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The Skoda Epiq is not the electric car with the most autonomy but it wants to beat us for its price

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Skoda already has its most anticipated electric car. The Czech company was chosen by the Volkswagen Group to champion the automobile conglomerate’s cheapest electric vehicles. He did it, like all brands, starting the house with the roof with the Enyaq iV. Later the Elroqa compact SUV that left us good feelings in our first impressions. But It is the Epiq that has raised the most interest. And the competition is increasing among smaller electric vehicles. The Skoda Epiq wants to be that “affordable” alternative for a European family that lives in an urban environment and makes few long trips a year. Why does an electric car have less autonomy than advertised? Technical data sheet of the Skoda Epiq Skoda Epiq Body type five-seater SUV Measurements and weight 4.17 meters long, 1.80 meters wide and 1.58 meters high. Wheelbase of 2.60 meters. Weight of 1,618 kg. Trunk 475 liters. Maximum power 155 kW (211 hp) WLTP consumption Only confirmed in the large battery version: Skoda Epiq 55: 13.7 kW/100 km. Autonomy of 440 km. DGT environmental distinctive Zero emissions. Driving aids (ADAS) Mandatory by the European Union. Adaptive cruise control with response to traffic lights. Parking assistance. Others 13-inch central screen with infotainment system built on Andorid. Compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Wireless charging and digital key on mobile phone. Heated seats, 10-speaker sound system and matrix lights. Electric hybrid. No. Plug-in hybrid. No. Electric Yeah. Skoda Epiq 35: battery with 37.0 useful kWh (38.5 kWh gross) and 116 HP Skoda Epiq 40: 37.0 kWh useful battery (38.5 kWh gross) and 135 HP Skoda Epiq 50: 51.7 kWh useful battery (55 kWh gross) and 211 HP Price and release Now available Skoda Epiq 35 and 40 to be confirmed Skoda Epiq 50: now available from 31,350 euros before aid From Pamplona to the world With the pillars and the roof on the house, it remained to lay the floor and the foundation. This is what Skoda does with the Epiq, a car that will serve as the gateway to the company’s electric range. The Epiq is an urban SUV4.17 meters long, which has the clear objective of positioning itself as the daily option for the car of an average European family that lives in an urban environment and wants to save on a daily basis. The car can even be positioned as the only vehicle at home as long as you are willing to make some sacrifices. Because the smallest option of the Czech electric cars comes with an input battery of just 37.0 useful kWh (38.5 kWh gross) of the LFP type, which condemns it to being a car born by and for the city. In this case you can opt for a power of 116 or 137 HP and in both cases a range of 310 km according to the WLTP cycle is announced. The substantial difference is that the version with the highest power reaches 90 kW of charging power while the most modest one remains at 50 kW. The one that could be interesting as the only car at home is the one that combines an NCM type battery and 51.7 useful kWh (55.0 gross kWh) of capacity. In this case it works with a 211 HP engine and the autonomy according to the WLTP cycle is 440 kilometers. This figure, on the road, is likely to slightly exceed the actual 300 kilometers, although to know this first-hand we would have to put the car to the test. The truth is that it is not an autonomy for traveling but with a recharge of 10 to 80% in 24 minutes (figures promised by the company) it can be an interesting alternative if you are looking for a family car for everyday use, easy to get around the city and you are only going to make one or two long trips a year in which you are willing to lose some time and comfort. To convince us that the Skoda Epiq is not only a cheap car and can be that “do-it-all” car, the electric car has a 475-liter trunk to which we must add another space in its front area of ​​another 25 liters. Additionally, its central screen is 13 inches and the infotainment system is built on Android, which should make navigating the menus easier. As for its equipment, the car comes with the possibility of including all kinds of aids, driving assistance and comforts. From the heated seats to the matrix lights, as well as adaptive cruise control with lane centering and automatic stop at traffic lights. You can add a wireless charger for your mobile phone and turn it into a digital key. The higher versions have a sound system with 10 speakers and parking assistants. The car will be manufactured in Pamplona, ​​at the Volkswagen group’s plant in Landaben. It is confirmation that the company is committed to our country for smaller and more affordable electric cars. Regarding the latter, only the price of the version with the large battery, the 55 kWh gross, has been revealed. Part of the 31,350 euros before state aid. Photos | Skoda In Xataka | The best time to buy a “cheap electric car” will be never: at least that’s what Skoda thinks

