What's wrong with me being a rich man?

Chapter 516 Trolls
The first day of the Guangzhou Auto Show is media day, followed by an opening to professional and general public visitors.

However, despite it being a media day, the number of people present on the first day was quite small.

Leader Wan is very concerned about the development of new energy in China. He also has high expectations for the two models from BYD and Silicon Carbon Group, which are clearly positioned at 20+ and 30+ yuan respectively. However, if he had to rank them in his mind, he would be more worried about the prospects of Silicon Carbon Group.

Because even without the Tang, BYD still has many other models, so for Silicon Carbon Group to focus on just one "Jiuzhou" model would seem like a desperate gamble.

In addition, the vehicle registration information for "Tang" and "Jiuzhou" is very clear, and he naturally has analysis reports on the models around him. Regarding the sales of the latter... he is not very optimistic.

To put it bluntly, having both extended range and six seats seems abnormal, so how can it win over consumers?
The first thing Leader Wan did upon seeing Yu Xing today was to ask him a question, but after hearing the answer, he felt that the confidence Yu Xing displayed seemed a bit too strong.

Is he truly strong, or does he need to put on a show like this in front of me?

He paused for a moment, then waved to indicate that the reporters didn't need to follow. He pointed to the brand display area in front, inviting Yu Xing to walk around and take a look. He then asked his second question: "Tesla's Model S is also on display today. I see that it is firmly using ternary lithium batteries, but you didn't choose that option?"

"We finalized the decision based on the situation. Our cooperation with CATL has yielded results that are well-suited for range-extended vehicles," Yu Xing replied. "There are two main issues with lithium iron phosphate batteries: energy density and low-temperature performance. Well, if we include consistency issues, there are three."

"Our current energy density is still about 20% lower than that of ternary lithium batteries. CATL has worked hard in this area, which has increased costs, but it is acceptable for our range-extended vehicles."

"As for low-temperature performance, both lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium batteries have the problem of reduced range in low temperatures in winter. We tested it ourselves with a Model S, but the range reduction was greater for lithium iron phosphate batteries, resulting in reduced range, longer charging times, and decreased power."

"But when we make range extenders, we have an engine, and the engine's charging and waste heat make up for those problems quite well."

Yu Xing simply described the solution to Leader Wan without elaborating on the details.

The simultaneous charging and discharging of the engine can reduce the frequency of deep battery discharge and avoid voltage drop caused by increased internal resistance at low temperatures. In addition, the Silicon Carbon Group has developed a power adaptive control algorithm to adjust the power generation according to the real-time status of the battery.

As for waste heat utilization, the waste heat from the "Kyushu" engine can be transferred to the battery pack through the circulation system. It only takes 20 minutes to raise the battery temperature from -20 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius during low-temperature startup.

Other aspects are also involved. For example, lithium iron phosphate batteries are prone to estimation errors when the remaining power is low, while a stable power supply from the engine can reduce the fluctuation of battery power in the low range.

Leader Wan said thoughtfully, "This engine replacement is good. How did you solve the consistency issue?"

"This is mainly thanks to CATL," Yu Xing said hesitantly. "There's a lot to say, and I'm just repeating what they said. Basically, they improved the crystal structure by doping with elements such as aluminum and magnesium, which increased the lithium-ion diffusion rate. They also conducted a full inspection of parameters such as voltage and internal resistance of individual cells to optimize them. It was basically an optimization from start to finish."

Seeing that Leader Wan nodded, he smiled and pointed to the BMW stands in front: "We are also learning extensively. BMW has a twin-cylinder range-extended i3 this year. I even had an argument with someone about it when I attended the last auto show, but its aluminum alloy battery pack casing is indeed lightweight and has good heat dissipation."

The BMW i3 has a range extender version, but it uses a twin-cylinder engine transplanted from a motorcycle.

It was launched and put into production overseas last year, and only went on the domestic market in September this year.

When Yu Xing mentioned it, and thinking about the upcoming listing of "Jiuzhou", he felt a sense of things having changed.

As Wan listened to Yu Xing's story, he smiled and said, "Mr. Yu, everyone thinks you're someone who transitioned from the internet industry to car manufacturing, but after years of hard work in Lingang, you're now a seasoned professional in the automotive industry."

Yu Xing smiled slightly: "Cars are destined to be electrified. Traditional car companies have various considerations and are relatively passive in their actions. Naturally, people from other industries have come across the opportunity to cross over."

