From knock-off old-man's electric vehicles to industrial giant

Chapter 204 Polaris Power Bank Discontinued, Mr. Lei, Oh Mr. Lei...

As soon as these words came out.

It did, however, uncover a corner of Xu Yi's long-sealed memories.

Let's talk about the Note 7.

It's really quite difficult to find a clam.

With excellent quality in all aspects, it was hailed as the pinnacle of full-screen technology and was said to be the year most likely to threaten Apple. Samsung had high hopes for it. However, on the fifth day after its release, a South Korean Note 7 user posted a picture online of his phone suddenly exploding while charging.

This marked the beginning of the mobile phone explosion scandal.

If a phone explodes while charging, at least there's an excuse. The most outrageous thing is that several phones caught fire without any reason, even under surveillance.

After a series of explosions and repeated struggles, the matter finally came to an end with Samsung recalling all Note 7 phones and executives kneeling down to apologize.

What exactly caused the SDI battery to spontaneously combust?

Xu Yi couldn't help but ask.

SDI is one of Samsung's main battery cell suppliers.

His impression of the incident was still based on the one-sided online war of words. When the actual investigation results came out, the technical details that actually caused the explosion were not widely circulated.

"In pursuit of energy density, SDI batteries did not add an insulating layer to the metal contacts of each electrode. As a result, the cells would short-circuit immediately if the electrodes were subjected to even slight external pressure, causing widespread thermal runaway and spontaneous combustion. This is a serious design flaw."

Dong Yuxuan said that they had conducted a series of studies and in-depth investigations into the battery cells of the mobile phone industry last year, and combined with information from the upstream and downstream of the supply chain, they had figured out the matter.

"Originally, ATL, a domestic manufacturer, did not have this problem. When Samsung purchased the battery, it only required energy density, and ATL could only handle 30% of the production capacity. However, after the explosion and fire, all the production capacity was transferred to Samsung. In order to meet the production capacity, ATL made a mistake in the rush. The ultrasonic welding was not in place and produced burrs, which punctured the internal separator of the battery, leading to the secondary explosion accident."

"Good riddance." Xu Yi clapped.

Compared to Toyota, Samsung, a manufacturer with no scruples, has an even lower bottom line.

Moreover, they had also cut off their supply of automotive-grade screens, and there was no guarantee that the supply wouldn't suddenly "catch fire" and be cut off one day. Xu Yi decided to put the matter of supporting suppliers to jointly develop in-vehicle infotainment screens on the agenda.

This really needs to be taken seriously.

"In addition, our Polestar power bank has also been officially discontinued."

Dong Yuxuan walked to the other side of the test bench and picked up a power bank with an ultra-thin aluminum alloy casing.

The overall frosted aluminum alloy shell emits a soft halo under light. The rounded corners of the power bank and the aesthetic style of Apple's mobile phones and devices are almost consistent. The streamlined shape and minimalist shell are only printed with a light-colored minimalist star logo using exposure and development.

It exudes a high-end feel!
Xu Yi accepted this ultra-thin power bank, which was unprecedented in the industry.

It has a smooth and unobstructed feel when held, and you can't feel any weight when you hold it in one hand. The aluminum alloy shell makes you want to play with it repeatedly.

The whole thing looks like a work of art.

"Based on your requirements, this power bank is made to be ultra-thin at 6.5 mm, much thinner than the thinnest power bank on the market. It features a highly integrated internal design and weighs just 99g. In addition to supporting wireless charging, it also has a Type-C port and an Apple Lightning port at the bottom."

Even when used with a traditional power bank, the weight is barely noticeable, and it's almost imperceptible when you put it in your pocket.

Dong Yuxuan was very pleased with his experience using the power bank.

It truly gave them a unique experience.

It's pretty good even if you just treat it as a collectible figure.

This is the joy that industrial design and materials bring.

As soon as the samples came out internally, several colleagues took them away, ostensibly for hands-on testing.

This isn't over yet.

The automotive R&D department has taken another batch, saying they need it for engineering prototypes during field testing.

Now they're circulating internally.

"Send two to my office later too."

Xu Yi was very satisfied. He played with both sides of it for a while, then casually put it in his pocket.

