this man is not calm

Chapter 528 New Direction

After the meeting ended, Kim Sang convened a small meeting with a few people to discuss more specific matters.

Jin Shang has a clear idea of ​​the energy path and the direction of electric vehicles, but he still needs to carefully consider how to proceed.

With the current level of technological accumulation, it is almost impossible to see the widespread adoption of pure electric vehicles within the next ten years. They can only be used as an important supplement to gasoline vehicles, or hybrid vehicles can be developed to explore specific advantageous areas, maintain a presence in niche markets, wait for technological progress, accumulate strength, and then make a strong push.

Even with the knowledge and experience from his previous life, and the help of a "golden finger" to protect him, Jin Shang didn't think that the development of this world would be exactly the same as in his previous life.

Diesel vehicles will face increasing challenges in the face of increasingly stringent emission standards, but that does not mean that diesel engine technology is an outdated product that should be phased out.

Gasoline's dominant position in the civilian vehicle sector seems unshakeable. At most, its potential can be explored in gasoline additives, biofuels, or alternative fuels. There is no disruptive energy source that can completely replace gasoline yet.

As for the wave of electric vehicles, among the "three-electric" systems centered on batteries, motors, and electronic controls, only the development of motors is the most rapid, which requires optimization to adapt to vehicle operating conditions and reduce manufacturing costs.
Battery technology is currently in a stage of flourishing development, with emerging forces led by Jinxi Culture focusing on lithium iron phosphate technology, which is not valued by the industry, supplemented by ternary lithium and lithium titanate routes, respectively targeting the high-end market and the extremely cold regions, buses, tour buses and long-distance passenger transport markets with special requirements for stability and lifespan.

In addition, there are some "black technologies" that Jin Shang believes have potential but whose advantages are difficult to realize with current technology, such as rotary engines, SPCCI engines, dual-fuel engines, and pre-combustion chamber high-temperature jet ignition control technology.

There are also power systems developed for special purposes. Most of these are based on Beihai Shipping's technology, borrowed from relatively mature marine power technology, and miniaturized for use in automobiles.

The pre-combustion chamber dual-fuel engine being tested at the test track of Jinxi Culture is one such example. Another example is the turbo engine currently under discussion. This is not a new technology and is already quite mature in many aspects.

Before the Lunar New Year, the company developed and launched a miniaturized turbo engine, which is not much larger than a shoebox. It is easy to infer that this thing has an extremely high power density per unit weight. It is small and light, so there is a possibility that it can be used as an engine for hybrid vehicles.

Its biggest advantage is that it has fewer parts, is easy and simple to maintain, is stable and has a long service life. It can use most liquid and gaseous fuels, including diesel, gasoline, natural gas, methanol, ethanol, liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene. It has clean emissions and controllable noise. When used as a range extender, it can also avoid adverse operating conditions and increase the thermal efficiency from 25% to 35%, greatly improving its practicality.

Its disadvantages are that the speed, pressure and temperature are very high, the requirements for materials and processes are not low, the manufacturing cost is definitely not going to be reduced, and general repair shops will definitely not repair this kind of engine.

Because its thermal efficiency is lower than that of classic Miller cycle and Atkinson cycle engines, unless it is a racing car or sports car that does not consider economy and fuel consumption, it will inevitably adopt a comprehensive approach to utilize exhaust gas to improve efficiency, such as indirect cooling regenerators, ORC power generation and thermoelectric power generation, etc., plus heating, the fuel utilization rate can reach more than 80%.

This is not some unrealistic fantasy or laboratory technology that cannot be implemented, but a mature product that has been used in large ocean-going vessels for decades. Beihai Shipping has a large number of senior engineers who have mastered the core technology. To put it bluntly, it is essentially a branch of gas turbine technology, just like aircraft engines. It is different from turbofan engines and turbojet engines, and its operating principle is very similar to the turboshaft engine used in helicopters.

The technical drawbacks of miniaturizing turbo engines don't stop there. Size effect, variable operating condition performance, and regenerator limitations are all obstacles. Using them as range extenders can maximize their advantages and minimize their disadvantages.

Of course, none of the above reasons are the main factors that led Kim Sang to pay special attention to this route.

The biggest difference between this life and the previous one is that the land area is more than twice as large. Not only is the east-west span longer, but the north-south span is even more exaggerated, from the icy and snowy extreme ice fields to the year-round summer resort islands in the South Seas. The climate change is too great.

Unfortunately, Jinshang's business empire is centered in the northern region, with Beijing as its core. The new challenges that Jinshang would not have encountered in the previous life, such as the development of new energy vehicles and lithium batteries, or those that were not very obvious, are now facing him.

