On September 23 last year (2020), Geely Automobile Group released the SEA Haohan Intelligent Evolution Experience Architecture with pure electric drive as the core. Compared with the conventional practice of traditional car companies - tinkering with the old architecture, Geely spent 5 years and invested more than 20 billion yuan to develop a new SEA Haohan architecture. Marveling at its power, some people at the time wondered: Is it worth it?
Only 1 year and 3 months have passed. Recently, Geely Holding Group announced that it has reached a cooperation with Waymo, a world-renowned driverless technology company: its high-end intelligent electric brand Krypton will provide exclusive vehicles for waymo One driverless fleet.
A driverless model based on SEA-M
Who is Waymo? In the field of unmanned driving, there is no doubt that Waymo is in the first echelon of the world. Compared to the well-known Tesla assisted driving system (L2 level), Waymo has reached L4 level. This cooperation with the world's top driverless enterprises confirms the technical research and development strength and business expansion potential of Extreme Kr from the side, which means that Extreme Kr's technical capabilities are already in a leading position in the world.
SEA-M became the world's first intelligent mobility architecture developed specifically for driverless scenarios
In this partnership, Extreme Kr will provide exclusive vehicles for Waymo one based on the SEA-M architecture. The Haohan-M architecture is the latest intelligent mobility platform launched by Extreme Kr. To understand its technological advancement, we must start with the VAST SEA architecture.
Last year, when the SEA vast structure came out, it caused a lot of shock in the industry. First of all, the SEA platform is open source, which is the first of its kind in the world. "Open source" means sharing, and Geely's willingness to provide the platform to other automakers also means that Geely has shifted from the role of an automaker to a mobility technology service provider. The first model based on the SEA Haohan architecture was ZEEKR 001; on September 5 this year, Geely and Daimler announced the smart Concept #1 of the model based on the SEA Haohan architecture; Subsequently, Geely's joint venture with Baidu, Jidu Automobile, intends to use the SEA Haohan architecture for different market segments starting in 2022. In other words, the SEA vast architecture is not a closed door to build a car, but to take the road of "opening the door to build a car".
Moreover, on a technical level, the media called the emergence of the SEA architecture a "king bomb". It achieves a single architecture that can support multiple models of design at the same time – from A-Class to E-Class vehicles in full size coverage. Whether it is a sedan, SUV, MPV, pickup truck, or even a future mobility car, it can be designed based on the SEA Haohan architecture. THE SEA Haohan architecture has also redefined the "new three electric", and its entire power management system has achieved "cloud-based", "efficient" and real-time networking. THROUGH the integration of hardware layer + system layer + ecological layer, SEA Haohan architecture provides a full set of vehicle intelligent solutions.
What's more, the SEA Haohan architecture is an architecture specifically designed for pure electric vehicles. It has been changed in many details, such as a longer wheelbase and a front and rear weight distribution closer to 50:50. Different from Geely's "CMA Super Matrix", CMA is a platform for the birth of fuel vehicles and energy-saving vehicles, while the SEA Haohan architecture is only for pure electric vehicles, or more precisely, for intelligent pure electric vehicles.
A series of features and advantages of the SEA Haohan architecture determine that even if you ride on another brand of vehicle in the future, it is likely to be a product based on the SEA Haohan architecture.
This includes the waymo one driverless taxi that will operate in Phoenix, USA in the future.
This time, the model jointly created by Extreme Kr and Waymo is based on the Haohan-M architecture. If the SEA Vast Architecture is the starting point for a series of creations, then the Vast-M Architecture is the latest evolution of the Vast Architecture for the driverless era. M stands for Modular Mobility Architecture, which is a modular mobile architecture. The Vast-M architecture was designed and developed by the Krypton European Innovation Center (CEVT) and is open to global ecosystem partners. On the basis of the SEA's Vast Architecture, the Vast-M Architecture has evolved a series of new features suitable for driverless cars.
