Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 160 Super Battery Factory, loading...

The brand-new No. 1 laboratory building of Yuancheng Company was brightly lit all night long.

The heavy blast-proof door shut out the noise from the outside world, making the inside seem like another world.

The deep hum of precision instruments, the rhythmic suction of the vacuum pump, and Chen Mo's deep and clear commands.

The core R&D team led by Liu Mingzhen operates like a fine gear, revolving around Chen Mo, the "commander-in-chief," with their goal of developing the first and second stage boosting technologies for third-generation gaseous lithium batteries.

Time slipped by quietly as the beakers, electrodes, and autoclave swirled around, and the sky outside the window sank from dusk into the dead of night.

As the moonlight tried to climb up the windowsill of the laboratory, Chen Mo finally straightened his somewhat stiff back, looked at the set of preliminary verified Level 1 boost simulation parameters in front of him, and let out a long breath.

That's all for today. Everyone, thank you for your hard work, go back and get some rest!

Chen Mo's voice carried a hint of weariness, but his eyes remained sharp.

The team members felt like they had been granted a pardon. Their faces showed exhaustion from staying up all night and excitement at overcoming a key challenge. They packed their things and left.

After personally locking the experimental parameters, Chen Mo was the last to leave the core experimental area.

As he pushed open the heavy isolation door and stepped into the relatively quiet rest area, a scene came into view.

On the sofa in the rest area, the secretary Zhou Yumeng was fast asleep, her little head tilted back.

Her mouth was slightly open, with a few crumbs of what looked like potato chips still clinging to the corner of her lips. A thick book, "Secretarial Theory and Practice," slipped to her side, its pages facing down.

The most conspicuous thing was a small bag of potato chips that she had opened next to her. One chip was still stubbornly stuck between her fingers, and it didn't fall to the ground even though she was asleep.

Chen Mo's footsteps startled her.

Zhou Yumeng suddenly woke up, like a startled fawn, and sat up straight instantly.

She hurriedly stuffed the potato chips in her mouth, quickly wiped her mouth, stood up with her book in her arms, her face full of embarrassment and apology.

"Mr. Chen! I'm so sorry! I was just so tired, I accidentally fell asleep!"

She nervously twisted her fingers, afraid that her "unprofessional" performance would displease her boss.

Chen Mo couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at the faint dark circles under her eyes and her forced spirits. His tone was gentle.

"It's okay! You don't have to stay here all the time in the future. Just leave work on time. The R&D cycle is long, and it's common to stay up all night waiting for the results. You're just a young girl, you can't handle that."

"No, no, no!"

Zhou Yumeng immediately shook her head, her face tense, trying her best to show her "professionalism".

"I am your secretary! While you are working, I must be on standby at all times to provide logistical support; this is my duty!"

Look at her serious expression, it's as if she's reciting some sacred vow.

Chen Mo smiled helplessly, yet somewhat touched.

"Fine, fine, whatever you want!"

Then, he pointed to the book "Secretarial Theory and Practice" and joked, "Looks like you didn't study for nothing!"

Zhou Yumeng quickly put the book into her slightly oversized briefcase, and as if remembering something, she hurriedly said, "President Chen, Master Li has been waiting outside! Are you going home to rest now?"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, looked at the deep night outside the window, and chuckled, "Running back and forth is too much of a hassle. I'll probably stay in Longhua for the next few days!"

"However, since Xiao Li is here, let's call him over. I'll treat you to a late-night snack as a treat!"

The area around Far Orange was still somewhat deserted late at night.

The three walked for quite a while before finally finding a food stall that was still open on a back street.

Under the dim light bulb, a few greasy plastic tables and chairs exuded a lively, bustling atmosphere.

"Xiao Li, go order the food. Just bring what you want, the portions are huge and you'll be full!" Chen Mo called to his driver, Xiao Li.

He then pulled out a chair for himself.

Zhou Yumeng deftly took out wet wipes from her bag and carefully wiped the table in front of Chen Mo several times, not even missing the edge of the table.

Her meticulous demeanor drew curious glances from the workers at the next table who were having a late-night snack. They all wondered who this well-dressed young woman in a suit and skirt and the ordinary-looking but composed young man next to her were.

"Alright, Xiaomeng, sit down, there's no need to be so formal!" Chen Mo smiled and gestured for her to relax.