"The Julun Lake, Beihai Lake, Xingkai Lake, as well as the desert plateau, northern permafrost, and tundra are just too cold. If we want to carry out large-scale development in the north, and develop agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries to make full use of the advantages of the vast land and abundant resources, we must consider alternative options for the hybrid route of diesel engines and lithium batteries. I know that the best use case for this thing is still in fixed-wing UAVs or as a detachable range extender module, but... there is no other way. We still need to brainstorm and overcome the difficulties."

Kim Sang sincerely presented his ideas to the people present, while also adding a bit of pressure.

The research and development progress is actually quite good, but time is of the essence.

With no more than four months of frost-free period each year and frequent cold waves, temperatures dropping to minus forty or fifty degrees Celsius, it's unrealistic to expect ordinary gasoline and diesel engines to perform as well as they do in the Central Plains and southern regions. As for lithium iron phosphate battery vehicles, they are practically useless for nearly half the year due to battery degradation, making them unable to charge at all. Theoretically, ternary lithium batteries, which should perform better in cold environments, also perform poorly.

Left with no other choice, Jinshang had to consider a hybrid range-extending technology route that combines a turbocharged engine with a lithium titanate battery.

This is a performance-oriented, rather than cost-oriented, "last resort" path.

Traditional gasoline vehicles have difficulty starting in such environments, and the power batteries are generally not much stronger than roadside stones. If we are determined to make a name for new energy vehicles in such harsh weather conditions, "cold resistance" is almost the first key problem that needs to be overcome.

In addition, areas with strict emission controls, heavy-duty freight on fixed routes, and other suitable niche markets definitely need to be given special attention.

Hong Renquan glanced through the lab report, then sighed helplessly and shook his head slightly, saying:

"Mr. Jin, I have a lot of experience with the advantages and disadvantages of applications in the marine field. However... to be honest, miniaturized turbines, in small and medium-sized vehicles where space is limited, it's difficult to install an indirect cooling and regenerative system, and comprehensive utilization is almost impossible, may not be as competitive as rotary range extenders. If you're making a batch of limited-edition 'big toys' for your own use or as gifts, that's another story, but they still have potential in heavy-duty freight trucks and large land machinery. I'm not very familiar with drones, so I can't say much, but... they seem interesting, it's just... the airspace regulations are a bit strict, is it really feasible?"

"I'm already considering the construction of a large cargo airport and piloting drone delivery..."

Speaking with absolute certainty, Kim Sang continued,

"Whether this ideal technological solution can become an economic market solution depends on the maturity of the industrial chain and large-scale mass production to reduce costs. Otherwise, this combination can only serve as a beneficial attempt at exploring non-civilian technologies. Large-scale commercial use is impossible in the short term. Without a mature supporting service system, vehicle owners will not buy it. Only with a large fleet, customized services, and an excellent team to handle logistics can its advantages be maximized during continuous use, ultimately recovering costs and generating profits." Truck drivers who run freight transport have irregular routes, inconsistent orders, and are unfamiliar with maintenance techniques; they simply won't use this new solution or vehicle model that hasn't been market-tested.

"If we decide to invest heavily, we should promote both turbine and piston engines in drone development. The former performs better in fixed-wing scenarios with long endurance and high cargo capacity, while the latter is significantly better in terms of maneuverability, flexibility, and adaptability. As for vehicle-mounted turbine engines, they will definitely have a place in the extremely cold north. They may not be able to travel from the icy and snowy north to the warmer south. I think the key is to make rapid technological progress and iteration. Before other technologies such as lithium battery hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, direct methanol fuel cells, and biofuels take off, we can secure a place and have room for maneuver."

"I understand!"

Jin Shang nodded in agreement, understanding the situation.

The motherland in the previous generation did not encounter this problem because its main market was not in the north, thus the motivation to solve the problem was insufficient.

Canada and other countries with similar needs have vast sparsely populated lands like Canada and Spain, where oil and natural gas are the mainstays of their economy. There is absolutely no need for them to go to great lengths to pursue low-carbon, environmentally friendly, and new energy sources. They can just shout slogans and that's enough; they haven't actually taken any action.

This life is different. The geese that are focused on Eastern Europe won't develop the Far East, but we will. The vast Far East, the far north, Siberia, Chukotka, and other places combined have a large population and are far more developed than in the previous life in 2020.

If we add the entire economically developed Far East and Northeast Asia region, with a population of nearly 300 million, the market is not small. It's just too fragmented, unlike the concentrated markets of the Bohai Rim, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta.