The Haohan-M architecture is the world's first intelligent mobility architecture developed specifically for driverless scenarios. First of all, the design is flexible and more suitable for driverless models. Its flexible cabin design allows for multiple seat layouts. With a wheelbase range of 2700mm to 3300mm, this wide range of wheelbases gives the model a high degree of scalability: the front and rear suspensions are adjustable, and the front distance between the seat and rear axles can be stretched. As a result, the length and width of the vehicle can be flexibly adjusted based on actual development needs. In terms of interior space, the Haohan-M architecture supports a variety of models such as 2-seater, 5-seater, 6-seater and 7-seater. In the case of unmanned driving, it can also be made into a pair of seats.
An unmanned model built on the Haohan-M architecture
Second, the Haohan-M architecture embeds the unmanned software interface, which can be connected to the intelligent driving system of L2-L4 level and above, which can realize the automatic switching of wire control. In addition, the Haohan-M architecture is perfectly compatible with the SEA Haohan architecture, and the two share the electronic and electrical architecture, which is conducive to improving the efficiency of research and development and use, and helping car companies reduce research and development costs.
Third, for driverless driving, the user experience points to the "passenger". Different from the traditional model focusing on the driver's thinking, based on the Vast-M architecture, the mobile travel vehicle created by Extreme Kr is oriented to unmanned application scenarios. Its philosophy is "passenger-centric", focusing on passenger preferences and highlighting the comfort and convenience of the ride experience. Specifically, it is embodied in the capsule design, which is more dynamic, cool and affinity. At the same time, the B-pillar is cancelled, and the design adopts a double door, and the A-pillar area is linear, which is more convenient for passengers to enter and exit. The co-pilot removes the air conditioning box, moves into the engine compartment, creates more space for passengers, and so on.
It can be said that Waymo is eyeing the power of the SEA Haohan architecture and the new platform Haohan-M architecture dedicated to unmanned driving. In the future, Extreme Kr will co-create with Waymo on an equal footing to achieve complementary advantages. According to the plan, after the delivery of the model, The Kr will be equipped with Waymo Driver driverless solutions under Waymo to jointly create a smart and convenient experience for passengers.
So, why is the platform architecture so critical? The so-called "architecture" is to make a variety of models flexible and collinear production. Shorten the model development cycle with modular hardware. Not every car company has the ability to develop its own architecture, but companies that can "architect" have a powerful "matrix", on the basis of which they can quickly design a variety of models. Internationally, geely's CMA and SEA haohan architecture, Volkswagen's MEB platform, Toyota's TNGA platform and Renault-Nissan CMF architecture are more famous. As can be seen from their names, they are all large vehicle companies.
"Extreme Krypton mode" is verified
If Waymo's cooperation with Geely is based on its powerful vast-M architecture, then on the other hand, Geely chose Waymo as a partner because of its leading driverless technology.
Waymo was once a subsidiary of Google. Back in 2009, Google had begun developing autonomous driving technology in its secret lab, Google X. In 2010, a New York Times article made Google's secret plan public, and it turned out that Google's driverless cars had been secretly tested in the city for two years without being discovered. Journalist John Markov wrote: "On Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles was a Toyota Prius with a strange funnel-shaped cylinder on the roof. What's harder to notice is that no one is actually driving. ”
This is the predecessor of Waymo. In 2016, the project was officially renamed Waymo, part of Alphabet (Google's parent company). From this experience, it can be seen that Waymo has already had leading driverless technology at the beginning of its birth.
Car enthusiasts like to compare Waymo to Tesla. For people who don't know much about technology, it seems that Tesla represents the forefront of driverless technology, which is actually a misunderstanding. In SAE's Society of Engineering's automation rating, Tesla is only in the second tier (L2), which means that Tesla systems require constant driver supervision. Waymo's vehicles are in the fourth level, which means that the car can drive autonomously under limited geographical conditions without supervision.
The reason why Volkswagen believes that Tesla is superior to Waymo is simply because Tesla is a mass commodity and has a high exposure rate. Mike Ramsey, vice president of Gartner, a globally renowned technology research and consulting firm, has a figurative analogy, "Tesla is flying at high altitudes, or has been able to get close to spaceflight." Waymo is trying to land on the moon. "That's the gap between the two.