The piping hot barbecue was served quickly.

The aroma of oil mixed with the spiciness of cumin and chili powder dispelled the chill of the late night.

Chen Mo had a good appetite and chatted casually with the two of them while eating.

After a few sips of chilled soda, Chen Mo deliberately toned down his aura, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed.

Zhou Yumeng was not cunning, and under Chen Mo's gentle guidance, she quickly recounted her "rough" experiences like beans spilling from a bamboo tube:
A student from Shenzhen Shende Vocational School majoring in Aviation Services and Management, who was being trained by an airline, was still 158cm tall when he was in his third year of junior high school and was ruthlessly eliminated by the airline during his internship.

I was interning at Holiland, but I couldn't resist sneaking a bite of the chocolate cake that was supposed to be thrown away that day in the locker room. My supervisor found out, and I didn't get a permanent position.

After finally getting a job as a receptionist intern at a patent company, I was caught eating cookies in a fire escape and someone reported me, so I was fired immediately.

Finally, he ended up at Orange Technology, starting as a receptionist.

this.
Chen Mo didn't know whether to call her lucky or unlucky, but when he listened to Zhou Yumeng seriously recount her job-seeking experience, he almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She carefully wrapped the wooden skewers of meat in a tissue and handed them to Chen Mo, her big eyes filled with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation.

"Mr. Chen, you...you're not going to fire me just because I'm eating snacks, are you?"

That little tone of hers was so pitiful.

"Ha ha!"

Chen Mo was amused by her and took the meat skewers.

"No wonder I always thought you moved so rigidly, you're a flight attendant! Don't worry, it's okay to eat snacks, you need to fill your stomach to work properly!"

He paused, then deliberately put on a stern face: "However, if you let your gluttony interfere with important matters, I'll still fire you!"

Zhou Yumeng's eyes, which had just lit up, drooped again instantly, and she muttered softly, "Oh, Mr. Chen, I understand!"

After the late-night snack, Chen Mo asked, "Did you all bring your ID cards?"

Xiao Li shook his head.

Zhou Yumeng blinked and took out her ID card from her small bag: "I brought it with me, Mr. Chen!"

Chen Mo asked Xiao Li to drive them to the entrance of the most impressive-looking five-star hotel nearby. He said to Xiao Li, "Thank you for your hard work. You can go back now. Just go straight back to Orange tomorrow morning. You don't need to pick me up!"

Xiao Li glanced at his boss, then at his secretary beside him, whose face was slightly flushed and who looked a little flustered as she clutched her briefcase. He gave her a solemn look that said, "I understand, I understand, I will absolutely keep this a secret," nodded vigorously, and started the car to leave.

When Chen Mo turned around, he saw Zhou Yumeng frozen in place, her face as red as a ripe tomato, her eyes darting around and not daring to look at him.

He immediately realized that the girl had misunderstood and couldn't help but laugh: "What are you thinking? It's too late today, let's stay nearby. Tomorrow I'll ask General Manager Xu to arrange dormitories for us in the factory area, so we don't have to travel back and forth."

“One person per room!” Chen Mo emphasized.

"Oh! Oh oh!"

Zhou Yumeng realized what was happening and was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground. She nodded hurriedly like a chick pecking at rice: "Okay, President Chen!"

Two adjacent deluxe king rooms.

Chen Mo felt a little dizzy and fell asleep immediately.

Next door, Zhou Yumeng tossed and turned on the incredibly soft bed, clutching her blanket. Her mind kept drifting between Mr. Chen's gentle smile and her own embarrassing moment. Finally, in a drowsy state, she thought:

The bed is five-star quality. It's so much more comfortable than the hard bed in the company's four-person dormitory.
In the days that followed, Chen Mo and Zhou Yumeng settled down at Yuancheng.

Chen Mo plunged into the laboratory, leading Liu Mingzhen's team in a full-scale attack on gaseous lithium battery boosting technology.

Zhou Yumeng took the initiative to suggest learning from Sister Zhang, Xu Mingyuan's senior secretary, and Chen Mo readily agreed.

The atmosphere in the laboratory was somewhat tense.

"Senior Sister Liu, hold on! Control the injection speed!"

Chen Mo stared intently at the pressure gauge and temperature sensor of the autoclave, his voice steady.

