Chapter 731: An Unexpected Change

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1078 California Avenue in Palo Alto is a 5,000-square-meter, two-storey commercial office area. Since Tesla was acquired by Guo Shouyun, it has moved here. The first floor is dedicated to the research and development of electric vehicles, and the second floor is dedicated to the research and development of automotive batteries.

"Squeak...!"

With the sound of brakes, Guo Shouyun stepped down from the test car that Tesla had just successfully developed.

"The handling and stability are good. However, as a high-end sports car, its acceleration performance to 100 kilometers is still less than 5 seconds, which is still unqualified. In addition, the journey of 250 kilometers on a single charge is still a bit short. ”

Martin Abbard nodded, "Regarding the acceleration caused by the gearbox, we are already working on a multi-pole motor. However, there is no precedent in the world for systematic research and development between high-voltage and high-power electronic control systems and gearbox coordination, and we can only do research and development from scratch, which will take time to solve. ”

"As for the car range, we are currently using the world's most advanced car battery, unless we can make a breakthrough in battery technology, it is difficult to increase the driving range on a single charge. ”

"So, it will take time as well. And of course enough money!"

Guo Shouyun's tone didn't know whether he was happy or angry, and Martin Ahmed, who was listening to it, nodded silently.

"To what extent have we developed our own battery technology now?" Guo Shouyun asked.

“1.7AH！”

AH means number of hours and is an indicator of battery capacity. The meaning is that the battery with the same voltage is discharged according to the specified current, and the capacity is large with large ampere-hours.

"It seems that you have made a lot of breakthroughs in battery research and development during this time. ”

Although this figure is far from comparable to the battery performance ten years later. But now, it's advanced. Nowadays, the world's mainstream automotive battery capacity is about 12V/1.5AH.

"However, we still can't solve the wear and tear of lithium batteries in low temperature environments. ”

The loss of lithium batteries at low temperatures, especially below zero degrees Celsius, has not been solved even before Guo Shouyun crosses, let alone now. Moreover, now electric vehicles are just in their infancy, and car batteries are more lead-acid batteries. Lead and its oxide are made as electrode materials, and sulfuric acid solution is used as electrolyte. The advantage of a low cost of ownership, but also the disadvantage is obvious, low energy density and short service life. Therefore, in the next few years, in addition to electric bicycles still in use, car batteries are basically eliminated.

Then there is the nickel-metal hydride battery, the positive electrode is a compound of nickel-metal hydride, and the negative electrode is metal hydride, its energy density, the number of charge and discharge times is not much higher than that of lead-acid batteries, and the electrolyte is non-flammable, the safety is guaranteed, and the manufacturing process is mature, BYD was the world's second largest nickel-metal hydride battery manufacturer before making a car. However, because the NiMH battery has average charging efficiency, charging and memory effect, and cannot use high-voltage fast charging, it is not suitable for the single power source of the car and is suitable for auxiliary engine work.

At present, because the technology of automotive lithium batteries is not mature, there are different automotive battery companies and institutions for research and development, including lead-acid batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries. However, Guo Shouyun has foreknowledge, and has long reversed the research and development direction of Tesla and Hunan Torch's automotive batteries to the field of lithium batteries.

However, although they are both his companies, the R&D direction of the two companies is different. Hunan Torch develops lithium iron phosphate batteries, while Tesla develops ternary material batteries.

Compared with lithium titanate, lithium manganese oxide and lithium cobalt oxide batteries, lithium iron sulfate and ternary material batteries have the advantage of low cost because they do not use rare metals in the positive and negative electrode materials, and have gradually become a wide choice for automotive batteries.

As for how to make up for the disadvantages of lithium batteries, and further develop solid-state lithium batteries, it is still too early to choose graphene batteries or hydrogen fuel cells.

"Science and technology research and development takes time! Step by step, the energy density and service life of lithium batteries are improved. ”

Martin Abbard nodded and glanced at the big boss's face, "I... Our R&D funding is somewhat insufficient. ”

He is a little lacking in confidence, because since Guo Shouyun acquired Tesla, he has burned more than $20 million in research and development, but he has not seen any results for more than a year. The most important thing is that the burning of money will continue, and when and how much it will be burned, Martin Abbard also has no bottom in his heart.

However, Guo Shouyun doesn't seem to care about Tesla's burning of money. After listening to his words, his expression remained unchanged and said: "In the afternoon, I will ask people to put $30 million into the company's finances, and the research and development of new cars and lithium batteries will not stop." ”

"Yes!"

Martin Abbard, who was relieved, nodded hurriedly.

"Alright, I'm leaving. Remember to notify me of any new results!"

After the work of inspecting Tesla was completed, Guo Shouyun left. But when he returned to the Hanshan Courtyard, the first thing he ushered in was not good news.

"Boss, I just received a call from Richard Grubman who declined your invitation and did not want to leave Maersk Group as CEO of Universal and apologized to you. Wang Jue hurriedly walked in with his mobile phone.

