The power-changing track ushered in an ultimate player.
On January 18, CATL once again continued the old tradition of "low-key release, few words and big things", and its wholly-owned subsidiary Times Electric took a very short period of ten minutes to drop a bombshell on the industry - the new power exchange service brand EVOGO (Lexing Power Exchange). As a wholly-owned subsidiary of CATL, Times Service is committed to "providing users with convenient and reliable mobile power solutions and services".
Also unveiled at this conference was the corresponding combination of power exchange overall solutions, which are composed of three products: the power exchange block, the quick change station and the APP.
General Manager Chen Weifeng also announced at the press conference that the first cooperative model is fawc Besturn NAT combination power replacement version, and Times Electric Service will start the EVOGO power exchange service in the first batch of 10 cities.
In the past, the press conference of the Ningde era has continued the style of "Electrochemical World Materials Class". But this time, Times Electric took "a chocolate battery that can be disassembled into three parts", "the whole power exchange process only takes one minute" and "one electric car" and other words opened up more people's imagination.
Some analysts believe that China's new energy market has finally changed from an independent brand to a customized battery to a subdivided track (Aodong New Energy to do the B-end, Weilai painstakingly supports the C-end), and finally ushered in a market pattern dominated by the head supplier and has the opportunity to achieve a standardized power exchange system.
Chemistry class did not finish, but the pre-class homework and after class summary had to keep up. This article will try to answer why the Ningde era entered the power exchange track, what is the picture in the end, and what is different?
From battery to software
First of all, perhaps we should first recall a famous scene of this conference.
Zeng Yuqun, chairman of THE NINGDE times, slowly stopped in front of the camera with an electric car at the end of the press conference, and he took out a piece of chocolate and said, "Come on?"
This piece of chocolate is actually one of the key products of the era of electric service replacement solutions - chocolate power exchange block.
Power battery is the ningde era has been deeply cultivated in the field of technology, and "chocolate power exchange block" is specially developed for the realization of shared power exchange and mass production of batteries, it has a small and high energy, free combination, minimalist design three characteristics.
In terms of parameters, it has reached the mainstream hardware level, it adopts the latest CTP technology of the Ningde era, and the weight energy density of the "chocolate exchange block" exceeds 160Wh/kg, and the volume energy density exceeds 325Wh/L. From the perspective of energy density, it should be the use of ternary lithium batteries.
However, the previous era of electric clothing mentioned that "shared power exchange" was specially developed, and in terms of strategy, it is different from other schemes that provide the entire battery replacement, and the battery is "broken" in a smaller size. Times Electric Service said that a single battery can provide an endurance of about 200 kilometers, but it can achieve a combination of two or three pieces, and consumers can arbitrarily select one or more batteries when changing electricity, flexibly matching the needs of different mileage.
In addition, the "chocolate changer block" adopts wireless BMS technology, and only has a high-voltage positive and negative interface on the outside, which greatly improves the reliability of the plugged and unplugged components. In addition, in terms of compatibility, it is possible to adapt to models developed on 80% of the world's pure electric platforms that have already been launched and will be launched in the next three years.
Connecting the battery to the user is the quick change station. As can be seen from the name, "fast" is the first attribute of this product.
Chen Weifeng said that the single block was exchanged for about 1 minute. In other words, if you only need to replace a battery with a 200-kilometer endurance, you will achieve the same efficiency experience as "refueling".
In terms of design, the change station has four characteristics: small area, fast circulation, large capacity and full climate. Each standard station covers an area of about three parking spaces, and each express station can store up to 48 chocolate power exchange blocks, ensuring that users have full power blocks to replace at all times, without waiting for a long time. At the same time, the substation can also be provided with versions adapted to the climatic and environmental conditions of different regions.
As the last link between the user and the change station, the newly developed app assumes the role of a link between different modules and consumers, providing interconnection and services of "people, cars, stations, and electric blocks".
Times Electric Service also stressed at the press conference that in the future, more and more functional modules will serve consumers through APP.
The power exchange standard ushered in the top-level design
First of all, it should be clear that the power exchange mode, the Ningde era is not the first, and Weilai Automobile is not the first. A long time ago, the Israeli electric vehicle charging and replacement service provider BetterPlace had vigorously promoted the electric vehicle replacement business, but with the problems of funding, operation and profitability, the service provider declared bankruptcy in 2013.
This is a revelation. As a power replenishment path that has long been explored in the Chinese market, power exchange as a business model with "excellent experience, but unsustainable operation" mainly faces two major problems.
First of all, the design of the battery packs on the market is different. Due to the different suppliers of car batteries, coupled with the car OEM itself there are also different sizes of models and series, battery design is therefore different, the main approach is to customize the development of different models of batteries for different products, but over time, the battery pack design is various, but the gap that can be opened in technology itself is not large. It is also difficult to build a replacement power station itself, and it is difficult to be compatible with different models of electric vehicles on the market.