Samsung Odyssey G8 G80H, features, price and technical sheet

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To what extent does the monitor matter when we talk about gaming? Much more than it seems when one looks only at the processor, graphics or console. The screen is the last link in that entire chain: there the power is translated into images, fluidity, detail and response. Samsung has made a move with a proposal that draws attention from the first piece of information: a Odyssey G8 which the company presents as “the industry’s first 6K gaming monitor.” The protagonist of this release is the G80HSthe 32-inch version of the Odyssey G8, a product that comes with a particularly ambitious technical sheet. The resolution is 6144 x 3456 pixels, with a density of 224 dpi. The format remains at 16:9, the panel is flat and the technology chosen is IPS, a base that seeks to combine sharpness, viewing angle and response. Samsung Odyssey G8 G80HS technical data sheet Samsung Odyssey G8 32″ (G80HS) Panel 32-inch Fast IPS 16:9 aspect ratio HDR10+ HDR10+ Gaming Resolution 6144 x 3456 pixels (6K) 3072 x 1728 pixels (3K) MAXIMUM REFRESH FREQUENCY 165Hz (6K) 330Hz (3K) typical brightness 350 nits contrast ratio 1,000:1 response time 1 (GTG) VIEWING ANGLES 178°(H) 178°(V) Color support sRGB 99% Up to 1 billion colors connectivity 1 x Display Port 2 x HDMI 2.1 1x USB-B upstream 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 Headphone output dimensions 714.5 x 595.4 x 263.9 mm (with base) weight 7.4 kilos (with base) price Unannounced The Odyssey G8 that stands out for its jump in resolution We talk about higher resolution, but does this always mean a better experience? The reality is that to really notice it content is missingdistance of use and equipment capable of moving the games. That said, the G80HS’s bet goes in a clear direction: offering a cleaner image, with finer contours and more room to work on the desktop. It is a very current approach, because many users no longer buy a monitor just to play: they are looking for a screen that can be used to edit, write, view content and then return to the game. The other half of the proposal is speed. Samsung proposes two paths: use the monitor in 6K at 165 Hz or go down to 3K to reach 330 Hz through Dual Mode. The refresh rate indicates how many times per second the image can be updated, so a higher number can translate into smoother movements. It makes sense that there are two modes, because not all titles ask for the same thing: a narrative game can benefit more from the detail, while a competitive one usually appreciates every extra fluidity. The chosen panel also helps to understand where the G80HS is going. Samsung talks about “Fast IPS“, a technology that seeks to combine good color reproduction, wide viewing angles and a quick response, three important points when the monitor is not always used from the front or only for gaming. The firm mentions 178 degrees of horizontal and vertical vision, support for up to 1 billion colors and 99% coverage of the sRGB space. The image is completed with HDR10 and HDR10+ Gaming, a set of compatibilities designed to improve the treatment of brightness and contrast. HDR10+ Gaming, remember, optimizes values ​​in real time to make details more visible in dark areas and brightly lit parts of the scene. In a game, this can make very specific differences: distinguishing an opponent better in a shadow, reading a nighttime environment more clearly, or better preserving the reading of a brightly lit area. On a screen with these characteristics, connectivity is also part of the experience. The G80HS includes DisplayPort 2.1, two HDMI 2.1one USB-B upstream port, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 and headphone output. In practice, this allows you to set up a desktop with a PC, other gaming devices and peripherals without depending so much on external adapters, although it is worth keeping one detail in mind: does not include speakers. Samsung also includes an ergonomic stand with height, tilt, swivel and pivot adjustment, plus VESA 100 x 100mm mounting support. It should be noted that the G80HS does not arrive alone, and that also helps to understand the breadth of Samsung’s launch. The new Odyssey family includes other models, such as a 27-inch G8 with 5K resolution at 180 Hz or up to 360 Hz in QHD through Dual Mode, in addition to OLED proposals such as the Odyssey OLED G8 and the Odyssey OLED G7. The company has also renewed the ViewFinity S8 line, more aimed at professional environments. Odyssey G8 G80H Price and Availability Samsung talks about the launch of its new generation of Odyssey and ViewFinity monitors, but in the information provided the price does not appear of the Odyssey G8 G80HS nor a specific date of commercial availability in Spain. What the company does indicate is that it is now possible to register on its website to discover the new Odyssey G8 line, the Odyssey OLED G7 and the ViewFinity S8, in addition to accessing the launch promotion. Images | Samsung In Xataka | First impressions of the TCL RM9L with RGB MiniLED: the alternative to OLED for large format screens

