R&D Team Works Overtime!

Xu Yifan sat down at the table with the R&D personnel and didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up a pair of unused chopsticks and quickly took several bites of food.

After eating, he raised the green bottle in his hand towards the battery R&D staff at the same table.

"Brothers, let's have a toast!"

"Cheers!"

Immediately, several researchers raised their wine bottles. Those who could drink, drank; those who couldn't, drank beverages. They all raised their glasses and drank heartily.

Over this period, Xu Yifan had become very familiar with several of the R&D personnel. They were all in their twenties and thirties, and they often went out for late-night snacks, barbecue, and so on.

Occasionally, they would even go get foot massages together!

Everyone was used to it by now.

After taking a heavy gulp of beer, Xu Yifan continued to chat with them as if they were family.

"It's almost Chinese New Year, time flies so fast!"

"In the blink of an eye, you've all been with our company for several months."

"How is it? Now that the year is ending, is there anything you want to tell me?"

Xu Yifan asked with a smile.

The R&D personnel responded heartily.

"Nothing much to say, it's all in the drinks!" One researcher raised his beer bottle and took a big gulp.

The rest of them shared their feelings about their months at the Jiuzhou factory.

"Working at our factory is very enjoyable. There's no backstabbing, and no amateurs bossing around experts."

"Mainly, President Xu, you are just too good!"

"Hmm, apart from the lab equipment being a bit lacking, everything else in terms of life is great."

"That's right, that's right! I never expected to earn so much money in just a few months!"

"Honestly, I've never heard of any senior colleagues having a better work or living environment than us. President Xu even drinks with us, gets barbecue, and foot massages from time to time!"

"The salary is also high. To be honest, I feel a bit embarrassed to be earning such a high salary!"

During the last technical breakthrough, these R&D personnel directly earned over 300,000 yuan. Combined with their salaries over the past few months, they had nearly 400,000 yuan in savings!

This was in less than half a year. If they could maintain this income for the remaining half of the year, they would directly earn a million yuan annually!

Such salary and benefits were already comparable to the annual salaries of top researchers, especially since several of them were postgraduates.

Naturally, everyone was very satisfied with this.

"As long as everyone is living well here, I believe things will only get better in the future!"

Raising their glasses, Xu Yifan and the R&D personnel clinked them in the air.

After taking a sip of beer, he said somewhat sheepishly.

"By the way, regarding the Chinese New Year holiday break this time, I have a small request."

Guessing that there might not be a holiday, everyone showed a hesitant expression.

Lu Jingping took a sip of beer and smiled, "President Xu, just say it. Whatever the arrangement, I believe you won't treat us unfairly!"

After a moment of hesitation, remembering how they usually got along, they realized that President Xu always considered everything thoroughly. As their minds were put at ease, they directly pressed him.

"Yes, yes!"

"Just tell us directly, we're all insiders here!"

With a sigh, Xu Yifan continued to speak to them.

"Everyone already knows the current situation of our factory."

"What I want to say is that the current scene is like oil on a raging fire – it looks prosperous, but it's merely a false prosperity, easily susceptible to devastating blows."

"Our factory is about to face a huge crisis!"

"Currently, our product, Jiuzhou Mini, ultimately lacks its own core technology, and the factory is just a small, unknown brand."

"Currently, Jiuzhou Mini is merely a local enterprise in a fifth-tier small city. Only locals have heard of this brand."

"Looking at the provincial and national scope, Jiuzhou is a very small local enterprise with no recognition whatsoever."

The R&D personnel listened quietly. Xu Yifan took another sip of beer and continued.

"The reason our factory has reached this point is, firstly, our products are quite conscientious, and secondly, we found a market niche."

"But the market is too large. It's not something a small factory with insufficient production capacity and no reputation like ours can fully capture right now. Next year, as our shipments increase, major car companies will definitely notice our market. At that time, if a large automotive brand wants to compete for this market, we will have absolutely no competitive advantage! Firstly, we lack recognition. If an automotive manufacturing brand also enters this field, consumers will definitely trust a brand they've heard of before over an enterprise they've never heard of, or even a domestic or joint-venture brand. This is the first point, and the second point."

Our stores are far too few; we only have one in this city right now. How can we compare to those major car companies with 4S dealerships all over the country?

In just a few months, they can stock their brand stores across the country with vehicles similar to our Jiuzhou Mini for sale.

At that point, the entirely blank market will be quickly devoured!

"Joint ventures might not come, but domestic brands definitely will. Take those brands that sell only a few cars a year, like Shuanghuan Auto, Hafei Auto, Lifan Auto, even Chery, BYD, and so on!"

Following Xu Yifan's description, the researchers considered it and realized it was indeed true. The Jiuzhou Automobile Factory was in grave danger!

The researchers present sighed with emotion.

"So our factory is this dangerous? I've always been quite optimistic about it."

"I thought our factory was doing well too. I even wanted to buy a Jiuzhou Mini to drive around the city for fun."

"The transportation needs of the elderly."

"A blank market is like a big cake. It's one thing if no one discovered it before, but now that it has been, competitors will definitely emerge."

After the researchers' sighs, Lu Jingping finally asked, "How do you plan to deal with this, Mr. Xu?"

Since Xu Yifan knew the problem, he must have a solution. They were all R&D personnel, not economists or salespeople!

Taking a bite of the braised prawns made by the chef, which tasted quite good, Xu Yifan replied.

"It all depends on you. The Jiuzhou factory must possess its own core technology!

We need to give our products an advantage that other similar products don't have, a technology that other car companies cannot imitate or manufacture in a short period."

Reaching for the braised carp with his chopsticks, Xu Yifan took a large bite of meat and another sip of wine before continuing.

