The person responsible for receiving Zhao Jinsheng and Tan Jincheng's group was a chief engineer named Lu.
He didn't introduce which specific business area he was in charge of, but Zhao Jinsheng referred to him as Chief Engineer Lu.
Speaking of which, what's Leader Gu's background? His connections are quite strong; he also helped coordinate this visit.
Chief Engineer Lu led Tan Jincheng and Zhao Jinsheng on a tour of some accessible areas, and also introduced some of the working conditions there.
Unlike Tan Jincheng's imagination, the research institute does not work overtime every day.
There were quite a few staff members who clocked in and out on time every day.
Unlike private factories like Shanchi Technology, where most employees are single young people, the majority of the staff here are married.
Of course, some graduates are assigned here every year, all from prestigious universities, and the educational background is incredibly impressive.
Due to the special environment, the places available for Tan Jincheng and his group to visit were limited.
Soon after, both parties sat down at a desk and formally began discussing the agenda of the meeting.
"Why would Xiao Tan think of getting into lithium batteries? The investment cost for lithium batteries is very high. Shouldn't companies be thinking about reducing burdens?"
Chief Engineer Lu asked with some curiosity.
From a purely business perspective, for an electric vehicle manufacturer to consider developing lithium batteries when lead-acid batteries are the market mainstream is actually somewhat counterproductive.
Although lithium battery technology is now considered relatively mature, it still needs some time before large-scale commercial application.
Industries like electric vehicles currently don't have this application; it's more commonly used in mobile phones.
Lead-acid batteries already have very mature technology and processes.
Even if not purchased from suppliers, establishing one's own lead-acid battery factory would require less investment and yield quicker results than lithium batteries.
"Of course, it's looking to the future,"
Tan Jincheng said with a smile.
From the perspective of electric scooters, lead-acid batteries are relatively cheap, cost-effective, their maintenance methods allow for recycling, their discharge capacity at low temperatures is good, and their safety is also quite good.
These are its advantages, but its disadvantages are equally obvious: heavy volume, occupying a lot of space, increasing vehicle burden; limited battery capacity, short range; and a short lifespan, generally within 400 deep charge-discharge cycles, with a lifespan of about two to three years.
Lithium batteries, however, perfectly solve these shortcomings of lead-acid batteries.
But at the same time, lithium batteries also have their drawbacks: high cost, virtually no recycling value, and slightly worse safety than lead-acid batteries.
As for environmental issues, both types of batteries have them.
Lead-acid batteries produce heavy metals that can easily pollute the environment, but lithium batteries lacking recycling value is also a major criticism in terms of environmental issues.
However, Tan Jincheng has his own views on environmental issues.
Whether from the perspective of capitalists or ordinary workers, it is unnecessary to starve while preserving clear waters and green mountains.
Environmental protection is important, but eating well is more important.
"A simple 'looking to the future' can't convince me. Cooperation is important, but we also need to see your determination and vision for the future of lithium batteries. This investment is long-term and the amount is not small. We don't want things to stop halfway through."
When a research institute brings out its research results, a private enterprise might just be after a gimmick, but what they consider is always long-term interests.
Funding is one aspect; the vision of the private enterprise's head and whether they have the patience to see the project through are the most important.
"Alright, actually, I'm getting into lithium batteries not just for our own electric vehicles, but because I'm more optimistic about their application in mobile phone batteries and future new energy vehicles. I believe these two areas are big trends for the future, which is why I had the idea of making lithium batteries."
Now is not the time to talk about wanting to build cars, lest I be accused of being nonsensical.
But it's fine to reveal some aspects of this layout in advance.
Batteries are important components for both mobile phones and cars.
By thoroughly researching lithium batteries and mastering our core technology, even if we don't build cars in the future, we can supply battery manufacturers for mobile phones and car manufacturers.
This way, Shanchi Technology will have a second major business segment, avoiding business singularity.
A single business always suffers a greater impact when facing changes in market conditions.
With a core business, group diversification is an inevitable path for any enterprise's development.
Shanchi Technology's current business is limited to the assembly, production, and sales of electric vehicles.
This year, it will open direct stores in major first- and second-tier cities nationwide.
This part of the business can only be considered a derivative of assembly, production, and sales, not a new second business.
By rapidly developing Shanchi Technology through the production and sales of electric vehicles, profits can be invested in lithium battery R&D.
In the early stage, we can be a battery supplier for mobile phone manufacturers, similar to BYD's "OEM" model.
Later, we can intervene in the R&D and production of automotive batteries, gradually transitioning from lithium batteries to the automotive industry.
Lithium batteries are not just lithium batteries; the industries involved are enormous.
Various mineral resources, research into new alloy metals, and even fields like photovoltaics and wind power generation can be involved, forming a massive industrial chain.
By doing just one part well, Shanchi Technology can secure a place nationwide, rather than being merely a small electric scooter assembly plant.