the fine print matters as much as the price

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If you were thinking about signing up for PlayStation Plusit may be worth checking the calendar. Sony has announced a price rise for its subscription service, which offers monthly games, online multiplayer and other benefits to users of its consoles. The change comes into effect tomorrow, Tuesday, May 20, although with an important nuance: it will not affect all users equally. The announcement has come through a message posted on X. The Japanese company has indicated that the increase responds to current “market conditions” and that the new rates will start at 10.99 dollars, 9.99 euros and 7.99 pounds for one-month subscriptions, and at 27.99 dollars, 27.99 euros and 21.99 pounds for three-month subscriptions. Click to see the original publication in X The immediate question is which markets exactly this rise will reach. At the moment, Sony has not published a official list of countries not one entry in the PlayStation blog with more details. We only have that message, quite brief, for reference. Sony explains that the new PlayStation Plus prices will only apply to new subscribers in “select regions.” It also adds the following: “This price change does not apply to current subscribers (except in Türkiye and India) unless the existing subscription changes or expires.” The statement leaves some unknowns open. The expression “prices will start at” presumably points to the plan essentialthe entry level of the service. In Spain, this modality currently costs 8.99 euros per month and 24.99 euros if contracted for three months. If the increase is finally applied to the Spanish market, the change would mean paying 1 euro more in the monthly plan and 3 euros more in the quarterly plan. What we still don’t know is what will happen with the other levels of the service. PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Premium are the most expensive modalities and include additional benefits, such as Ubisoft+ Classics, a broader catalog of games, classics and title trials, depending on the contracted plan. For now, Sony has not given details about possible changes to these subscriptions. We’ve contacted Sony for more information about the extent of the upload and will update this article if we hear back. Images | sony In Xataka | Pluto is in Sagittarius and that can only mean one thing: the third trailer for ‘GTA VI’ will be out on May 14

Carrefour now sells, at an outlet price, this huge 75-inch QLED TV with Dolby Vision & Atmos

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Carrefour is celebrating the “Super Deals”, a campaign valid until May 25 and in which you can find a multitude of quality televisions with interest-free financing in 12 months and free shipping. One of the models that is worth it (especially if you are looking for a large television) is this one. TCL 75P71K which has gone from costing 899 euros to 599 euros. TV TCL 75P71K 75″ (190.5 cm), QLED, 4K UHD, 120 Hz, Smart TV The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A large TV at a reduced price If a few years ago you had told us that you could buy a TV 75 inch QLED With the latest in Google software and for this price, we wouldn’t have believed it. TCL has become a favorite brand for those looking for a giant diagonal without giving up solvent panel technology. This TCL 75P71K isn’t just a big screen; is a statement of intent about how image processing has evolved in the mid-entry range. The technology Quantum Dot It is the heart of this TV, which offers a wider color palette than traditional LEDs. Although it is true that the real magic happens in your brain. Your processor is AiPQ Pro chipwhich uses artificial intelligence to upscale low-resolution content to 4K. It is also a TV compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, so at a sound level it offers an immersive experience. The operating system under which it works is Google TVa system with clean interfacefast and, above all, intelligent, which groups subscriptions to the main streaming platforms on a single screen. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: offer for smart tv tcl 75P71K ✅ THE BEST Size-price ratio: offering 75 inches (almost 190 cm diagonal) with QLED technology at this price is simply unbeatable for those looking for a home theater. Sound Compatibility: supports Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, ensuring a much more immersive surround audio experience. ❌ THE WORST 60Hz refresh rate… For players on new generation consoles (PS5 or Xbox Series X), this means that they will not be able to enjoy the full fluidity of 120 fps. Viewing angles… Being such a large format, if you sit too far to one side of the television, you may notice that the colors lose some intensity. 💡 BUY IT IF… You are a lover of series and movies. If you want to feel inside the film and value the size of the image more than extreme technicalities. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You have a small living room. At less than 2.5 or 3 meters, a 75-inch screen can be tiring on the eyes and you will notice image imperfections more. Some sound bars that may interest you for this television TCL Q65H Sound Bar 3.1.2, 340W The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LG S40T – Smart Sound Bar, 300W, 2.1 Channels The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Webedia and TCL In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs In Xataka | Best sound bars in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended models from 140 euros