This technology makes full use of the high-temperature exhaust gas from the turbine engine to heat the truck bed, heat the battery pack, and preheat the engine coolant, completely solving the nightmare of starting and surviving hybrid heavy trucks in northern China.

Lithium titanate batteries and turbine engines are both long-life, stable-range components, making them ideal for high-intensity, long-range trunk logistics transportation in extremely cold regions.

If development goes smoothly, drone freight will take the lead, radiating from Beijing to the surrounding areas and driving the emergency transport and delivery system of the entire North China region. It will promote the construction of the logistics network in the entire northern region and contribute to the electrification of the country.

"The investment is substantial in a short period of time, and it won't be recouped within a few years, so we can only try our best to get support and subsidies."

As for any unexpected benefits, Jin Shang didn't expect too much for the time being. Fortunately, the feedback from the "golden finger" was mostly positive, proving that this thing should have a bright future.

If all else fails, the technology can be transformed and taken a different path. The original research and development intention may not necessarily become the actual goal. For example, the "Twin-Tailed Scorpion" cargo drone was eventually favored by the higher-ups. The cargo compartment was replaced with a weapons compartment, a more powerful engine was installed, and laser radar, tracking and aiming systems were added. Didn't it become a high-quality, low-cost, and economical weapon?
Firefighting drones are not only used for firefighting, and agricultural drones are not limited to spraying pesticides and fertilizers.

I heard that my second aunt's husband tried out drone operations and was contacted by relevant departments to see if it could be modified for monitoring forest fires, patrolling the border, offshore wind power, and the exclusive economic zone.

Sending boats or helicopters is costly, and relying on manpower to hike through deep mountains, swamps, or icy terrain to eliminate dangers is not only arduous but also very dangerous. With the assistance of professional drones, a lot of manpower and resources can be saved, and the efficiency is much higher.

"Director Qi, please pay close attention to legal and regulatory matters. As for policy-related issues, Consultant Zheng will need to inquire about them. Many areas are currently uncharted territory both domestically and internationally, so it's best to report any major moves in advance..."

Qi Zhaoyun silently wrote down Jin Shang's instructions in her notebook, while Zheng Liangzhi replied with a smile:
"This is quite a workload. There are many things I don't know who to ask. I can only ask them one by one, and all I get are vague replies."

For example, drone freight involves airspace use, especially low and medium airspace, and it's difficult to find clear guidelines. But to say that no department is in charge and that it can be used arbitrarily is certainly impossible.

"It's just a gesture. Everyone knows this is a newly emerging regulatory loophole, but we can't deliberately try to exploit it."

“We’ve spoken up, but nobody cares. It’s not that we’re deliberately causing trouble for everyone… That’s a good approach. Mr. Jin’s handling of these kinds of incidents is becoming increasingly prudent.”

“At our company level, there must be many similar cases. It’s unrealistic to apply them one by one, but we can’t leave any room for criticism in the general direction.”

Don't underestimate these seemingly minor details. They can play a decisive role in determining one's character at crucial moments. They can turn major issues into minor ones and minor issues into nothing. Slightly inappropriate behavior is just a harmless violation, a minor slap on the wrist, and there's no need to make a big deal out of it.

In addition, since Kim Sang is a spoiled brat with a powerful background, as long as there is a plausible reason, no one will really make things difficult for him.

After several years in business, Jin Shang has come to realize that in the cutthroat world of commerce, one must never be too honest. If you don't take advantage of others when you can, you'll be seen as a fool. If you're too honest and dare not cross the line when you can get away with something, you'll be looked down upon by your peers, superiors, partners, investors, and even subordinates.

In this arena of fame and fortune, there are hunters and beasts everywhere. If you are not aggressive, you will be seen as weak and not strong enough. Why should you let ambitious subordinates follow you?
With just a few stinking bucks?
Anyone with a bit of ability won't think the boss is being generous; instead, they'll genuinely believe they're highly capable and deserve better treatment.

The meeting had been going on for a while, so Zheng Liangzhi stretched his stiff neck and arms slightly before responding:

"Looks like I need to contact my old friends more often, Mr. Jin. Please save some of those good teas you brought back for me."

Part of it is for personal consumption as a benefit, and the other part is for entertaining guests.

"Okay, I'll have my father-in-law bring some more after we finish drinking. Let's finalize the cargo center logistics airport and drone airspace usage as soon as possible. Negotiations with the local authorities and construction will take at least two or three years, so we need to hurry."

(End of this chapter)