Years of business experience have made Guo Shouyun's mentality calm. Even the sudden receipt of such bad news did not make him lose his cool.

"Do you know why?"

"I don't know yet. Wang Jue shook his head.

"Give me the phone!"

Guo Shouyun's work phone is generally kept by Wang Jue.

After picking it up, I found Richard Grubman's phone and dialed it. It didn't take long for him to connect, but it was not Grubman who was waiting for him, but the latter's assistant.

"Mr. Guo, I'm sorry. Mr. Grubman is in session. ”

"I have something very important to talk to him about and I want to talk to him on the phone right now. ”

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Guo. Maersk's internal rules stipulate that no one is allowed to make or receive phone calls during the meeting. Mr. Grubman, as a member of the Executive Committee, is also required to comply with this provision. ”

"Then when will he dismiss?" asked Guo Shouyun after a moment of silence.

"It's not clear. But Maersk's Monday office meeting will be very long, and it is normal to be open until 22 o'clock in the evening. ”

"Well, I understand! You tell Grubman that I respect his choice. I hope there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future. So be it!"

Guo Shouyun didn't give the other party time to reply, so he hung up the phone. He didn't say anything threatening, and with his current status, saying this kind of hooligan talk when a child fights will not do anything at all except to laugh and be generous.

If Richard Grubman is to be remorseful, the best way to do that is to grow Universal into the world's largest logistics company.

Of course, now Guo Shouyun wants to understand the reason why Richard Grubman changed his mind halfway. You must know that when he was in the UK, he had agreed to be the CEO of Universal Company, and this time he would go to the headquarters of Maersk in Denmark in order to resign.

"Get Will!"

Wang Jue nodded and went out quickly. After a short time, a thin young man with glasses, not too big eyes with wisdom, and wearing a black suit walked in.

Will Harrington, the head of the Information Management Department under Guo Shouyun, collects, compiles and analyzes business intelligence and information from around the world.

In the four years since the establishment of the Information Management Department, the latter has established 37 large databases based on different countries, which are divided into different subsystems according to business, politics and personalities. The different subsystems will be enriched according to the development of society.

Today, more than 100 people in the entire information management department are analyzing, summarizing and building files based on the world's major newspapers every day. Let this huge information management department continue to improve.

As the data analysis model of the information management department becomes more and more accurate, the content becomes richer and richer. It has increasingly become an indispensable institution for Guo Shouyun's decision-making.

Only by knowing each other and knowing oneself can one not be defeated in a hundred battles. For the investment of the information management department, Guo Shouyun has never been less.

"Boss!"

Guo Shouyun nodded and said directly: "Is there a big change in Maersk's interior?"

He asked himself if the treatment he gave Richard Grubman was not low. And on such a basis, he can still be allowed to reverse his previous decision, and there must be a greater temptation waiting for him. And this temptation, most likely, is the CEO of Maersk.

"There is no such news yet. However, the Danish newspaper "Izvestia" exposed an unconfirmed news two days ago. Maersk CEO West Martin and board chairman Jim Hagerman quarreled at a board meeting. The former greeted the latter's mother, and the two sides got into a fight. Of course, when questioned by reporters, both sides denied the content of the news report and said that there was nothing wrong with their friendship. But judging from some of the videos that have been exposed, their subtle facial expressions appear stiff when they mention each other, so it's safe to assume that something must have gone wrong with their relationship. However, it is not yet certain whether it will make a big move at the board meeting, as exposed by the newspaper "Izvestia". ”

The Information Management Department has not only psychology experts, but also micro-expression experts. So Guo Shouyun did not doubt Will Harrington's analysis.

"If it's true, then it all makes sense. Guo Shouyun nodded and said in a low voice.

According to his understanding, Jim Hagerman, chairman of the board of directors of Maersk, holds 13.5% of the company's shares. And because of West Martin's strong leadership style, the relationship between the two sides has not been very friendly. Last year, there was news that the two sides had a quarrel at the company's annual meeting. Although, as this time, both sides have denied each other's media reports. But if you look closely, you will find that wherever there is a Wester, there is certainly no Jim Hagerman. Unless it's the kind of occasion where both parties have to be present, such as a board meeting.

"Boss, the things you have made me pay attention to have a new change. Will Harrington handed over a stack of photos to Guo Shouyun.

After turning it over, Guo Shouyun's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. It wasn't until I finished turning it over and let out a breath that I calmed down.

"No one found out, did you?"

"We used state-of-the-art equipment and the people who shot were veterans of the industry, so the whole process was safe. ”

Guo Shouyun nodded, swept the photo in his hand, and pondered for a moment, "Continue to pay attention to this matter, don't make a public announcement for the time being." ”

"Understood!"

After waving his hand to let Will Harrington leave, looking at the photo in his hand, Guo Shouyun's expression became heavy.