He has several mobile phones that are on standby for extended periods while working.

However, at this time of year, the phone's capacity and charging speed are still unsatisfactory, so if there are plans to go out, the assistant should always have a power bank on hand.

……

Xingchen has announced the completion of its mobile phone battery cell production line.

The following afternoon, Lei Jun and his team arrived at the Xingchen Technology Building with great enthusiasm.

The two sides met and discussed cooperation on mobile phone battery cells.

Xu Yi had already revealed this information to the public before.

They also built a production line for mobile phone battery cells. Although the production capacity may not be as large as that of major contract manufacturers, it is certainly not a problem to supply a single flagship model with a large production capacity.

"Mr. Xu, our plans for the Xiaomi flagship MIX 2 and Note 3 in the second half of the year are very tight. If you don't keep in touch, I really will have to contact other suppliers to change the inventory plan." Lei Jun sat down, took a sip of tea, and then showed a friendly, wry smile.

As soon as he sat down, he revealed his difficulties, as if Xiaomi had already paid a heavy price in order to wait for the battery cells of Xingchen.

Xu Yi had previously revealed that he could develop a battery cell with top-tier energy density in the industry, and the two parties reached a verbal agreement on this matter.

Xu Yi smiled and looked at him calmly: "Mr. Lei, what are you saying? We just developed it. Besides, with Xiaomi's resources, finding other suppliers to stock up is a piece of cake. There's no need to put in any effort."

Xiaomi has its own invested battery supply chain and has also made moves to develop its own battery cell technology. However, it has not yet developed mobile phone batteries on a large scale, and mainly relies on supply chain technology collaboration.

The supplier provides me with goods. I use the supplier's products, and the supplier deeply customizes them according to my needs. My customization rules are equivalent to participating in the supplier's technology research and development.

Supplier's technological achievements = My self-developed technology!!

The technology conversion equation has been achieved!

Well known.

Xiaomi is the company that values ​​technological achievements the most.

I'll try to get my hands on any technology that's useful or that I can get my hands on.

Because Xiaomi's public image and the group it cultivates have always been a group of people who care about "technological feel + cost-effectiveness".

If Xiaomi doesn't offer good value for money, even its own fans will criticize it.

what?
You're saying you bought it simply to support Lei Jun?

You're not a real rice fan!!

...

"Let's talk about battery cells instead."

Xu Yi smiled calmly and, without further ado, led the group to the battery laboratory.

"Our Polestar battery cells achieve the industry's highest energy density, with a capacity of 4100mAh based on standard flagship specifications, and a lifespan of 800 cycles. The cells support up to 30W fast charging via Type-C interface without compromising lifespan..."

Facing the crowd.

Dong Yuxuan, as if reciting a familiar story, once again introduced the technical parameters and brought up the durability test and sampling parameters for each sample.

With each additional word spoken, the eyes of CEO Lei and his associates, including President Lin Bin and Product Manager Wang Teng, brightened.

When Dong Yuxuan brought up the safety test screen, he said, "Our Polar Star battery cells can withstand a needle penetration test."

Lei Jun couldn't help but exclaim, "Mr. Xu, this battery cell is top-of-the-line in the current industry."

The "Samsung explosion gate" incident last year.

Domestic mobile phone manufacturers are naturally delighted to see this.

With Samsung, the leading Android manufacturer, falling, ample room has been created for Xiaomi and several other domestic manufacturers.

However, the consequences of the explosion have left many people feeling uneasy.

In particular, several major Android manufacturers have repeatedly emphasized and tested the technology.

At this critical juncture when consumers lack a sense of security and are extremely sensitive, it is imperative to ensure the absolute safety of the battery cells; not even the slightest flaw can be tolerated!

There cannot be even a single instance of spontaneous combustion or fire.

Otherwise, Samsung's case will be their fate.

With a market potential of billions or tens of billions, no one dares to take that risk.

So you can see that.

Although there is still room for improvement technically.

However, this year's flagship phones haven't been as aggressive in terms of storage capacity and fast charging.

The capacity is only between 3300-3900mAh, and fast charging is not included.

The 4100mAh battery cell made by Xingchen Battery Cells.

