Although I have seen photos of the China Research Institute on the Internet, when I really came to this building, Xiong Fanxing from the United States still felt a sense of advanced science and technology coming to me.

It looks like the front half of a spaceship, landing above the ground level. The second phase of the research institute, which is being erected on a tripod in the distance, will make up for the defects of the upper and back body.

"I love the feeling that I can tell my son about working in a spaceship in the future, which is cool!"

Xiong Fanxing is an American, and his father immigrated to the United States when he was young, so he is a veritable yellow-skinned and white-hearted banana man. However, since he was instilled in Chinese by his parents since he was a child, he can be proficient in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

His ancestors can be traced back to Suwu Province, but Xiong Fanxing has no impression of the country. Born and opened his eyes, it was the American dream, but after the age of thirty, he returned to his ancestral hometown to find the Chinese dream.

Seeing the electric QQ previously developed by Zhonghua Group, this car is powered by lead-acid batteries commonly used in electric motorcycles, Xiong Fanxing can see at a glance that this is just a look.

The advantage of lead-acid batteries is that they are cheap and stable, but they have low energy efficiency and short life, and the endurance is too poor for cars.

It's acceptable for electric motorcycles, but it's not the way forward for the future.

This electric QQ claims to have a range of up to 30 kilometers, but in fact, the battery starts to alarm after 16 kilometers, and the weakness of the lead-acid battery can be seen.

However, Zhonghua Group can use the technical improvement of electric motorcycles to create electric vehicles, and also doubled the storage capacity of lead-acid batteries, which really shows a very good research and development strength.

As a key member of GM's EV1 project, Xiong Fanxing knows what the disadvantages of EV1 with lead-acid batteries, which can be recharged less than 500 times, which is very undurable.

In order to find a replacement for the EV1 model, Xiong Fanxing has conducted many experiments, and finally found that lithium batteries are the most suitable for today's technology.

However, before he could verify his speculation, the EV1 project team was disbanded.

The reason why he agreed to come to China was because it allowed him to prove his theories here.

He has set himself two major goals: one is to find out the feasibility of using lithium batteries in electric vehicles. The second is to develop a new hybrid mode on the basis of Toyota's hybrid.

"Everyone is exploring the standards of electric vehicles, especially in terms of batteries. General Motors used lead-acid, Toyota used nickel-metal hydride, Citroen used nickel-chromium, and Nissan tried Sony's lithium batteries. Hundreds of schools of thought contend, there is no unified standard.

It can be said that everyone is now on the same starting line. If we can find the most suitable battery, we can take the lead in the field of electric vehicles. ”

Xiong Fanxing introduced Han Hao and others in his new office.

In the field of electric vehicles, he is undoubtedly one of the most professional and top experts in China.

"One of my Stanford classmates called and asked, what if 10,000 lithium batteries were connected in series? Frankly, it's a crazy idea, you can imagine 10,000 mobile phone batteries connected together, and my answer is that it will immediately burn and burn completely.

But he insisted that the idea could be avoided in a suitable way, and so he was devoting himself to this great cause.

This crazy idea gave me a little inspiration, that is, lithium batteries, if they can be perfectly connected in series, will be a very suitable power source for electric vehicles. Therefore, I would like to receive a grant to do some research in this area. ”

Although he came with the promise of hybridization, Xiong Fanxing did not forget his other idea. While Han Hao, the boss, was present, he had to fight for more benefits for himself.

"But before that, we still have to face the reality of how to get the hybrid mode right. Toyota's hybrid model is very referential, and their patents are very complex, but I have an idea to find another way to achieve the same effect.

Hybrid will be the next evolution mode of the internal combustion engine, and it is difficult to catch up with the international brands with a history of nearly 100 years in the field of internal combustion engines, but we can still try it in the field of hybrid. ”

As the most successful hybrid system on the market, Xiong Fanxing has studied Toyota's THS system deeply. Its outstanding ECVT technology enables the infinitely adjustable gear ratio through a set of planetary gear sets in conjunction with an auxiliary motor. The beauty lies in the clever blending of engine power and motor power to maximize the optimal working conditions for effective use of the engine.