Wearing heavy explosion-proof gloves, Liu Mingzhen carefully injected the pre-charged and vaporized "charged lithium polymer" gas, which exhibited a special fluorescence, into a specially designed battery casing through a specially designed multi-channel valve, extremely slowly and in batches.

The inside of the battery casing has a pre-designed honeycomb structure made of high-strength alloy, consisting of 8 honeycomb groups.

When the pressure gauge reached 2.0, the last bit of gas had been injected. Liu Mingzhen took a deep breath and, following the steps Chen Mo had emphasized beforehand, decisively released the pressure reducing valve and started the sealing procedure.

The precision mechanical device, designed to prevent accidental disconnection, instantly descends and seals the battery opening tightly!

"It's done!" Liu Mingzhen's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

The world's first truly comparable to, and even surpassing in some aspects, liquid lithium batteries in terms of energy density has been born in the Far Orange Laboratory!

The battery lay quietly on a specially designed tray:
Weight: Only 25 grams.

Voltage: Stable at 5.0V±0.25V. Capacity: 1380mAh!

体积：仅有液态锂电池（如平果4那块1430mAh电池）一半大小（5mm×30mm×50mm vs 5mm×38mm×74mm）

This is a revolutionary breakthrough!

This means that, within the same volume, the capacity of a gaseous lithium battery can be easily doubled, while its weight can be halved.

Besides its staggering cost of 112 yuan, which is more than three times the cost of the top-of-the-line liquid lithium battery in the Apple 4 (34 yuan), it has shown a kingly posture that completely crushes liquid lithium in terms of core performance such as energy density, lightweight, and fast charging potential!
As long as large-scale production can reduce costs, it's only a matter of time before liquid lithium is phased out.

The success of stage 1 turbocharging paved the way for stage 2 turbocharging, but the challenges were not over.

The key to the second-stage boost lies in upgrading the honeycomb structure inside the battery casing from 8 groups to 16 groups, which requires higher structural strength.

This requires extremely precise 10-micron-level laser etching technology to carve a complex and robust support structure on the inner wall of the package, ensuring that under higher pressure, the gaseous lithium energy is firmly bound in the honeycomb grid and will not leak due to the deformation of the shell.

“Mr. Chen, the CAD engineering drawings have been optimized to the limit, but if the etching precision at the 10-micron level is slightly off, the structural strength will not meet the standard.”

Liu Mingzhen pointed to the enlarged 3D model on the computer screen, his brows furrowed.

“I know the risks!” Chen Mo’s eyes were serious: “If even one point is not etched properly, the outer shell may develop microcracks under high internal pressure.”

The leaked charged lithium polymer gas oxidizes upon contact with air, instantly releasing heat up to 40°C, equivalent to the comfortable water temperature for a woman taking a shower, but enough to cause a noticeable burning and reddening sensation in men with sensitive skin.
Yes! Chen Mo seriously stated that gaseous lithium batteries are still quite dangerous for boys.

The biggest problem is that once a leak occurs, the gaseous lithium inside the battery will quickly oxidize into a large molecular polymer similar to an aerogel, rendering it completely unusable.

As for lithium metal recycling?
That's out of the question; the cost would be higher than building a new one!
Liu Mingzhen added, both amused and exasperated.

"The only 'good news' is that our preliminary analysis shows that these oxidation products are large molecular polymers resembling cellulose and lignin, which are theoretically unabsorbable by the human body. If accidentally ingested, they might promote intestinal peristalsis and act as 'dietary fiber'?"

Chen Mo's lips twitched: "Let's keep this kind of 'advantage' to ourselves. It's best if Yuan Cheng never uses this as a selling point in its advertising!"

He certainly didn't want to see a news headline one day: "Shocking! Far Orange batteries leaked, and users who accidentally ingested them actually had their constipation cured?" That scene was too unimaginable.

After several days of tireless debugging, failures, and optimizations, the first two-stage pressurized gaseous lithium battery was successfully packaged under the stable operation of the ultra-high precision laser etching machine!

YC-2.0 (Level 2 Boost):

Weight: 25 grams.

Voltage: 5.0V±0.25V.

Battery capacity: 1720mAh!

Cost: 162 yuan (about 5 times that of liquid lithium batteries)!

Long-suppressed cheers erupted in the laboratory as the energy density of gaseous lithium batteries was once again significantly improved!