Group diversification does not mean unchecked expansion.
Benefiting from memories of his previous life, every step Tan Jincheng has taken so far has been traceable and had a clear goal.
Starting with garment foreign trade to earn the first pot of gold for establishing factories, this is similar to how Wahaha and Nongfu Spring initially made money from health products.
The health product industry in the last century was similar to today's foreign trade industry, generating profits very quickly.
It is not an exaggeration that Tan Jincheng accumulated hundreds of millions in wealth through foreign trade in just over a year in this era.
One should know that Billionaire Zhong of Nongfu Spring earned tens of millions in profit from health products during an era when "ten thousand yuan households" were worshipped.
In the era of "ten thousand yuan households," earning tens of millions in profit a year — now THAT's impressive, THAT's an exaggeration!
With initial capital, build a factory for electric scooters, and through the lucrative profits of the electric scooter industry's high-growth period, then enter the lithium battery industry, and further expand the company's scale through the lithium battery industry, entering more related industries, thereby connecting the battery industry chain.
With our own battery business, we can start building cars!
Today's conversation only had Chief Engineer Lu, Zhao Jinsheng, and Tan Jincheng present.
Tan Jincheng revealed some of his plans beyond car manufacturing, and also subtly showcased his insights into future economic and industrial development trends.
In terms of technology and institutional rules, Tan Jincheng certainly couldn't compare to Chief Engineer Lu and Zhao Jinsheng.
However, in his previous life, he had been an entrepreneur for many years, plus he had the advantage of knowing everything from astronomy to geography like a common person.
When discussing industrial development, he could always offer some insightful perspectives.
Besides convincing Chief Engineer Lu, the purpose of doing this was also to convey some of his capabilities to the higher-ups through Zhao Jinsheng.
Tan Jincheng was very clear that no matter how today's conversation with Chief Engineer Lu went, and no matter the outcome, Zhao Jinsheng would definitely report what he said today to the higher-ups.
The real economy cannot do without the support of the government.
Although the other party has already "boarded the train" and he has become the lucky one, to achieve long-term win-win cooperation, one must at least present convincing arguments and gain recognition for one's abilities.
Thus, from 3G to 4G, then to the future direction of mobile phones, and then from lithium batteries to the trend of future new energy vehicles, this conversation lasted a whole day.
For high-end talents like Chief Engineer Lu, what Tan Jincheng said wasn't entirely new.
Although somewhat advanced, from a technical perspective, it was entirely feasible.
While feature phones still dominated the mobile phone market in these two years, some lithium battery technology had already been applied to mobile phones.
The construction of 3G was no secret; even Zhao Jinsheng could speak a thing or two about it.
Technological progress driving the transformation of consumer goods is a major future trend, so it's not impossible for lithium battery related technologies to be widely applied in mobile phones in the future.
It could even be said to be a high probability.
The biggest features of lithium batteries are high voltage, high energy density (meaning they store more electricity), balanced discharge, almost no self-discharge, and no memory effect, allowing them to be charged at any time.
Applying them to mobile phones is almost a definite choice.
Chief Engineer Lu is engaged in related research, so he naturally thought deeper about the technical characteristics of lithium batteries than Tan Jincheng, and Tan Jincheng, who "knew nothing," couldn't fool him.
"Mr. Tan, why do you think future new energy vehicles are a development trend for our country? You know, fuel vehicles are currently the mainstream direction in the market, and new energy vehicles don't show any advantages."
Unbeknownst to them, Chief Engineer Lu's address for Tan Jincheng changed from "Xiao Tan" to "Mr. Tan," which made Zhao Jinsheng, sitting quietly with few opportunities to speak, light up.
Compared to Tan Jincheng's insensitivity to titles, Zhao Jinsheng, being in the system, understood this change all too well.
"There's a chance,"
Zhao Jinsheng secretly thought.
At least it's a good direction, proving that Xiao Tan's words today were taken seriously by the other party.
"It's simple,"
Tan Jincheng smiled.
"To break through technological blockades and achieve independent R&D in our industrial chain, just like with electric scooters now."
"Hmm? How do you mean?"
Chief Engineer Lu couldn't help but be surprised.
"Currently, all cutting-edge technology for fuel vehicles is in the hands of foreigners. We can only earn a little from the scraps. In such a large automotive market, if we want to earn more, we must have our own core technology.
If I can't play on your field, then I'll open my own field to play. And Tesla is also doing research in this area; I believe Chief Engineer Lu can find information on that."
Zhao Jinsheng was also secretly startled.
It wasn't strange for them to think of these things, but Tan Jincheng was only 20 years old and had such a clear understanding.
His political awareness was not low.
To have such a clear understanding and to make money through it:
"This kid really has some tricks up his sleeve; it's not just luck."
(End of chapter)