"For the new energy vehicles we are currently manufacturing, the three-electric system is the most crucial part.

Battery, motor, and electric control.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries allow for longer vehicle range and higher instantaneous power output, overcoming the shortcomings of traditional batteries that age easily and require replacement every two years or so.

The motor is equivalent to the engine in a traditional car. The motor determines how much horsepower the vehicle can generate and the maximum speed it can maintain.

The electric control system efficiently coordinates the power transmission between the battery and the motor. A good electric control system is responsive, with no delay, providing power instantly when needed.

The reason some cars are so enjoyable to drive is largely due to their responsiveness. The moment you touch the pedal, the power comes immediately, creating a feeling of unity between the driver and the car, allowing for agile control.

Conversely, some vehicles react slowly after you press the accelerator, or the power output fluctuates inconsistently, making them difficult to enjoy driving!"

Drinking wine, eating dishes, the cold-dressed pig ears were also good!

Xu Yifan continued speaking to the researchers, who had stopped eating and were listening intently.

"Battery, motor, and electric control – these are the three puzzle pieces of a new energy vehicle.

By assembling these three pieces, we can create a new energy vehicle that is no less than a traditional fuel vehicle, and even surpass ordinary fuel cars technologically!

Among these, the battery is the most critical. If we have an excellent battery.

We can achieve a longer cruising range, two hundred kilometers, three hundred kilometers, or even more!

Then, even if other major car brands enter this field, we will have the strength to compete with them!"

It wasn't until Xu Yifan finished speaking that everyone came to their senses.

"I... I understand now!"

"Suddenly, working overtime doesn't seem so bad!"

"Our work is so important! I thought it was just a nice-to-have before; ordinary lead-acid batteries would suffice."

"If the Jiuzhou factory disappears, where else would we find such good benefits and such a good boss!"

"Of course, we should contribute to the company!"

Raising his wine bottle to everyone, Xu Yifan took a sip of beer. "Thank you all for your understanding!"

"Of course, I'm not an unreasonable person!"

"Here's how it is: I see that our battery R&D is basically in the final stages. It should be completed within two months, right?"

Xu Yifan asked Lu Jingping, who was in charge of the entire R&D project.

Lu Jingping thought for a moment and said solemnly, "That's right. If things go quickly, it might be around one month."

"That's good. Since we can't let everyone go home to their families for the New Year this year, I'm giving everyone a subsidy of 10,000 yuan each. If you need it, you can bring your relatives and friends over for the New Year.

In addition, once this R&D project is completed, I will grant everyone one month of paid leave to compensate for not being able to reunite with family this New Year!"

With the solution presented, everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Although they would have done their best to support the factory even without compensation, who wouldn't want to rest and spend time with their families?

This was good. Even though they couldn't go home immediately, they could make up for it later. Everyone understood the importance of priorities.

They all raised their glasses and said solemnly.

"We will definitely give it our all!"

"I knew Mr. Xu would never treat us unfairly!"

"Exchanging one week of vacation for a month is a great deal for us!"

"Mr. Xu, don't worry. After we finish eating, we'll head back to work!"

Raising the beer mug, which was about a third full, Xu Yifan gestured to everyone. "Thank you all for your understanding. I'll finish this, and you all can drink as you please!"

Gulp, gulp, gulp. He drank it all in one go!

Seeing this, everyone else also finished the beer or drinks in their hands.

In one gulp!

After drinking and eating some more dishes, Xu Yifan asked Lu Jingping beside him, "Our battery research and development is nearing its end, right? If we're going to build a battery factory next, what kind of equipment will we need?"

"Build a factory?" Lu Jingping was a little surprised.

Xu Yifan affirmed, "That's right. For some large equipment and technical personnel reserves, I think it's better to start earlier than to scramble to purchase them when the time comes. It can save a lot of preparation time later!"

"Regarding factory construction, the overall lithium battery manufacturing process can be divided into the front-end process of electrode sheet manufacturing, the mid-end process of cell synthesis, and the back-end process of formation and packaging.

The production goal of the front-end process is to complete the manufacturing of the positive and negative electrode sheets. The main processes include: mixing, coating, calendering, slitting, tab making, and die cutting.

The equipment involved mainly includes: mixers, coaters, roller presses, slitters, tab makers, die cutters, etc..."

"And there are many methods for preparing LiFePO4 cathode materials, which can be broadly divided into liquid-phase methods and solid-phase methods.

Among them, liquid-phase methods include low-temperature synthesis methods such as co-precipitation, hydrothermal, and sol-gel.

Solid-phase methods include high-temperature solid-phase sintering, carbothermal reduction, and microwave sintering, each with its own advantages and disadvantages..."

Lu Jingping explained various preparation methods.

In the end, Xu Yifan chose to adopt the high-temperature solid-phase method.

This method of preparing cathode materials has advantages such as simple process, ease of industrialization, easy removal of decomposition products to reduce impurities, easy control of preparation conditions, and relatively low equipment prices.

The disadvantages are that the crystal size of the produced cathode material is larger, the phase is uneven, and the calcination time is long, etc. The performance of the newly produced lithium iron phosphate battery will have a certain attenuation compared to laboratory conditions.

After deciding on the general plan for the battery factory construction, Xu Yifan asked Lu Jingping to list the equipment that could be confirmed for use and submit it to the procurement department for purchasing.

With the business matters settled, they didn't drink excessively. Everyone continued to eat dishes and food, preparing to go back to work after the meal!

After eating with the R&D department for a while, Xu Yifan went to the dinner table with the managers of other departments.

Cheers!

After this reunion dinner, the following week everyone would take their holiday, be on duty, or continue working!