Being able to work with Waymo verifies the success of the "Extreme Krypton model". The so-called extreme krypton model is a new model that integrates industrial ecology and user ecology, expands industry boundaries and accelerates global layout with user thinking and co-creation concepts. It's called "new" because it's different from the other two models in the industry. In recent years, with the rise of electric vehicles, traditional car manufacturers have faced transformation. Among them, there are traditional players who have crossed from fuel car tracks to electric tracks, and there are also new players who have ventured into the field of electric power. For the former, their advantage lies in decades of accumulated car-making experience and industrial base; while the latter, born in the Internet era, knows users better. On the one hand, with Geely Automobile's strong industrial base, it has the advantages of the first layer; on the other hand, it has established a new business model and organizational structure with the user needs of the intelligent electric era as the core.
These are the two parts of the extreme krypton model, "industrial ecology" and "user ecology". Through a series of activities and co-creation, the user ecology created by Extreme Kr has successfully captured the hearts of Generation Zero. Its first car ZEEKR 001 was officially released on April 15 this year and opened for pre-sale, less than two months of annual deliverable orders have been sold out, "trend extreme krypton" once created a "extreme krypton phenomenon" in the car market.
The core weapon of the creation of the industrial ecology is the VAST STRUCTURE OF SEA. Establishing cooperation with Waymo is just the beginning, and more industry partners will join in the future. Through the carrier of Haohan, Extreme Kr has opened up the science and technology ecology and user ecology, and efficiently integrated the most valuable resources in the huge industrial ecology.
So, what does it mean to establish an industrial ecology and a user ecology? Kr will co-create with users and global partners to create a new way of life. Turning high-end new energy vehicles into indispensable mobile smart terminals in life is its long-term goal.
Behind the extreme krypton is the grand strategy of auspiciousness
The birth of Extreme Kr shoulders the mission of geely group transformation. After six years of precipitation of the "Blue Geely Action Plan", in March 2021, Extreme Kr Intelligent Technology, which positions the high-end intelligent electric vehicle market, was established, With Li Shufu as chairman and An Conghui as CEO, which shows the degree of attention.
The establishment of Extreme Kr has a larger global background, that is, electric vehicles continue to impact traditional car companies, and every traditional car manufacturer is facing transformation pressure. Today, major countries around the world have set a timetable for banning the sale of fuel vehicles. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry considers a total suspension of new gasoline vehicles in 3035, the United Kingdom has decided to ban the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles from 2030, California in the United States is in 2029, and Hainan in China is in 2035.
Under this sense of urgency, once Krypton is successful, it will become an important turning point for Geely Automobile. In fact, around the concept of "big travel", Geely has been extensively deployed in the field of science and technology. Including new energy technology, Internet of Vehicles, autonomous driving, in-vehicle chips and so on. These segments are the keys to the successful transformation of Geely Holdings' auto brands into intelligent and electrified.
Geely has always emphasized adhering to the principle of strategic stability. Being able to spend 5 years and investing more than 20 billion yuan to fine-tune the VAST STRUCTURE of SEA shows Geely's emphasis on "building a foundation". The operation of Extreme Kr is also based on "sticking to the industrial position" as the core, and in today's impetuous electric vehicle industry, it can be evaluated by the media as "not following the trend of capital", which is rare and valuable.
Now, China's smart electric vehicle market has undergone the first round of reshuffle, those who do not have core competitive advantages and are longer than capital operation of the enterprise has been eliminated, the so-called "only when the tide recedes, do you know who is swimming naked." Competition has entered the second half, and the potential of Geely's vast STRUCTURE of SEA, which Geely has spent a lot of money to build, is beginning to appear. Although the market will reward speculation in the short term, in the long run, those companies that are step by step and steady will eventually highlight their value.
Resources:
[1]https://geely.com.qa/geely-holding-launches-sustainable-experience-architecture/
[2]https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_9339909
[3]https://www.tmtpost.com/4778499.html
[4]https://paultan.org/2021/06/18/geely-sea-ev-architecture-detailed-5-versions-to-cover-all-sizes-including-sports-cars-and-pick-ups/
[5]https://www.vox.com/recode/22700022/self-driving-autonomous-cars-trolley-problem-waymo-google-tesla
[6]https://www.thinkautonomous.ai/blog/?p=tesla-vs-waymo-two-opposite-visions
——Produced by the Department of Fruit Shell Commercial Science and Technology Communication——