While we were looking at gasoline, the Iran crisis has skyrocketed the price of asphalt. And the roads of half the world are already suffering from it

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A few months ago we published in Xataka an article with the following title: Spanish roads have a problem in 2026: repairing a kilometer of asphalt is more expensive than ever. It was February 26, 2026. In it we analyzed the problem that Spain had encountered. Our roads, prepared for a hot and dry climate (especially in the southern half) had suffered very intense days of almost constant rain. It didn’t take long for the holes to appear and neither did the complaints in the media and social networks about the supposed poor condition of the roads. Trying to understand if this is really the case or not and why it is estimated that the State needs to invest some of 13,000 million euros to fix themwe looked to see if it had become more expensive the price of asphalt in recent years. Something that, indeed, was reflected in the aforementioned article. But this, as we said, was published on February 26. Two days later, on February 28, we woke up to the news that the Government of the United States and Israel had launched a joint bombing offensive against Iran. The rest, we already know. Crisis in oil supplya battle for open and close the Hormuz canal and fuel increases for passenger cars and airplanes. But there is something that has also risen. And that something is called asphalt. More expensive than ever (now yes) And in less than three months, which seem to have lasted a lifetime, the headline has become outdated. At the end of last month, Asefma (Spanish Association of Asphalt Mixture Manufacturers) already warned that the price of asphalt was skyrocketing. According to this association, in March alone the average price of asphalt had risen 8.2%. Nothing compared to April, when it did so by 49.3%. He overrun of the final product is due, above all, to the increase in the price of bitumen that acts as a binder for asphalt and is where the increase in the price of oil has the most impact. Asefma has come to consider that the increase in the price of asphalt was putting at risk the viability of the signed contracts or even whether they will be fulfilled or completed if the works have already begun. The truth is that, beyond the possible pressure measures of the employers’ association that defends the interests of its associates, the price of asphalt has skyrocketed inside and outside our country. To understand why asphalt has become more expensive you have to understand what makes it up. The pavement of our roads is made up of dirt and stones that are compacted. They serve as a base but also cushion the weight placed on them to delay the breaking of the asphalt. This asphalt is a bituminous mixture that uses bitumen of different intensity depending on where the road is going to be built. Those that resist heat better tend to be less flexible and those that drain better tend to be more flexible. Therefore, the latter They can melt when temperatures are very high. All components have been affected by the increase in the price of oil. To begin with, the earth and stones have to be transported by heavy vehicles with very high diesel consumption, precisely the fuel that has become most expensive. The same thing happens with the refinement of bitumen or asphalt (what we ultimately step on). If energy costs rise, the price of this product rises. But, in addition, the price of bitumen is closely linked to the price of oil. This product is made from the densest oil in the barrel, the least usable in energy terms and the most expensive to convert into fuel. This product is what is refined to obtain bitumen and, with bombs falling on Iran and the subsequent response on neighboring countries, the production and export of raw materials It has been very diminished, obviously. The American company Victory Paving figure in an increase of between 2 and 3% in the price of asphalt for every 10 dollars that a barrel of oil rises. They also argue that the shortage is greater because the rise in energy costs has an impact on a drop in the production of refineries and these usually prioritize the production of diesel and gasoline over asphalt refining because the fuels are more profitable. Richard Hudock, president of Derry Construction Co., pointed out to the American media who had never suffered a crisis so serious in the 42 years that they had been working, ensuring that the impact of the price of oil on the raw materials and fuel to be able to operate their vehicles put their job at risk this summer. In Argus They point out that the situation in Africa is no better. They point out that the bitumen that reaches countries like South Africa has become almost exclusively dependent on trade with Greece and Türkiye, once the Middle East tap has been closed. This has caused the price of each freighter to triple. If the price of asphalt has grown in the United States, South Africa and Spain, doubts have also grown about what to do in these cases. In the first of these countries It has been proposed to delay the patching of certain streets or highways. But this can cause the problem to worsen and, even if the price of oil falls again in the future, the damage will be deeper and the investment to be made would have to be larger. And the problem is that in the United States, the United Kingdom and Spain we face the same problem. The winters In all of these countries it has been very cold or very rainy, so the condition of the asphalt has been compromised. In BBC They report that the United Kingdom had already increased the budget to repair its roads but that the increase in the price of oil has put this item in check. The result, as … Read more

