Use it on tanks …
When Lu Zhou heard this strange question, he looked into Director Lu's serious and eager eyes. He finally understood why Director Lu was here.
Actually, the research on electric tanks wasn't anything new.
As early as the 1930s, "Dr. Porsche" had already researched this topic.
The VK4501P tank was installed with a PorscheType101/1 air-cooled engine. The electricity generated by the engine was first stored in the battery, then it was used to drive two 275kW electric motors. There was no doubt that this fit the basic characteristics of an electric tank.
However, due to the limitations of the times, this kind of electric tank technology wasn't able to play a big role on the battlefield. Only the "differential steering system" was retained.
In the next century, with the continuous advancement of science and technology, the concept of electric tank was repeatedly brought up for discussion.
Lu Zhou could guess that Director Lu wasn't just asking if this thing could be used on tanks.
What he really wanted to ask was if the development benefits of controllable nuclear fusion could spill over from the economic field to the military field …
"You'll have to ask an expert in the military field." Lu Zhou thought for a bit and said seriously, "But in my opinion, whether it's lithium-sulfur batteries or lithium-air batteries, they have limited prospects in the military field."
Director Lu was a little anxious, and he quickly asked, "Why?"
"Why?"
"Safety." Lu Zhou sighed and said, "Any chemical battery is basically based on a redox reaction to achieve the conversion of electrical energy and chemical energy. And since it's a redox reaction, there is a lot of instability. Especially lithium, something that can spontaneously combust in the air. If it was hit by something like an artillery shell, it wouldn't be as simple as an oil leak. I'm afraid that there wouldn't even be a chance to take emergency measures, it would definitely explode. "
Someone should have told him about this before.
But looking at Director Lu's expression, it seemed like someone did mention it, but he didn't take it seriously.
"… I see."
After Director Lu heard Lu Zhou's answer, he had a look of disappointment on his face.
Obviously, before he came here, there should have been a technical demonstration meeting about this proposition in Beijing. Judging from his expression, he supported the use of lithium-air batteries in the military field.
The old man stared at the teacup on the table and pondered for a long time. He raised his head reluctantly and asked.
"Is there no room for improvement? For example, a battery that can balance stability and high energy density? "
"I'm afraid the thing you're talking about can't be achieved by chemical batteries …"
Lu Zhou didn't know what to say to him. He shook his head, paused for a moment, and continued.
"Actually … I don't know much about military affairs. However, according to my personal understanding, although lithium-air batteries are unreliable for frontline combat units such as tanks, lithium-air batteries can be used on non-frontline combat units such as transport vehicles, military trucks, or even transport helicopters, to alleviate the logistics system's dependence on oil. "
Electric engines had great advantages in terms of noise, concealment, and maneuverability.
Especially in a defensive war, under the premise that the basic power facilities could be guaranteed, the advantage of electrifying the logistics system was very obvious.
As for offensive warfare …
China was a peace-loving country, so let's not talk about this for now.
Director Lu had a thoughtful expression on his face. Lu Zhou smiled and spoke.
"Actually, I'm a pacifist, and I don't know much about weapons. However, if you need my advice on the national defense, I can only say that instead of looking for a way out of chemical batteries, it's better to look for other ways."
Director Lu immediately asked, "Other ways?"
Lu Zhou nodded and said, "For example, controllable fusion technology. I've already made a miniaturized controllable fusion battery. Although there are still many limitations such as high cost, scientific progress is always a process. As long as we continue to invest in this field, maybe in a decade or two, the miniaturized fusion battery will reach the level you're imagining. "
The miniaturization of controllable fusion technology was currently being used in the Auspicious, Sunglow, and Magpie Bridge series of spacecraft. Apparently, the new generation of deep-sea nuclear submarines were also equipped with the same type of battery.
Lu Zhou remembered that he saw an order from the China Navy's equipment procurement department on the space shuttle assembly center's accounting form, and the quantity seemed to be quite large.
Although there was still a long way to go before they could move this technology from the sky and sea to land, and reduce the cost and minimum size to an acceptable level, who knew what would happen in the future?
As long as they continued down this path, one day, there would be hope.
…
The miniaturization of fusion batteries was a matter for the future. Regardless of how Lu Zhou described the fusion battery to the second-in-command of the Energy Bureau, the entire alternative energy vehicle industry was going crazy.
The downstream supply chain was fine. Several large domestic alternative energy vehicle manufacturers gathered engineers to study Lu Zhou's thesis overnight. From the wording of the thesis, they deduced that the lithium-air battery wouldn't have a big impact on them. They only needed to add an air intake grille to the front of the car.
Regardless of whether it was optimistic or not, the major alternative energy vehicle manufacturers could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
However, even though they were relieved, it didn't mean that they were going to let this matter go.
Due to the potential impact of the alternative energy industry, BYD and other companies delayed the launch of their new cars. They planned to wait until the dust settled on the lithium-air battery technology before launching a new model. They also began to design alternative energy vehicles with air intake grilles that met the "lithium-air battery" expectations.
Even though consumers were generally in a wait-and-see mood, due to the continued decline in electricity prices and the steady increase in domestic oil prices, the overall impact wasn't too big for them.
Even though these automobile manufacturers were relieved, for the companies in the supply chain, especially the automobile battery manufacturers, they were having a headache.
After watching for two years, the boss finally made up his mind to complete the upgrade of the production line. It could be said that his hair had turned white overnight.
The alternative energy industry was becoming more and more popular, but their products were being eliminated …
Zhongshan New Materials warehouse.
Liu Wanshan looked at the mountains of lithium-sulfur batteries and smoked one cigarette after another. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
His secretary, who was standing next to him, also had a sad look on his face. He wanted to scold the boss, but he didn't know who to scold …
"This Star Sky Technology … is trying to push us into a corner."
Liu Wanshan let out a sigh as he flicked the cigarette ash.
"It's been a tough life."
Even though Zhongshan New Materials' stock price had been soaring for some reason, the number of orders had plummeted.
In particular, there were a few small factories that had placed orders, and they directly breached the contract. They didn't even want the batteries they produced. Now, he had a large batch of goods on hand, and he had to worry about how to get rid of these things.
The only thing that comforted him was that they weren't the only ones facing this predicament. The entire battery industry wasn't having a good time. Zhongshan New Materials also had the upstream lithium materials business, as well as the mobile phone battery business in another industry chain.
In comparison, they weren't having a hard time.
However, they were definitely having a hard time.
The secretary stood next to Liu Wanshan and spoke with a heavy expression.
"Boss, what … do we do now?"
Liu Wanshan took a puff of smoke, thought for a moment, and said.
"Temporarily shut down the car battery production line. Transfer some of the workers to the mobile phone battery production line and train them as soon as possible. Also for the modified PDMS material and HCS-2 material business, hurry up with the downstream manufacturers and have them transfer the money as soon as possible. Once the lithium-air batteries come out, we have to immediately follow up. No matter what, we have to make sure we have enough bullets! "
The secretary quickly nodded.
"Okay, I'll do it in a bit."
Liu Wanshan looked at the mountains of goods in the factory and felt his heart ache. However, there was nothing he could do.
Liu Wanshan turned around and walked out of the factory. He extinguished the cigarette in his hand and threw it into the trash can next to him. He then looked back at the factory reluctantly.
Those are tens of millions of dollars worth of goods!
The more he thought about it, the more indignant he became. Liu Wanshan stomped his foot heavily.
"No, I have to talk to Professor Lu.
"We have shares in Star Sky Technology, he has to help us!"
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