is very joyful.

As for my model, BYD Yuan Up is one of the most affordable electric cars on our market. It is pleasant and spacious inside, but with a small range. BYD cars in general are good, you can take any - everything is plus or minus the same there. The main thing is that the battery is larger. I'm waiting for BYD Han L: $40,000, all-wheel drive, acceleration to 100 km / h in 3 seconds, 80 kWh battery (500 km range), leather, massage on four seats. Projection, lidar - just everything you can think of for $40,000. Everything is there, but it costs as much as an empty Tesla Model 3.

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