Whether it's Elon Musk of Tesla, Wang Chuanfu of BYD, or Yu Xing of Silicon Carbon Group, none of them come from the traditional automotive industry, and the same is true for NIO and XPeng, which are currently preparing to launch.

Leader Wan is not the typical leader; upon hearing this, he nodded in agreement.

He didn't elaborate on this point, but instead pointed to the BMW display car in front of him and asked, "Mr. Yu, what do you think of this BMW i8?"

Looking at the BMW i8, Yu Xing exclaimed in admiration: "This plug-in hybrid i8 uses a carbon fiber body, laser headlights, and butterfly doors to create a sense of futurism and luxury. The combination of a 1.5T three-cylinder engine and an electric motor truly demonstrates the luxury brand's attitude towards environmental protection."

Leader Wan: "..."

He said somewhat irritably, "No twists or turns? Is this your true evaluation of it, Mr. Yu Xing?"

Yu Xing looked around to make sure no one was nearby, and laughed, "But, this price of 198 million and pure electric range of 37 kilometers is more like an environmental utopia performance art."

Leader Wan's expression was a bit strange. He turned to the side and saw the Audi booth across the street. He reached out and asked, "Mr. Yu, what do you think of that Audi A3 e-tron?"

Yu Xing had just taken a quick look around and replied, "This Audi has the luxury genes of the four-ring brand. With the plug-in hybrid system, it runs smoothly and is exceptionally quiet. And it's only priced at 28 yuan. It really allows the new energy technology of luxury brands to reach more mid-range consumers."

Leader Wan glanced at Yu Xing.

“Selling for 28 yuan with just a badge from the Fourth Ring Road, and boasting a pure electric range of 50 kilometers, it seems that all luxury brand plug-in hybrids are going to follow the same route—just creating a new way to rip off consumers.” Yu Xing exclaimed in amazement, “Audi’s approach is to use a badge as a basis for technology.”

Leader Wan couldn't help but laugh and said, "President Yu, you really have a big mouth. Even if you fail to build cars, you can still be a car reviewer."

He and Yu Xing continued walking forward, stopping in front of the Toyota booth to ask, "Mr. Yu, what do you think of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles?"

Toyota's booth appeared much more technologically advanced compared to other foreign brands.

The vehicle on display was an FCV hydrogen fuel cell concept car, boasting a 3-minute refueling time, a 500-kilometer range, and zero emissions. Many journalists had already taken photos at the booth, showcasing the commercial potential of hydrogen fuel cells. European automakers, caught in the storm of the peak season, have already shattered the clean energy claim of diesel. Internationally, there are now discussions on both electric and hydrogen routes, or rather, the latter seems more like hype. However, BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi) have all engaged in formal discussions and made tentative investments.

“This approach looks good,” Yu Xing said directly this time, “but it requires other car companies to follow Japanese patents and also requires huge investments in hydrogen refueling stations. It’s a bit like using a rocket to deliver packages, and it’s not easy to implement.”

Whether it's business model and market considerations, or supporting issues, it's difficult to implement it on a large scale.

Leader Wan couldn't help but chuckle: "President Yu, your confidence seems to come from comparison."

“Yes, you can only know after a real comparison. Consumers also need to compare. Truth becomes clearer through debate.” Yu Xing said seriously. “It’s not that there are no good cars. The Model S over there is very mature, but it costs more than 70 yuan. Price is a very important factor. This price is still too expensive.”

During their walk, Leader Wan discussed Tesla's contacts with domestic companies, mentioning the possibility of Tesla building a factory in China.

Yu Xing was naturally not surprised by this, and simply listened to the information revealed during the process.

The two walked to the Renault booth.

Without needing Wan's prompting, Yu Xing praised, "Renault's ZOE is already the best-selling electric car in Europe, with a range of 210 kilometers, which is more than enough for daily commuting. Its 'battery leasing' model can also significantly lower the barrier to entry for purchasing a car."

The Renault ZOE supports battery leasing and battery swapping.

When Yu Xing first learned about this, he called it the "NIO" model: three-minute battery swap, completely solving range anxiety, and monthly battery leasing. However, it cannot be called the "Renault" model now. It is also an idea learned from and optimized by the bankrupt Israeli company Better Place.

Better Place was founded in 2007 and its main business is swapping batteries for electric vehicles. It buys batteries from battery manufacturers and then provides replacement and maintenance services to consumers.

It compares electric vehicles to customized mobile phones from telecom operators, where users can buy the vehicle at a low price and then purchase a special package from the company to enjoy services such as battery swapping and charging.

