"Oh, what patent?" asked Konosuke Matsushita curiously.

Xu Zhi said with a smile: "I need all the patents of Panasonic Group in the field of lithium batteries. ”

"Lithium battery technology?" Konosuke Matsushita was stunned and said, "I didn't think that Mr. Xu would be interested in this technology? Mr. Xu should know the current technical difficulties in the field of lithium batteries, right?"

"The biggest problem in the field of lithium batteries is safety, and I know that very well. Xu Zhi smiled and said: "But I am still optimistic about the development opportunities of lithium batteries in the future, I don't know what Mr. Panasonic thinks?"

"Since Mr. Xu is interested in investing in this field that can change human society, I naturally agree. Konosuke Matsushita nodded and smiled, the technology of lithium battery is currently being studied by many companies, and it is still in its early stages, the most suitable anode material has not been found, Panasonic does have some technical data in its hands, but any consortium, as long as it is willing to spend money on research, can also obtain similar results, not to mention that there are many similar patents in the hands of American companies, as long as they are willing to spend money, they can buy these patents from other places.

Moreover, it is only an authorized patent, in fact, there is no direct loss to the company, and it can also earn a patent fee, after all, in this era, lithium batteries are still in the laboratory stage, and any company that invests in research is doing a loss-making business, and it is also a good choice for Panasonic to recover part of the funds.

"Thank you. Xu Zhi said with a smile that lithium battery is a field with a production capacity of nearly 100 billion US dollars in the future, and in the future of the future, the influence and practicality are getting bigger and bigger, unless a new battery technology revolution occurs, otherwise, lithium battery will become a technology that no one can leave.

In fact, in the 60s, the prospect of lithium batteries has been known by researchers in many countries and large companies.

Lithium metal has a small specific gravity among all metals, and the electrode potential is very low, but the energy density is very large, which is the best material to become the positive electrode of the battery.

In the 70s, lithium batteries were already being created for electronic products such as electronic watches, which are extremely confined to space, and it was Panasonic that first realized this technology.

However, there is one of the biggest problems in front of large-scale commercialization, that is, safety, lithium metal has a high energy density, and it is very easy to catch fire when charging, and high-energy lithium batteries are easy to catch fire or even explode when they are used, and even a slight collision and a little higher temperature will cause safety accidents.

Countless scientists have replaced countless materials, and they can not find suitable anode materials and electrolytes, until 1997, an American company invented the structure of lithium iron phosphate, which stabilized the safety of lithium batteries.

Although lithium iron phosphate has its own drawbacks, that is, the energy density is not as good as other active lithium battery types, but it is safe and practical.

Compared with Tesla, which uses ternary lithium batteries, the former is much worse in terms of battery life, but in terms of safety, Tesla is far inferior.

"Then I wonder what percentage of Best Buy can sell its shares?" asked Konosuke Matsushita.

“10%。 Xu Zhi said.

Konosuke Matsushita frowned and said, "10% is too low, I want to be able to get 20% of the stock and get a seat on the board at the same time!"

"The board seat is not good, if Best Buy is listed in the future, Panasonic will get the corresponding board seat in accordance with the U.S. Public Company Act, what does Mr. Panasonic think?" Xu Zhi said with a smile.

Konosuke Matsushita asked, "Will Best Buy be available in the U.S. in the future?"

"Yes, on the one hand, it is possible to finance expansion, and second, since it is better to make American money in the United States, it is more safe to go public in the United States. Xu Zhi replied with a smile.

Konosuke Matsushita nodded and said: "Okay, I can promise to come down, I can not participate in the management of Best Buy, but I need to arrange someone to supervise the finances, and in the future, all the stores of Best Buy, except for Midea, Panasonic's products have the right of first choice in stores." ”

"No problem, it's a reasonable request. Xu Zhi nodded in agreement. Since it is a shareholder, it is natural to have certain privileges in the mall in the future.

Konosuke Matsushita raised his glass and said with a smile, "Then I wish us a happy cooperation." ”

"It was a pleasure to work with. Xu Zhi also picked up his wine glass.

The door of the private room was gently opened, and the waiter served four steaks, which were placed on the table.

Konosuke Matsushita smiled, "Mr. Xu, this is the most expensive Wagyu steak in the world, please." ”

"Well, this is the first time I've tasted Wagyu meat. Xu Zhi looked at the marbled steak in front of him, and couldn't help but have a great appetite.

......

After returning to Xiangjiang, Xu Zhi immediately called He Guoyuan and informed him of the cooperation he had reached with Konosuke Matsushita during his trip to Japan.

"We want to invest in the field of lithium batteries?" He Guoyuan couldn't believe it.

Xu Zhi smiled: "What's the matter?

He Guoyuan said: "Chairman, the lithium battery industry has actually had a history of several decades, but so far, the disposable batteries launched by several companies have successfully entered the market, but the scale is not large.

At present, the biggest problem is that it is easy to cause leakage and fire when the second charge is not solved, and there will never be any market for lithium batteries.

However, the selection of appropriate anode materials and electrolytes is one of the key issues, which involves the research of basic materials, which requires a large number of talents and new laboratories in this area, and Xiangjiang does not have such conditions at all!"

"There is no Xiangjiang, but there is one in the north. Xu Zhi shook his head and smiled.

"The chairman is talking about the mainland?" He Guoyuan asked.

Xu Zhi nodded and smiled: "Yes, the mainland can even build atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs, and there is no need to say much about talents, even if there are some faults in talents due to some reasons, but after all, the population base is over there, and there must be professionals who are suitable for us."

You should send more people to investigate the professors of various universities in the mainland to see if there are any talents in this field, and if they are suitable, they can be invited over. ”

"That's okay, then I'll immediately arrange for the mainland office to investigate the matter. He Guoyuan nodded and agreed: "It's just that as far as I know, university professors in the mainland have a very high status, and I am afraid it will be a little difficult to poach them by money." ”

If it were after the great man's southern tour in 92, the trend of going to the sea to do business spread throughout the mainland, and it would still be possible to invite these university professors to Hong Kong.

However, at present, the mainland has just been reformed and opened up, and it is the time to pay close attention to education, and even college students in the mainland are the pride of the sky, not to mention the existence of being able to cultivate these pride of the sky, which is simply a rare existence.

Xu Zhi thought for a while and said: "In this way, find these people first, don't alarm them, and then our company will cooperate with the Ministry of Education or the other university in the form of commercial cooperation, in this case, it should be no problem." ”

"It works. He Guoyuan nodded and said, if it can be in the name of cooperation, things will be much easier.

Xu Zhi then asked, "How much money has Best Buy invested so far?"

"Best Buy's first phase budget was $100 million, with plans to build 40 supermarket chains, of which 17 are currently under construction, but because the first batch is in big cities, the project budget is $60 million.

The 17 supermarkets are the first batch of operations, and the main purpose is to familiarize the company with the operation of the industry, but also to train enough management personnel.

When all aspects are perfected, if the project itself is running well, it will slowly spread out of the western United States. ”

"Okay, I promised Konosuke Matsushita to sell 10% of Best Buy's shares to Panasonic Group, you pay attention to this matter and handle the financial aspect," Xu Zhi said.

"Okay, I see. He Guoyuan nodded and agreed.