One of Toyota's biggest patents for the hybrid is the ECVT, but Xiong Fanxing already has a rough idea to produce a replacement. If successful, Chunghwa Group will be able to crack Toyota's hybrid model and quickly catch up with the other party.

"I think next year we can sign up for the national 863 new energy vehicle plan. Once successful, it will be a big hero in China's automobile industry. ”

Han Hao was very happy after listening to Xiong Fanxing's introduction, the hybrid system is the next subway station at his fingertips, and whoever arrives first can seize the leading position in the next 10 years.

Plug-in BEVs seem to be a long way off, and the successful commercialization of Toyota's hybrid has made hybrid the most viable route forward. If it can launch its own hybrid system early, Zhonghua Group will quickly leap to the ranks of world-class technology manufacturers.

After receiving the deposit from Chunghwa Group, ZF Group began to relocate the CVT production line to China. All production lines at the European plant have been shipped to Hujiang City, and all CVT transmissions will be produced at ZF's Hujiang plant in the future.

According to the contract, ZF's CVT transmissions will be supplied to Chunghwa Group on a small scale starting from March 1, 2004.

"When will the group of installation engineers in Europe be in place? The production line can't be installed, where will the workers recruited here be trained!"

Xiao Qianyu, as the Chinese person in charge of the CVT project, ran around the Hujiang Customs during this time, and finally picked up the goods. Now the installation engineer in Europe is gone, and she is so anxious that several pimples appear on her face.

Engineers have to prioritize the needs of AT projects, so CVTs far away in China are naturally on the back burner.

"At that time, the supply will not be available, and the compensation is not a small amount, and I don't know what is going on with the people in Europe. ”

As the person in charge, Xiao Qianyu quickly set up her own team to handle the relocation. In the face of her anger in the office, none of her subordinates dared to come out to dissuade her.

As the parachuted deputy general manager, other senior executives of ZF China stood by and watched, intentionally or unintentionally, watching this young woman toss.

Fortunately, Xiao Qianyu has become accustomed to doing everything by herself, and under her guidance, the relocation of ZF's CVT production line is slowly progressing.

In dealing with all aspects, Xiao Qianyu realized that various factors should be taken into account when doing things in China, and she couldn't help but feel unconsciously admired for Han Hao's ability to create such a big foundation.

At the same time, Wei Dajun, the boss of Great Wall Motors, also came to Hujiang City, and their group was destined for Tongji Tongjie Automobile Design Company.

As a high-tech enterprise affiliated to Tongji University, Tongji Tongjie is the largest independent automobile design and engineering company in China and the earliest automobile design and engineering company in China.

Relying on the signboard of Tongji University's automotive department, several university professors and their students founded the company together in 1999.

When many manufacturers are looking for automobile design companies abroad, especially in Italy, Tongji Tongjie Company has won the favor of many domestic independent brand manufacturers by virtue of the signboard of Tongji University and low fees.

What made them a hit was the Changhe Automobile Dolphin series, and Changhe Automobile was in urgent need of a new micro-surface product to replace the market. To this end, Changhe Automobile used a double insurance strategy, commissioned the Japanese Suzuki Company to develop the Walrus model, and tried to get the newly established Tongji Tongjie Company to build the Dolphin model according to the same technical standards.

Tongji Tongjie Company only spent 10 million to complete the development and design of the dolphin, which is one-sixth of the cost used by Suzuki, and the dolphin micro-noodles made are more in line with the aesthetics of Chinese needs. Last year, the Dolphin and Walrus were launched at the same time, and in the end, the Walrus model developed by Suzuki sold less than the Dolphin's one-month performance. Since the beginning of this year, the Walrus model has been mothballed, and the Dolphin can sell nearly 3,000 units per month.