It is worth mentioning that Better Place even reached a cooperation agreement with China Southern Power Grid in 2011, and has already carried out battery swapping cooperation projects in Guangzhou and other places.

However, it went bankrupt in 2013, and Renault, which had previously supplied cars for it, took over the business and launched the ZOE that appeared at the Guangzhou Auto Show today. Last year, it sold more than 8000 cars in Europe.

Leader Wan was also intrigued by this new model of electricity leasing and swapping, and asked, "President Yu, do you think Renault's model can succeed?"

"To talk about the halo of being the European electric vehicle sales champion, it's actually not a huge success. It's just the best of a bad bunch," Yu Xing pondered. "I don't know if this battery swapping model will work, but it definitely won't work for this Renault model. Its brand doesn't have a premium in China, and it requires a huge investment. It's very difficult, very difficult."

After listening to Yu Xing talk about these car models, Leader Wan finally couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Yu, with so many car companies and so many models, you always say that this one is no good and that one is no good. Have you seen any new energy vehicle models that you think can succeed today?"

"What new energy vehicle models did I see today?" Yu Xing pondered. "The Mercedes-Benz S500 sells for 199.8 million yuan, with a pure electric range of only 30 kilometers. It's no exaggeration to call it an environmentally friendly toy. The BMW 530Le has the same problem with pure electric range, only 58 kilometers. It's priced relatively cheaply at 70 yuan in this batch, but it's not cost-effective in the market."

"The Venucia e30, although it is an independent brand, is actually just a rebadged Nissan Leaf and a Volkswagen Golf GTE. The hybrid version with a 1.4T engine and an electric motor is said to have a fuel consumption of 1.5L per 100km, but it only has a pure electric range of 50km. It seems like they want to save fuel but don't want to save money."

"Chery's eQ uses a lot of engineering plastics in its non-structural body parts, and it's priced at 6.98 yuan, but it really looks rudimentary."

Yu Xing didn't look at Chery's cars from his own perspective; instead, he touched the car body and felt that its target customer group would probably find it difficult to accept the materials used in its vehicles.

Furthermore, this rudimentary approach is also due to the fact that the surface of the plastic parts is only treated with ordinary spraying, without galvanizing or electrophoresis. For car owners in coastal areas, the paint may start to bubble and peel off after two or three years, which is likely due to the underlying plastic being exposed and aging faster.

Leader Wan tilted his head back. Well, when he started criticizing, he didn't care about Chinese or foreigners, or social status. He criticized those with 199.8 million, and he criticized those with 6.98.

He was about to shake his head when he suddenly saw Wang Chuanfu from BYD approaching from the opposite side. A thought struck him, and he suppressed a laugh and asked, "President Yu, you've given so many negative reviews, but it seems you haven't mentioned BYD yet. Have you seen that Tang model? You think there are no heroes at today's auto show, right?"

"4.9 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h is not bad," Yu Xing said. "I'm not just saying this randomly. Cars in different price ranges have different needs. The quality of the Tang can still be improved, especially the plastic feel of the interior. If I had to say, it's half a hero."

Leader Wan drew out his voice slightly: "Oh? Tang can only be considered half a hero, President Wang, did you hear that?"

Wang Chuanfu had already reached Yu Xing's back, but remained silent after a glance, naturally hearing this assessment.

Yu Xing followed the gaze, turned around in surprise, and saw Wang Chuanfu looking somewhat embarrassed. He greeted him and shook hands.

Leader Wan, who had also visited BYD multiple times, jokingly said, "President Wang, how was it? Was it a pity that you didn't get to see the car exhibition by the Silicon Carbon Group? Otherwise, you could have commented on the cars made by President Yu."

"It won't be long before I can review Mr. Yu's car, and I'll place an order then." Wang Chuanfu smiled and said sincerely, "Mr. Yu knows cars, and his opinions are very fair."

Leader Wan was genuinely surprised this time, realizing that President Wang wasn't being sarcastic.

Seeing his leader's expression, Wang Chuanfu continued, "President Yu visited Pengcheng before and had a discussion with us. He did give us a lot of useful advice, and I am very grateful to him. We have also learned from President Yu's user-centric approach internally."

"You're too kind, you're too kind." Yu Xing stopped criticizing at this point. "We also have a very mutually beneficial cooperation with BYD on patents. Today we're just browsing the exhibition and chatting. As for cars, we have one principle in car manufacturing: cars are meant to serve people."

When Leader Wan saw the two men's expressions, he realized that President Yu hadn't just criticized them at the auto show; he had already gone to BYD to criticize them as well.

(End of this chapter)