The model system of Far Orange's gaseous lithium battery cells has also been clarified:

First generation: YC-1.0 (800mAh, 5.0V)

Second generation: YC-2.0 (920mAh, 5.0V), YC-2.0.1 (2000mAh, 5.0V - pillar product)

Third generation (current laboratory research product):
YC-1.0 (Level 1 boost): 1380mAh, 5.0V
YC-2.0 (Level 2 boost): 1720mAh, 5.0V
Theoretically, a three-stage boost could achieve a 1980mAh capacity for the YC-3.0.
Chen Mo looked at the nanoscale laser etching prototype machine in the corner of the laboratory, which required special care and could only produce a few samples a day, and shook his head.

Mass production of Level 3 turbocharged engines?
Dreams have everything!
Currently, the lack of suitable nanoscale laser etching equipment for large-scale mass production from overseas is a major obstacle that Far Orange cannot overcome.

With the established R&D goals for Level 1 and Level 2 turbocharging technologies achieved, Chen Mo handed over a detailed "mass production process guidance plan" to Liu Mingzhen, which included a copy of the system.

"Senior Sister Liu, the important task of guiding the trial production of the small production line is now entrusted to you!"

Chen Mo's expression was serious: "Pay special attention! The third-generation battery must now be pre-charged and vaporized in an external high-pressure reactor. The injected gas is a highly active 'charged lithium polymer gas,' which poses an extremely high risk of flammability and explosion!"

"On the production line, a separate Ex(ia)ⅡC T6 level explosion-proof room must be built, where fully automated operations are implemented. No personnel are allowed to enter when the power is on or under pressure. Safety is always a red line that Yuancheng cannot cross!"

Liu Mingzhen was somewhat surprised: "President Chen, according to our tests, the highest temperature of the leaked oxidation is only 40 degrees Celsius, which does not meet the stringent requirements of T6 (T6 requires a surface temperature of ≤85 degrees Celsius), and the gas itself is non-toxic."

Finally, Liu Mingzhen looked at Chen Mo seriously and gave his advice.

"In fact, an explosion-proof room that meets the Ex dⅡC T4 standard (T4 requires ≤135℃) is sufficient, which can save more than 50 yuan per room."

Chen Mo shook his head without hesitation, his tone resolute: "When it comes to safety, there is no such thing as 'enough,' only 'absolute.' The T6 level is designed to leave ample redundancy for potential accidents!"

Do we really want to save those hundreds of thousands?
If something goes wrong, no amount of money, no matter how many billions, can cover it up!
"Remember, only when the 1 comes first do the zeros that follow have meaning. Do things to the highest standards, and money will not be a problem!"

Liu Mingzhen sensed the weight of Chen Mo's words and nodded solemnly: "Understood! Safety first! I'll contact Huarong Explosion-Proof; they're top-notch in China and have extensive experience!"

"Okay, I'll talk to General Manager Xu and Senior Brother Liu about the follow-up funding and production line coordination, and ask them to cooperate!"

Chen Mo finally revealed a relieved smile.

Stepping out of the laboratory building, the midday sun was a bit dazzling.

Chen Mo squinted, stretched out a big yawn, and felt all the bones in his body cracking.

He touched his chin and then noticed that he was unshaven and his appearance must have been quite unkempt.

"Mr. Chen! You've succeeded in your research!" A clear and cheerful voice rang out.

Zhou Yumeng, carrying a folder, jogged over from the direction of the administration building, a bright smile on her face, her eyes sparkling behind her black-rimmed glasses.

Chen Mo looked at her with some surprise: "Xiao Meng? How did you know I successfully developed it?"

Zhou Yumeng smiled slyly and pointed to the bright sun overhead.

"You usually either come out late at night or stay here all the time. Today, you're standing in the sunlight at midday, looking refreshed. Do you even need to ask? It must be a great success in your research and development!"

Her observation skills have clearly improved a lot.

"Haha! Not bad, not bad!" Chen Mo was in high spirits. "I've been learning from Secretary Zhang for half a month, and I've made progress!"

Zhou Yumeng puffed out her chest, looking proud: "Of course! I can't lose face next to such a great boss like you!"

"Oh, so you've learned how to flatter people now?" Chen Mo teased.

