Technology overlord starts with new energy vehicles

Kyushu Automobile Factory, inside the chairman's office.

After Feng Hao told the problems that Hengxin Electronics Factory is currently encountering, all the executives of Kyushu Automobile showed very serious expressions on their faces, and they were no longer as relaxed as before.

Deng Yingzhuo, president of Kyushu Motors, hesitated for a moment, and asked Xu Yifan, "Do you need to inform Chen Qianjun about this?"

As the official official who has the most frequent contact with Kyushu Automobile, Chen Qianjun has now acted as a communication channel between Kyushu Automobile and the government to a certain extent.

Encountering a problem that is difficult to solve by himself, what Deng Yingzhuo thought of was to ask for help from above.

Next to it, Liu Junhong, the president of Dongfang Electric Power Company, also said: "As for Dongfang Electric Power Company, if there is a need, please feel free to ask Mr. Xu, and I can also report to the higher-level power department for support."

Today's Kyushu Automobile Factory is no longer that small factory.

In case of any crisis, you can ask for assistance, and the official may even be more anxious than Kyushu Automobile itself. If you want to solve the problem, you will naturally go all out to provide any help you can.

Including but not limited to communicating with domestic mining companies, allowing lithium ore resources to be preferentially supplied to Kyushu Automobile at low prices, negotiating with international companies with rich lithium ore resources, or seeking breakthroughs with the mining groups behind them, etc.

If Kyushu Automobile is just an ordinary company, it will experience enthusiastic service from the government.

But it's a pity that Kyushu Automobile Factory itself is a cheating existence!

Facing the scene where everyone seemed a little nervous, Xu Yifan said with a smile: "Hehe, why are you all so serious? It's just the price increase of raw materials. It's not worth everyone's worries. It's like the sky is falling. Don't worry, it's okay. !"

Seeing that Xu Yifan didn't show any overly worried expressions, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The backbone of Kyushu Automobile Factory is the chairman Xu Yifan, who is younger than the company presidents present.

Since the other party didn't show any worried look, but comforted everyone cheerfully, then everyone can rest assured.

And in the company, everyone knows some of the research that has been done.

Feng Hao thought for a while and said: "If that technology is completed, there is really no need to worry about the rising price of international lithium mines!"

The rest of the people also recalled: "It's just that before this, everyone didn't know the progress of the research and development of that technology, and what step it was."

Liu Junhong was full of anticipation: "Mr. Xu, tell me what step we have reached?!"

Regarding the technology of Kyushu Technology, Xu Yifan is personally responsible for the progress of several laboratories and more laboratories in the future, and he is the one who knows the technology research and development progress of Kyushu Automobile best.

The price of lithium raw materials will rise, such a situation will definitely come, but I didn't expect it to be so soon!

With the continuous development and growth of Kyushu Automobile over the years, the price of raw materials for lithium mines has doubled compared to when it first started.

But there is no way, you have to use it!

Xu Yifan couldn't have foreseen this problem.

In another world, there was a period of time when the price of lithium mines rose wildly.

In a short period of time, the price of new energy trams has risen a lot collectively. Even some car owners who bought new energy trams before the price increase will sell their cars after the raw materials have risen, but the price will be more expensive than the original purchase price!

Kyushu Automobile Factory has already been doing it to deal with the rise of raw materials.

That's a sodium-ion battery!

The difference between sodium-ion batteries and lithium-ion batteries.

In the manufacturing process of lithium-ion batteries, lithium is needed as a raw material, whether it is lithium iron phosphate battery, ternary lithium battery, or polymer lithium battery, etc.

The reason why these lithium batteries can be made into batteries is because lithium, a metal, has a de-intercalation working principle.

During the charging process, lithium ions are extracted from the positive electrode and inserted into the negative electrode. The more lithium ions inserted into the negative electrode, the higher the charge capacity. The process is reversed during discharge. The more lithium ions returned to the positive electrode, the higher the discharge capacity.

Lithium, sodium, and potassium belong to group IA alkali metal elements of the periodic table of elements, and have similar physical and chemical properties. In theory, they can all be used as metal ion carriers for secondary batteries.

Lithium ion has smaller radius, higher standard potential, and much higher specific capacity than sodium and potassium, so it has been used earlier and more widely in secondary batteries.

The mass of sodium ions is three times larger than that of lithium ions. Compared with lithium batteries, the batteries produced have lower battery capacity and shorter cycle life. Few people have studied them.

Sodium-ion battery replaces the important material lithium in the original lithium battery with sodium. The principle of the battery is basically the same, and it is also based on the de-intercalation working principle.

Compared with lithium-ion batteries, the use of sodium ions to produce batteries naturally has many advantages in addition to the disadvantages of low battery capacity and short cycle life.

The first and most important point is mineral resources. The content of lithium in the earth’s crust is only 0.0065%. The cost of producing batteries is relatively high, which limits the large-scale application of lithium-ion batteries to a certain extent.

