225: Chapter 225 Energy Revolution

PS: Thanks to York Who Loves Microwave Roasted Wings for the flowers.

Thanks to Intermittent Han Shangyan for the flowers.

Thanks to Loves Light Novels for the 'Powered by Love' gift.

May 2nd, 9:00 AM sharp.

The design of Exhibition Hall 2 was completely different from yesterday—the main stage was designed in the shape of a giant 'heart', the LED screen simulated a heartbeat, and the background sound was a low, powerful heartbeat.

The lights in the auditorium pulsed according to the 'heartbeat rhythm', making the entire venue look like a giant, throbbing heart.

There were more people today than yesterday.

Not only because power batteries have a wider impact, but also because of the hype from last night—global media had been predicting: Spark Power will release technology that changes the energy landscape.

The VIP area was filled with automotive giants:

Tesla CEO Musk sat in the center of the front row, holding a notebook.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda had a serious expression.

Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess kept checking his watch.

BMW Chairman Zipse was whispering to Mercedes-Benz CEO Källenius.

BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu was quite relaxed, even bringing a cup of tea.

The three giants of the new domestic forces: Nio's Li Bin, Xpeng's He Xiaopeng, and Li Auto's Li Xiang sat together, looking nervous.

Battery giants also arrived: CATL's Zeng Yuqun, LG Energy Solution CEO Kim Jong-hyun, and Panasonic Battery President Kazuhiro Tsuga.

At 9:00 AM sharp, the heartbeat sound stopped abruptly.

A beam of white light hit the center of the stage.

Gu Yanting walked out.

He was 45 years old, thin and tall, wearing a custom suit and black-rimmed glasses, holding a palm-sized silver battery in his hand. This outfit didn't make him look like a CEO, but rather like a university professor.

'Good morning, everyone.' Gu Yanting began, his voice calm. 'I am Gu Yanting, General Manager of Spark Power. Before joining Spark Power, I spent fifteen years in battery R&D at Panasonic.'

His resume appeared on the big screen:

1998-2005: Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo, specializing in electrochemistry

2005-2017: Vice President of Battery Technology at Panasonic, leading the development of Tesla's 2170 battery

2017: Joined Spark Power

2018: Led the team to break through key technologies for semi-solid-state batteries

'Many people ask me: Why leave Panasonic to join a Chinese startup?' Gu Yanting said. 'My answer is: At Panasonic, I had to write 100 reports every year to explain why R&D needed money. At Spark Power, Boss Su only asks one question—"How good can the technology get? Money is not an issue."'

Laughter erupted in the audience.

'So today,' Gu Yanting held up the battery in his hand, 'I bring Spark Power's answer.'

The big screen lit up with the title: 'Third Generation Battery Technology Matrix'.

The first one: Divine Travel 3rd Generation Ternary Lithium Battery

Parameter table popped up one by one:

[System Energy Density] 255Wh/kg (Ternary)

[Technology] CTP3.0 module-free integration, volume utilization rate 72%

[Cell Energy Density] 220-300 Wh/kg

[Volume Utilization Rate] 72% (bottom space shared, releasing 6% energy space)

[Fast Charging Capability] 80% charge in 10 minutes (4C rate)

[Thermal Management] 5-minute rapid thermal startup, water-cooled isolation between cells to prevent thermal diffusion

[Structural Safety] Meets national standards for bottom impact, multi-functional elastic interlayer + micron-bridge connection

[Power Comparison] 13% higher than Tesla's 4680 system

[Range] Can achieve 1000km+ range for pure electric models

'The parameters are boring, so we'll demonstrate directly,' Gu Yanting said.

On the left side of the stage, a hydraulic press slowly lowered, pressing down on a Divine Travel 3rd Generation battery.

The pressure kept increasing: 10 tons, 20 tons, 30 tons...

The battery casing began to deform, but the monitoring screen showed: voltage stable, temperature normal.