"It's not flattery!" Zhou Yumeng said earnestly, "This is about creating a comfortable working environment for you, an essential skill for a senior secretary!"

Her little expression was so serious and cute that Chen Mo felt much more relaxed.

"Alright, alright, Senior Secretary!"

Chen Mo was amused by her and waved his hand, "Let's go! Consider today our day off. I'll go tidy up this wild man look first, and then I'll treat you to a real feast to reward our revolutionary friendship of feeding mosquitoes together in the factory area for the past two weeks!"

"Yay! Thank you, Mr. Chen!" Zhou Yumeng happily followed.

It wasn't until he got into the car that Chen Mo belatedly realized that the scenery outside the window had changed drastically.

The 5-square-meter new factory, which was originally somewhat empty, is now filled with rows of brand-new production lines, and the roar of the machines can be faintly heard through the car window.

Further away, an even larger construction site is bustling with activity; that's the additional 10 square meters of factory space that Director Li of the district urgently coordinated to build!

Even Betley, which had been based here for ten years and was once a "neighbor" of Far Orange, was relocated. Its factory buildings were also integrated and connected, and completely incorporated into this rapidly expanding construction site.

Outside the factory area, the once deserted streets have suddenly become bustling with vendors selling fast food, fruit, and daily necessities, and the flow of people has noticeably increased, making the area vibrant.

A brand-new, huge billboard is being hoisted up, with the words "Yuancheng New Energy Industrial Base" prominently displayed on it.

The former name of "Guohong Industrial Park" has been quietly and completely overshadowed by the halo of "Yuancheng".

Originally, Guohong Industrial Park was only 15 square meters. Yuancheng gave it 5 square meters, and now they've coordinated another 10 square meters. So, apart from those two Grade A office buildings, isn't the entire industrial park owned by Yuancheng?

Therefore, Far Orange unintentionally accomplished a remarkable feat of usurping another's place, driving away all the local small factories and monopolizing an industrial park to serve as its own industrial base.

There's no other way! The military procurement requires nearly 100 million battery cells, and delivery must be completed within six months. They've already paid a 60% deposit, which is about 7 billion yuan.

If the goods cannot be delivered on time, Yuancheng's reputation as a top contender in the market might be shattered before it's even fully established!

Even if we assume you're invincible, if someone can't beat you, how could they not beat you?

The black Mercedes-Benz S600 (W221) drove out of the factory. Chen Mo looked out the window at the land that was thriving and changing rapidly because of the technology he brought. Watching the logistics vehicles constantly entering and leaving the factory, a sense of pride welled up in his heart.

Although mass production of third-generation gaseous lithium is still some time away, the direction is clear and the foundation is solid.

The Far Orange Super Battery Factory, which can produce tens of millions of gaseous lithium battery cells per day, seems to be something to look forward to!

Tesla is making grand promises to investors about its Nevada Gigafactory, which is scheduled to be built between 2014 and 2026.

It will cover an area of ​​13 square meters, provide 6500 jobs (mainly fully automated production lines), and rely on Songxia Silicon Carbon 4680 high-energy battery technology to achieve a daily production of tens of millions of battery cells. During its 20-year operation period, it will contribute hundreds of billions of dollars in tax revenue to Nevada.

And now, similar Yuancheng New Energy Industrial Bases are gradually becoming a reality.

In the next three years from 2011 to 2013, Longhua District will build the Yuancheng New Energy Industrial Base on the basis of the existing Guohong Industrial Park. It is expected to cover an area of ​​150,000 square meters, provide nearly 10,000 jobs (mainly semi-automatic production lines), and achieve a daily production of 10 million battery cells based on Orange's third-generation gaseous lithium technology. It is expected to contribute 100 billion yuan in tax revenue during the five-year operation period.

The Far Orange Super Battery Factory in Takihawa Ward is rapidly progressing, thanks to the boost from China's infrastructure boom.
As for the Gigafactory in Tesla, Nevada, Musk was busy testing the first-stage recovery of rockets while also taking time to give presentations to Wall Street investors.

The project is in the planning stages.
Then, Musk's rocket recovery failed, and the investment in the Gigafactory also fell through.

Will you vote?
I won't vote!
I won't vote either!

With bank interest rates at 5% and manufacturing profits at 3%, who in their right mind would invest in North American manufacturing?
(End of this chapter)