Fitbit Air, features, price and technical sheet

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Fitbit seemed to have remained in the background within the Google ecosystem, almost like a brand that remained there by inertia while the prominence fell to the PixelWatch. Now come back with Fitbit Aira simple and light bracelet, which points just in the opposite direction to that of many smart watches: fewer visible functions, less complications and a more contained price. The paradox is that this return of hardware also comes with a less obvious reading: the brand, loved by many users, is beginning to become increasingly diluted within the search giant. It is not just any release within the Google catalog. The Fitbit Air is Fitbit’s first hardware device in almost four years, so its arrival could be read as a small resurrection for the brand. But the entire movement points in another direction. Google bought Fitbit a few years ago for $2.1 billion and, since then, it has been bringing this technology increasingly closer to its own ecosystem. Now the step is even more visible: Google is already presenting the old Fitbit app under the name Google Health, a step that reveals part of its strategy. Fitbit Air technical sheet Fitbit Air dimensions and weight Length: 34.9mm Width: 17mm height: 8.3mm 5.2g without strap 12g with strap Memory Saves 7 days of detailed minute-by-minute motion data. Save 1 day of training data Save daily totals for the last 30 days Stores heart rate data in 2 second intervals battery and charging Up to 7 days of autonomy Lithium polymer battery Charge from 0 to 100% in 90 minutes connectivity Bluetooth 5.0 sensors Optical heart rate monitor Three-axis accelerometer Red and infrared sensors to monitor oxygen saturation (SpO2) On-device temperature sensor (skin temperature variation available in the Google Health app) vibration motor Endurance Water resistant up to 50 meters. colors Obsidian, mist gray, raspberry, lavender price From 99.99 euros A simple bracelet for a much more ambitious strategy Fitbit Air is quick to understand because it doesn’t try to do everything. It has no screen, it has no buttons and you don’t want to become another device to look at every few minutes. The idea is simpler: you put it on, wear it during the day or at night and let it record activity, sleep and some health metrics without asking you too much attention. We are looking at a product that weighs 12 grams with the strap and 5.2 grams without it, so Google’s promise seems to go in the direction of having more functions in sight as well as wearing something comfortable that almost disappears on the wrist. That simplicity doesn’t mean that the Fitbit Air arrives empty inside. It incorporates an optical heart rate sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, blood oxygen sensor and skin temperature sensor for sleep monitoring. It also withstands immersion up to 50 meters and promises seven days of battery life on a charge, plus one day of use with five minutes plugged in. Another important detail is that it can work simultaneously with a Pixel Watch. So it doesn’t seem designed for you if you just want to respond to messages, receive notifications, or have a screen full of data on your wrist. That’s what smart watches are already for. But if you are looking for a simple way to measure your activity, your rest and some health signals without getting too complicated, Fitbit Air may be an option to consider. It also fits if you already have a Pixel Watch and prefer to leave the watch for the day, but wear something lighter to sleep or train. The other big change you will not notice on your wrist, but on your mobile. If you used Fitbit as a reference application, as we pointed out above, that space is renamed Google Health. Google’s idea is to bring together health monitoring, wellness data and personalized coaching, all in one place. The change also involves integrating Health Connect, the Android layer designed to organize health data between applications. On paper, it may seem like just a name change, but it says a lot about what’s happening: Fitbit continues to appear on the band, while the daily experience begins to move more and more towards Google. The subscription layer also changes location. Google explains that Fitbit Premium becomes Google Health Premium. This is where the most ambitious features come in, such as the personal health coach integrated with Gemini, plans that adapt to progress, rest and recovery, or the possibility of receiving more personalized information on well-being. Price and availability of Google Fitbit Air in Spain Google Fitbit Air can now be reserved in Spain from 99.99 euros. The device also includes a three-month trial of Google Health Premium for new members, with subsequent automatic renewal for 8.99 euros per month if not canceled. The colors and finishes available are the following: Obsidianwith matte black stainless steel buckle Fog graywith polished silver stainless steel buckle Raspberrywith polished champagne gold stainless steel buckle Lavenderwith polished silver stainless steel buckle Images | Google In Xataka | A Chinese company has created AI glasses without a camera. Their message is very simple: they are not spying on you.