This example shows that independent domestic automobile design companies can also have their own characteristics and strengths, and the cost is not high, which is more in line with the needs of Chinese consumers.

Therefore, Great Wall Motors, which urgently needs Haval CUV to save the scene, has come to the door.

Although Han Zhiyu was recruited from Detroit to serve as the technical director, time was of the essence, and in order to make the imitation Isuzu Axiom roll off the assembly line as soon as possible, Great Wall had to rely on external forces.

"Due to the limited manpower and equipment, we had to come and seek cooperation. As long as you can complete the design project of the Haval CUV on time and before the specified deadline, Great Wall will give you another bonus. Of course, the condition is that you send people to the factory with us, and at the same time tilt the company's resources towards us. ”

Wei Dajun has felt that the wind direction of China's auto market is a little wrong, and the Great Wall pickup truck has begun to be unsalable, and the Great Wall is likely to be in trouble if it cannot come up with a new flagship product next year.

Therefore, he invited Tongji Tongjie Company to join at any cost, and with the help of external forces, Haval CUV landed as soon as possible.

Tongji Tongjie Company has received several small orders with the help of China's SUV craze, but it is the first time in history that a large order of 13 million has been given by Great Wall.

"Thank you for trusting us Chinese designers and believing that the cooperation between our two companies can be a win-win situation. We have advantages in vehicle design, and you have experience in manufacturing technology, and the cooperation is a strong combination. ”

Great Wall Motor's large order made Tongji Tongjie Company happy, especially when they saw the possibility of long-term cooperation between the two sides.

Not everyone can set up their own design and development team like China Automotive Research Institute, and domestic independent automobile brands are weak links in this area, so they give Tongji Tongjie the market demand.

When it comes to car design, Wang Chuanfu of BYD Auto may also have deep feelings.

The self-developed 316 project, which he had high hopes for, wanted to make progress on the Flair model, but in the end, the finished product designed by the 316 disappointed him.

This 316 sample car is like a product of the 80s, and I thought that the level of designers of the merged Qinchuan Automobile Factory should be passable, but the sedan in front of him slapped him hard.

In order to prove that his aesthetics are okay, Wang Chuanfu also specially recruited dealer representatives from BYD Company and asked them to take a look at the 316 model.

"This car can't see the quality of the big sell, especially with a roadblock like Huaxia QQ in front, 316 as a micro car finished product, there is no chance of winning. ”

A dealer representative bluntly announced the gloomy outlook for the 316 model.

"Now Chinese consumers like big cars, and the 316 is too small to be destined to make consumers choose a new car brand for this. ”

Another dealer representative made the same judgment.

This gave Wang Chuanfu, who previously thought that building a car was just a quick hit, and invested nearly 50 million in research and development funds, and finally came out with a doomed product, which made it difficult for him, who has always been arrogant, to accept.

"Smash it for me!"

The more Wang Chuanfu looked at it, the more unpleasant he felt, so he asked people to smash the 316 cars and officially pronounce his death sentence.

The subordinates thought it was Wang Chuanfu's momentary angry words, and no one dared to do it.

As a result, Wang Chuanfu personally took the sledgehammer and smashed it heavily on the 316 body.

"One, two, three ......"

Soon, the 316 prototype became a pile of scrap copper and rotten iron. The hugely invested model was discontinued and refrigerated as it was not available on the market.

"We don't have much time for trial and error, we have to find a reasonable and reliable way, otherwise BYD's entry into the automotive industry will really become a joke. ”

After two days of introspection, Wang Chuanfu decided to learn from the successful domestic automobile companies.

Since Zhonghua Group is developing the best now, especially the "Qin" is so popular, BYD has also followed suit and put the first model on the Corolla.

"China Automobile can learn from it, and we BYD will also imitate and learn!"

Therefore, Wang Chuanfu personally served as the coach and decided to use the F3 project as a breakthrough to realize BYD's car dream.