However, the reserves of sodium resources are very rich. The crustal abundance is 2.64%, which is 440 times that of lithium resources. Moreover, sodium resources are widely distributed and simple to extract, which can realize large-scale industrial battery production.

Then, the safety performance of sodium-ion batteries is higher than that of lithium-ion batteries, the high and low temperature performance is better, and the fast charging performance is higher.

Now Kyushu Automobile Factory has the ability to produce sodium-ion batteries, but the first-generation sodium-ion batteries are always inferior to the lithium-ion batteries that were originally developed and mass-produced in terms of battery capacity and cycle performance. .

However, now that the research and development focus of Kyushu Automobile has been focusing on sodium-ion batteries, the second-generation sodium-ion batteries are now about to be completed.

Compared with the lithium iron phosphate battery originally produced by Hengxin Battery Factory, the second-generation sodium-ion battery is comparable in terms of energy density, cycle performance, safety, and high and low temperature resistance, or Even better performance.

In terms of the production cost of the battery factory, it can also be lower and more profitable!

At the same time, in terms of the construction of the battery production plant, Kyushu Motors has already been preparing for it. The sodium-ion battery production plant has already been built, and the construction of the battery plant can be completed only after the final technical research is completed.

In terms of technology, it could be completed in a month at most, but now that the battery is in crisis, Xu Yifan will naturally not save that little money.

Later, we will accelerate the research and development of sodium ions. If it is fast, we can complete the technical breakthrough of sodium ion batteries within ten days, and formally produce sodium ion batteries in one month!

Faced with the expectant eyes of many company executives, Xu Yifan did not answer, but ordered.

"Feng Hao, next I will give you a list of equipment purchases. Some equipment may need to be ordered or produced by yourself. If you don't understand anything in this regard, you can come and ask me at any time. I will send someone who understands the corresponding technology. The staff of the material laboratory, or I will go over and give pointers in person!"

Although it was slightly inappropriate, Feng Hao couldn't help asking again: "Sodium-ion battery, have you completed it?!"

Xu Yifan shook his head: "Not yet, but it is already in the final stage. It is estimated that it will be ready in about half a month. I believe Hengxin Battery Factory can still support it at this time."

Sodium-ion battery technology is much slower than the initial research and development of lithium iron phosphate batteries.

There is no way to do this. In terms of lithium iron phosphate batteries, there have been many papers and technical routes that can be used for reference.

As for sodium-ion batteries, although there is not a little bit of research in the world, most of them are very superficial. There are no papers, and there is no big boss to ask for help. Everything can only rely on the efforts of the R\u0026D personnel of Kyushu Automobile Factory. , plus Xu Yifan's opening and buff.

In terms of solution speed, it is naturally slower than lithium iron phosphate batteries, which already have a lot of foundations.

In addition, although the first-generation sodium-ion battery has been developed, Xu Yifan dislikes energy density and other aspects. Compared with the previous lithium iron phosphate battery, there is a certain technical gap, so he has not used it.

The second-generation sodium-ion battery is about to be completed now. As one of the people who personally participated in this research and development project, Xu Yifan still understands the power of this battery very well.

Although it does not seem to be particularly strong, it is just equivalent to the current Hengxin lithium iron phosphate battery, and the production cost has been doubled. At the same time, the performance has not declined, and there will be no bottlenecks such as mineral resources. .

Seeing that Hengxin Battery Factory's worries were easily resolved, and the meeting continued, everyone's faces regained their previous relaxed expressions.

Regarding the technical strength of this company's products, everyone has no doubts about whether the sodium-ion battery can take on the heavy responsibility of succeeding the lithium-ion battery, and whether the performance and safety can reach the level of the previous lithium iron phosphate battery.

The chairman of Kyushu Automobile Works, his investment in technology is obvious to all.

At the same time, many R\u0026D personnel are also very competitive. In addition, there is no habit of bragging in the past, and all product performances are based on facts.

Consumers and everyone in the factory can clearly see it.

Xu Yifan, as the chairman, is full of confidence in the sodium-ion battery that is about to be completed now, so everyone just needs to wait quietly.

Feng Hao, the last speaker of Hengxin Battery Factory, had no other issues to report after solving the problem of raw materials for battery production.

The meeting has basically ended here, Xu Yifan said with a smile to everyone.

"In a week, the development of each company is very rapid. I believe that this high-speed development will be maintained in the future, or even develop at a faster speed. Next, everyone will continue to work hard!"

"Okay, today's meeting is here, everyone should be busy with whatever!"

As Xu Yifan announced the end of this short work report, everyone present got up one after another.

Those who are ready to leave, or those who need to report to Xu Yifan alone, should stay a little longer and report to Xu Yifan.

"Since there is no problem with the battery, I feel more at ease. If we continue to work hard, sales will break through a new high next month!"

"The sodium-ion battery has been developed for a long time. I don't know the specific effect. Will it improve the existing product line?"