the price of a hectare of olive grove falls in Jaén while the rest of the land soars

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Something is happening in Jaén. The price of a hectare of olive grove has fallen: it went from 17,682 euros in 2023 to 17,499 euros in 2024; the last year of which we have consolidated data. And it may seem like an anecdote (after all, it is a decrease of 1.03%), but it is not. Because while the olive grove loses value, the rest of the agricultural land increases: the orchard increases by 13%, dry fruits by 19.7%, arable land by 18.3% and subtropical crops by 26.1%. What is happening to the olive grove? A complicated question. We could talk about many factors (the collapse in the price of oil at source, the increase in production costs or a 2025-26 campaign that was expected to be bad before it started), but we would be focusing on the situation and not on the underlying trend. The central issue hidden in the data is that Jaén is the “canary in the mine” of the Spanish olive grove. After all, Jaén is especially sensitive to changes in the profitability of the olive grove: on the one hand, the monoculture concentration of the olive grove in the province has caused many parallel dry lands to be in slope areas that are difficult to mechanize and almost impossible to convert into intensive ones no matter how much water is available. And let us not forget to remember that the olive grove does not stop growing. With the only exception of the small decline in 2022 (0.08% already recovered in 2023), the hectares of olive groves They have grown year after year. Does demand grow and price fall? With the provisional data of the Survey on Crop Areas and Yields (ESYRCE) 2025 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) in hand, the olive grove area in Spain reached 2,873,396 hectares. This is 1.63% more than in 2024 and 5% more than in 2015. And yet the price falls. The key is that does it unevenly: Irrigation gains ground over dry land, super-intensive olive trees in hedges spread over land previously dedicated to cereal or cotton, and investment funds concentrate their enormous resources in areas with more water. The great transformation of the Spanish olive grove. We said it years ago, Spain faces an enormous agrarian challenge, an unprecedented industrial reconversion: convert 1,901,529 hectares of olive groves into irrigation before it’s too late. And that “afternoon” is closer than ever because the Junta de Andalucía The cut in aid amounts to up to 22% to the Jaén olive grove that would derive from the proposal for the new CAP. Here is the key, here is the factor that will change the field in the coming years. Image | Txemari. (Navarre) In Xataka | Spain faces its greatest agricultural challenge of the century: converting 1,901,529 hectares of olive groves into irrigation before it is too late

Its price drops to 1.78 euros per month

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If we take a look at the best VPNs on the marketthere is a feature that not all of them include. They all work great, but most tend to have a limited number of devices per account. One of the exceptions to this is Surfshark, which allows, with a single account, have a quality VPN on all your devices. The best? He is now celebrating his birthday and we can get this VPN for only 1.78 euros per month. Surfshark Starter Subscription – monthly The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Surfshark has its best price of 2026 right now Why go for a paid VPN? Although there are free options that can be useful to us at a specific time, the reality is that these free VPNs They are not recommended in the long run.. They tend to be full of advertising and offer a slow connection, although that is not their biggest flaw. When we use a VPN, we want to protect our Internet traffic and, precisely, free VPNs are not as secure as they promise to be. The ideal is to go for a paid one and, if we can do it for one that is also very cheap, even better. Surfshark is a VPN that stands out for being very easy to install and useit doesn’t matter if it is on a PC, a mobile phone or a tablet, for example. Furthermore, as it has more than 4,500 servers, we will always have a connection option. Let’s now go to the prices of this promo. As we have told you a little above, its most economical plan, called Surfshark Starter, is available 1.78 euros per month if we go for their two-year plan. Doing the numbers, that implies that 24 months of this service cost 48.06 euros and, furthermore, you get three extra months (so there will be 27 months in total). Now, their other two plans are also included in this birthday promo. If you are looking for more security for your computers, Surfshark One may suit you. In addition to VPN, it includes other tools such as antivirus or a system that alerts you if your data has been leaked on the Internetamong others. Sale, if we go for his two-year plan, for 2.08 euros per month and includes three extra months (so 27 months cost 56.16 euros). The latest, Surfshark One+ includes everything the previous one has and adds Incogni to the formula. What is it for? It is a tool that will help you delete your data from different databases. It also includes three extra months and costs right now 4.18 euros per month if you opt for its two-year subscription (so, in total, it costs 112.86 euros). Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | surfshark In Xataka | Best VPNs 2026: guide with the 17 best services to protect your online privacy In Xataka | Why it is dangerous to connect to public Wi-Fi and what you should do to protect yourself