'Usually, if a battery is squeezed to this extent, an internal short circuit occurs, and it will catch fire,' Gu Yanting explained. 'But we used micron-bridge connection technology, so the electrode plates do not come into direct contact when squeezed.'

The hydraulic press lifted, and the battery had become a flat iron disc.

Staff took it out and connected it to a tester—it still had 85% power.

'Now, low-temperature test.'

The flattened battery was put into a -40°C freezer and taken out after ten minutes.

In the extreme cold of minus forty degrees, the battery still provided power normally.

Applause erupted at the scene.

Gu Yanting pulled up a comparison chart: Divine Travel 3rd Generation vs Tesla 4680.

Energy density 13% higher, charging speed 50% faster, better low-temperature performance.

'This means,' Gu Yanting said, 'an electric car equipped with Divine Travel 3rd Generation can increase its range by 400 kilometers with a 10-minute charge. In the winter of Northeast China, the range decay does not exceed 20%.'

In the VIP area, Tesla CEO Musk's hand shook, and his pen fell to the ground.

He didn't pick it up, but instead said directly to his assistant: 'Contact Spark Power immediately after the press conference ends. I want to meet Gu Yanting in person.'

The second one: Bedrock 3rd Generation Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery

Parameters:

[System Energy Density] 161.27 Wh/kg

[Cell Energy Density] 190-200 Wh/kg

[Volume Energy Density] 450Wh/L

[Fast Charging Capability] 3C rate, 10 minutes to 70% charge

[Cycle Life] Capacity ≥ 80% after 4000 cycles (lifespan reaches 1.5 million kilometers)

[Low-Temperature Performance] -20°C capacity retention rate increased by about 10%

[Structural Safety] Passed needle-piercing/crushing/thermal runaway tests

[Range] Can achieve 700km+ range for pure electric models

'The advantage of lithium iron phosphate is not energy density, but safety, lifespan, and cost,' Gu Yanting said. 'But Spark Power has taken it to a new height.'

On the right side of the stage, a cycle life tester was running.

The screen showed: Current cycle count—4002 times.

'This battery has been charged and discharged 4002 times,' Gu Yanting pointed to the screen. 'Capacity retention rate: 82%.'

He calculated: 'For a normal family car, driving 20,000 kilometers a year, 1.5 million kilometers can last 75 years. This means—the car is scrapped, but the battery can still be used.'

Price announced: The cost per kilowatt-hour is only 600 yuan.

The industry average cost is about 850 yuan.

In the audience, CATL's Zeng Yuqun turned pale.

He knew that at this price and this lifespan, the lithium iron phosphate market was about to change.

The third one: Spark Super Energy 1st Generation Sodium-ion Battery

Parameters:

[Cell Energy Density] 120-160 Wh/kg

[System Energy Density] 100-140 Wh/kg

[Core Advantages] Strong extreme cold adaptability, low cost

[Disadvantages] Low energy density, average cycle life

[Application Scenarios] Low-speed vehicles, energy storage, commercial scenarios

[Range] Can achieve 500km+ range for pure electric models

'The significance of sodium-ion batteries is not to replace lithium batteries, but to supplement them,' Gu Yanting said. 'Lithium resources are limited, and prices fluctuate greatly. Sodium resources are abundant, and costs can be reduced by 40%.'

He showed a sample of a sodium-ion battery: 'Most importantly, it can work normally at -30°C. This means that in Siberia, in Alaska, on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, electric cars are no longer a dream.'

The big screen showed application scenarios:

Low-speed electric vehicles (elderly mobility scooters): reduced costs, improved safety

Grid energy storage: large-scale, low-cost

Remote area microgrids: combined with solar and wind energy

'We are not making this battery exclusive,' Gu Yanting said. 'The technology can be licensed; any company can produce it. Spark Power's goal is not monopoly, but to promote energy transformation.'

The loudest applause of the day erupted throughout the venue.

Many representatives from developing countries stood up and applauded.

They knew that cheap, cold-resistant batteries meant their countries could also enter the electric vehicle era.