"Compared with engine and Suzaku motor, etc., the research and development time is longer. Even the Kyushu Automobile R\u0026D team, whose research and development capabilities have never been seen before, can hold back for such a long time. The sodium-ion battery is worth looking forward to!"

"Sodium-ion batteries with lower production costs. In other words, if they are really manufactured, Dongfang Electric Power Company can negotiate with Hengxin Battery Factory on the purchase price of battery packs?!

The production cost has come down, so shouldn’t the price be lowered too? Well, forget it, it’s not my money anyway, so let’s not talk about it? ! Just report the matter up! As a member of Dongfang Power Company, you can't all stand on the official side, right? "

Immediately, the door of the office opened, and several CEOs came out in a file.

But at the same time, at the door of the chairman's office, two secretaries walked in quickly, aiming at Feng Hao and Deng Yingzhuo in the crowd of presidents.

Under the slightly surprised gazes of several presidents, their respective secretaries came to the two of them and reported the latest news received during the meeting just now.

"President, someone called you just now. The other party claimed to be a senior executive of Ford and wanted to discuss business with you, mainly about lithium ore resources. The other party also wanted to contact Chairman Xu..."

"I have to report the same thing as Secretary Chen!"

It turned out that when Xu Yifan and the others were having a meeting just now, Kyushu Automobile Company and Hengxin Battery Company both received a call from a stranger.

As soon as the other party opened his mouth, he wanted to find the president of the company, as well as Xu Yifan, the real boss and chairman of the Kyushu Automobile Factory behind these subsidiaries!

It's just that Xu Yifan's personal information is basically not available on the Internet now, and even the phone number of the office is kept secret, and when the other party can't find it, he resorted to contacting the presidents of these companies.

After a slight pause, the two presidents of the company looked at each other, and then came back to Xu Yifan's desk.

Even the rest of the company presidents could not help but slow down.

Feng Hao: "Mr. Xu, someone came to us just now and said that he wanted to discuss something with us. It would be best to find you?!"

Since the secretary's voice was not loud, Xu Yifan didn't know what happened, so he couldn't help asking curiously, "What is it?"

A strange look appeared on Feng Hao's face: "It's about lithium ore resources. The other party seems to want to use the issue of lithium ore resources to negotiate some conditions with us."

"Talking about conditions, I don't bother to talk to them about this kind of thing..."

Kyushu Motors is not what the other party imagined. The demand for lithium ore resources is far from reaching the point where it can affect the normal operation of the company and the survival of the company. Naturally, it will not want to discuss any terms and cooperation with such an unknown person. .

"Okay!" Wei Wei nodded, and the two presidents were about to leave.

But at this moment, a pleasant phone rang.

The secretary took out the phone and looked at the screen, then glanced at the many bosses around him, and said cautiously, "This is the contact person."

I didn't want to talk to him at first, but the other party was so active.

Suddenly, Xu Yifan's heart moved, and he thought of a good idea. He nodded slightly, indicating that the other party could answer the phone.

The little secretary connected the phone and said in very fluent English: "Hi, hello, this is the office of the president of Hengxin Battery Company."

"Yes, I have already told the president about what you reported, but the president is not interested in the cooperation you proposed." The little secretary replied according to Xu Yifan's instructions just now.

"The importance of lithium resources? I don't know either!"

"I've explained your matter to the president, I'm sorry..."

On the other end of the phone, the other party seemed unwilling to believe that Kyushu Motors would be so indifferent to the rise in the price of international lithium resources. This situation was completely beyond their expectations!

At this time, Kyushu Automobile Factory should be in a state of distress because of the abnormal increase in lithium ore resources!

Whether it is the price increase of battery packs, the restriction of the production of cars, or the sale of cars at a loss, it is a very difficult question to make a decision.

For Kyushu Motors, whose sales have just improved, any one of them will destroy the trust of consumers!

At this time, if someone proposes cooperation on lithium ore resources, it is reasonable to say that they will be very happy.

Although the CEOs of Kyushu Automobile are much younger in general, it is unlikely that they will not be able to deal with the problems before them.

On the other end of the phone, in a small conference room.

In front of a hands-free mobile phone, the blond-haired middle-aged man, Kunlan Silva, and everyone around him were in disbelief.

Several executives from different automobile companies whispered in disbelief.

"How can you be so indifferent?"

"Could it be that the secretary of the president's office didn't report the seriousness of this matter to the president of Kyushu Automobile Factory?"

"Or those very young presidents who don't know the importance of things?!"

"Our identity issue has been mentioned before. Ford's top management is supposed to be trustworthy enough."

"What is Kyushu Automobile doing? Isn't the price of lithium mines rising by two or three times in just a few days? Are they not worried at all?"

"For this plan, we have paid a high price. They are not afraid that they will not be able to purchase lithium resources that can meet the needs of Kyushu Automobile's development. Without lithium resources, the country's tram development plan will also slow down. pace!"