Three decades of innovation in lithium batteries and a 99% drop in price, in an illuminating graph

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The world has been immersed for years in two essential transitions to leave fossil fuels behind: energy and mobility. But for both to be possible, it is an essential requirement that a technology continue to improve and also drop in price: that of batteries, one of the main components of electric cars and the one responsible for storing excess energy in times of energy surpluses, for example in wind and solar energy. And in fact, this is what he has done: In the last 35 years the price of lithium batteries has plummeted 99%. In 1991, a lithium ion battery cost $9,210 per kWh (in constant 2024 dollars). In 2023, that same kilowatt-hour cost $111: we are talking about a drop of almost 99% in almost three decades. To make it tangible, Hannah Ritchie and Pablo Rosado of Our World in Data gives an example applied to car batteries: the battery of a current standard electric car with a range of 350 to 400 kilometers today costs about $5,000. A decade ago the same component would have cost more than $20,000. In 1991, almost $600,000. There is a strategic threshold that we have surpassed recently: 100 dollars/hWh, considered historically the point of economic parity with the internal combustion vehicle, but At the end of 2025 we will already overcome the barrier reaching 84 dollars/kWh. First of all, let’s start with the presentations: the graphics are from Our World in Dataa project of the Global Change Data Lab linked to the University of Oxford. And the primary source is a data series updated by Rupert Way, built on the original work by Ziegler and Trancik and completed with data from BloombergNEF and Avicenne Energy. All data is expressed in constant 2024 dollars. The price of lithium batteries has fallen 99% in 35 years The first graph shows the evolution of the price of lithium ion cells between 1991 and 2024, in constant 2024 dollars per kWh on a logarithmic axis. The line declines continuously and sharply throughout the series of years without any signs of stabilization until ending around $50-60/kWh in 2024. Evolution of the price of lithium ion batteries: 1991 – 2024. Our World in Data The second graph combines price with global accumulated production and uses a double logarithmic scale: it starts from an installed capacity of 130 kWh in 1991 and reaches 3,510 GWh in 2023. That the line remains straight for more than three decades, in two different graphs and with data from different sources, confirms that The price drop is not a coincidence or a streak. It is a stable mathematical pattern that allows you to project where prices will go. This trend is more important than the fall itself. Every time global cumulative production doubles, battery prices have fallen by 19%. Our World in Data This second chart shows that every time global cumulative lithium-ion battery production doubled, the price fell by 19%. That is the learning rate known as Wright’s Law. The learning curve remains stable for more than thirty years, regardless of financial crises, supply problems and even a pandemic. Behind that graph is that enormous jump from the 130 kWh installed in 1991 to 3,510 GWh in 2023. That is 27 million times more capacity in three decades and each doubling along the way led to a 19% reduction in price. With the current rate of installation, these duplications occur in less and less time, which implies that the curve is not going to slow down due to inertia. These graphs do not describe the past: they are a projection of the future. A stable learning rate of 19% per capacity doubling is a planning tool: it helps the industry and its actors to reliably estimate when storage will reach cost thresholds that make the electricity grid viable with high renewable penetration. According to IRENAthe cost of solar energy fell by 90% between 2010 and 2023 following the same logic. That the threshold has fallen below $100/kWh already has consequences: the European Commission estimates that the EU will need between 200 and 600 GWh of storage by 2030 and precisely this trajectory means that Europe will get the bills for its energy transition. However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the graphs show the average cell price of the different types of lithium ion batteries, which have very different profiles of cost, life cycles or energy density. That doesn’t appear on the graph. Nor that battery cost is not everythingsince it has associated costs, such as installation or replacement. Likewise, it does not touch on the structural risks of the supply chain: lithium, cobalt or nickel are geographically concentrated and vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, such as warns the International Energy Agency. And although they are becoming cheaper, their weight and volume are still a handicap for some scenarios such as aviation or heavy trucks. In Xataka | The last piece of the renewable puzzle now fits: the price of storage batteries has reached its minimum In Xataka | China dominates the world of renewable energy, but it has an Achilles heel: it depends on the West more than it admits Cover | Our World in data