Upon hearing this figure, many people still had reservations and some concerns about the safety of high-density battery cells.

This "needle prick experiment" instantly put their minds at ease.

This caused great shock!!
Has Star Technology really gotten this far with battery cells?
This is really a bit scary.

The battery cells and voltage parameters of a fully charged battery cannot be faked, and they can be tested at will.

Lei Jun was filled with mixed emotions and instantly came up with a perfect marketing plan.

"President Xu, Polaris batteries are very important to us. If we make good use of them, not only will Polaris make a name for itself in the mobile phone industry, but it will also greatly expand Xiaomi's high-end market. It's a win-win situation!" Lei Jun said immediately.

Xu Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, noticing the subject issue.

Ok?
Why are they putting the benefits that their future stars haven't even received yet in front of them?
It sounds reasonable, but something feels off.

Lei Jun continued, "However, the path of cost-effective flagship phones is very difficult this year. We have reduced the profits of almost all supply chain companies in order to make a significant impact on the market. Therefore, the procurement cost of battery cells will be slightly lower than that of other mobile phone manufacturers."

Of course, once the volume increases, the profits will definitely be higher than those of other mobile phone manufacturers.

Mr. Xu, I know this request is difficult.

But I really hope we can achieve a win-win situation, and at the same time, take a long-term view and get through this difficult period together.

I can assure you that as long as both sides are sincere, this year's market will definitely give you a pleasant surprise!

-

He sighed, as if chatting with an old friend, recounting the difficulties he had faced in his development and struggle.

If you didn't know better, you'd think a penniless entrepreneur was pouring out his heart.

He had completely forgotten his identity as a billionaire CEO, immersed in his own emotional narrative, and had lost all sense of the world around him.

Xu Yi: "..."

"To be honest, the R&D and production costs of our Polestar batteries are indeed higher than those of existing high-end battery cells in the supply chain, after all, the quality and specifications are what they are."

Xu Yi said frankly that he didn't want to beat around the bush with President Lei.

He sensed a profound presence.

Which aspect specifically?

Can't tell.

But I always feel like I might get caught up in that one sentence.

"What is the approximate cost?" Lei Jun asked with an expectant look in his eyes.

"Our price for external supply is 79 yuan per piece."

Xu Yi immediately stated the price.

He's not stupid; can you just talk about costs?!

Lei Jun was stunned for a moment. "This price is too high. It's more than double the price of purchasing battery cells for a regular Android flagship."

Lin Bin couldn't help but say, "Mr. Xu, we came with sincerity, but your pricing is a bit too much..."

Xu Yi could only shrug: "But our battery cells are also better than ordinary flagship battery cells. It's no exaggeration to say that our overall quality is number one."

“Mr. Xu, the mobile phone industry is different from the new energy vehicle industry. Once mobile phones start to sell in large quantities, there will be hundreds of thousands of units shipped. I hope you can consider lowering the price for this purchase volume. I think 49 is at least a price that both parties can accept…” Lin Bin continued.

"Hey—President Xu is capable; developing things in-house requires a lot of resources!"

He was interrupted by President Lei as soon as he finished speaking.

Lei Jun said with "sincerity": "This price is indeed a bit difficult for us to bear. I hope that we can talk about a discount in view of the purchase volume. In addition, I have a small request. I wonder if you can agree to it, Mr. Xu."

"What request?"

"Xiaomi is a company that pursues technology and innovation. If we can achieve the top position in battery cells this time, it will be a very rare achievement. Therefore, I hope that when we promote the phone's Polestar battery at the press conference, we will also mention Xiaomi's participation in its self-development. If the promotion is successful, the sales will explode, and Polestar will also gain greater benefits!"

"..."

Xu Yi's gaze towards the other person gradually became somewhat strange.

It's as if they're asking you, "Are you serious?"

No.

How can they develop this themselves?
He couldn't help but look up and sigh deeply.

Finally, he expressed his intention to refuse.

"President Lei, oh President Lei..."

……

　Seeing that there was still some controversy surrounding Lei Zong before, the later plot was cut off.

　　However, the product line had already been planned in advance, but it was still mentioned unavoidably. Let's just move on for now; there will be no collaboration.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)