After gasoline, the war in Iran is about to skyrocket the price of something just as painful: your Zara clothes

by

During the oil crisis In 1973, several industries that seemed completely unrelated to energy, such as plastics or fertilizers, suddenly discovered that Your costs could skyrocket in a matter of weeks for decisions made thousands of miles away, altering prices and supply chains in sectors where no one looked at the barrel of crude oil. From oil to the closet. I counted the weekend Reuters that the rise in energy prices after the war in Iran is beginning to filter down a lot beyond gasoline or transportation, reaching a less obvious field: the clothes that reach the stores. The link is direct, because a good part of the textile industry depends on petroleum derivatives, and any tension in that market is quickly transmitted to the materials that support global garment production. The key piece. Polyester dominates the global textile industry with a massive presence in almost all types of clothing, from sportswear to everyday dresses. The problem is that its manufacture depends of compounds such as PTA and MEGwhose cost has skyrocketedabout 30% due to the rise in crude oil, the increase in from Asian suppliers and disruptions in the Middle East. This pressure turns the polyester into the entry point of the energy crisis in fashion, transferring the impact from the energy markets to the fabric of the industry itself. The chain that begins to break. Reuters remembered that the blow is being felt with special intensity in India and Bangladeshtwo pillars of global clothing production. Factories that were previously operating at full capacity have drastically reduced their activity, with looms stopped, production cut by less than half and difficulties in fulfilling international orders. Added to this is the labor shortage in some textile centers, caused by basic energy problems such as the lack of gas, which adds another layer of tension to a system already on the limit. Gain time without escape. Big names emerge here, where companies like Inditex or H&M They are not yet immediately transferring the impact to the consumer thanks to advance purchases and inventory planning, which has allowed them to mitigate and cushion the blow in the short term. Even so, suppliers already they are announcing increases of prices and the absorption margin has a very clear limit. Plus: The use of recycled polyester offers some relief, although its weight remains low within the overall total, limiting its ability to offset current pressure. Costs rise, demand trembles. Thus, the price increase starts to move to threads, dyes, transportation and essential components, generating a chain effect that can end up affecting the volume of orders. For their part, manufacturers warn that, if the situation continues, production will fall and consumers will reduce purchases due to higher prices. The phenomenon, known as demand destructionintroduces an added risk: a simultaneous drop in supply and consumption that affects the entire industry. It’s not just the Zara shirt, but also the shoes. Yes, because the impact of oil aims to spread as well to the footwear sectorwhere derived materials such as foams, adhesives or synthetic soles also depend on petrochemical products. In other words, this means that the pressure on costs will not be limited to t-shirts or pants, but will reach a wide range of products, complicating the price planning and market stability. The crisis where no one was looking. In short, what began as a rise in energy prices It is becoming a structural problem for the fashion industry. In essence, the dependence on oil for key materials turns any conflict into a direct variable. about the final price of the garments. And as pressure builds up in the supply chain, the impact is no longer invisible or minimal, but is slowly but inexorably approaching. consumer pocketsignaling a profound change in how geopolitics can end up being reflected in something as everyday as the shirt that until now you bought for 20 euros. Image | POT, Leitonmahillo In Xataka | If the war resumes again, the US runs a risk unprecedented in the history of war: that the only one with missiles will be Iran. In Xataka | If the question is why the US attacked an Iranian ship with a weapon unprecedented in 40 years, we already know the answer: a “gift from China”

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