Therefore, in the design of the battery pack, the power exchange mode must rely on the path of the unified design of the battery, and after reaching the scale, the power exchange model runs through the benefits.
Shen Fei, vice president of power management of WEILAI Automobile, once made an estimate that according to the calculation of 0.6 yuan per kilowatt hour of electricity and an average of 50 degrees of electricity per unit, 50 singles of electricity can be changed a day, and the annual income can be 500,000 yuan to 600,000 yuan. Only by meeting this standard can we basically cover the site rental and equipment depreciation costs of the replacement power station. According to the calculation of each vehicle changing electricity once a week, a replacement power station must radiate about 350 vehicles to cover the cost.
However, Weilai power exchange and Ningde era are also different, the former can be understood as their own users "stick money" to change the experience. What to do in the Ningde era should be said to be considered from a more macro market perspective, and a business model with wider coverage and a consistent market experience should be launched.
The above story also tells us that the utilization efficiency of the change station itself is improved, and there is a chance to equalize the revenue.
Greater battery compatibility is the fundamental way to improve the use space and efficiency of batteries and substations.
It is often said that before this, the new energy automobile industry seems to belong to a "blindfolded" state, and we never seem to expect that a company can come up with an efficient solution on the issue of battery pack customization.
But this matter is placed in a Ningde era that supplies more than half of the batteries in China's power battery market, and unified compatibility seems to be a problem that it should overcome.
It's more like the top-level design of the power exchange track.
The practice of Times Electric Service is to cover a variety of models through the way of "one electric vehicle and multiple vehicles". Times Electric Service said that different from the traditional power exchange mode, EVOGO has realized two "one electric multiple vehicles" full adaptation scenario. The "Chocolate Bar" can be applied to passenger cars from A00 to B and C and logistics vehicles. The substation can be adapted to the use of "chocolate power exchange block" of various brand models, breaking through the adaptation barrier between the battery and the model, and realizing the freedom of choice of the power exchange model.
Consumers can "rent electricity on demand" and freely choose the number of rented and replaced blocks according to their own usage scenarios and habits. At present, most private car owners will only use 10-20% of the battery power in the daily use scenario, but in order to alleviate the mileage anxiety and energy replenishment anxiety, they have to buy large-power models and pay a lot of sunk costs. With "rent electricity on demand," consumers commute around the city on a daily basis and only need to rent one block. If you want to travel long distances, you can choose two or three electric blocks, which can really increase or decrease, and realize the freedom of electricity.
At the press conference, the "Little Green Ring Family" member of EVOGO 001 was also revealed, the FAW Besturn NAT combination power exchange version. In the future, EVOGO will select the first ten cities to start the power exchange service, and release more brands of power exchange models.
Times Electric Service also said that the company will promote simultaneously in the B-end and C-end markets. Judging from the adaptation plan of "chocolate power block", the follow-up will also transition to more models and markets.
Identity transformation in the Ningde era
From the perspective of service objects, cathedale will transform from the previous customized development of power batteries for car companies (to B) to some power exchange tracks that need to be consumer-oriented (to C).
This is also the first time that the Ningde era has gone from behind the scenes to the front of the stage.
Of course, things also need to be looked at on both sides. On the one hand, splitting the battery is indeed more conducive to "renting electricity on demand" into more subdivision scenarios, but it will also involve deepening cooperation with more car companies.
Some of the problems encountered by the power exchange system in the Chinese market have been introduced earlier. However, once the Ningde era, as the battery boss, is successfully promoted on the power exchange track, it also means that the power battery design will come to the era of standardized design.
We believe that for many start-up car companies, the follow-up can directly use the cater era of power exchange solutions, perhaps there will be no need to carry out battery-related technology research and development.
Many car companies may benefit indirectly. The solution of Times Electric Service will serve as a powerful supplement, which will promote the rapid development of the new energy vehicle market.
On the other hand, "in the electric vehicle industry, battery asset management is the biggest business. ”
Previously, under the model of separation of vehicle and electricity advocated by Weilai Automobile, the market has also brought more imagination space to Weilai Automobile and its battery asset management companies. For example, batteries are more convenient to supervise, but also more conducive to recycling, in addition, electric energy storage and other cascade utilization, battery big data value mining, etc., the whole life cycle of battery services will indeed have more articles to do.
In addition, the use of advanced technology to recover precious metals in a high proportion through the recycling of batteries will reduce the pressure on the exploitation of mineral resources. Realize the recycling of materials, ensure the security of raw material supply in the battery industry chain, and help the battery industry reduce carbon emissions throughout its life cycle.
The Ningde era has carried out a series of standardized actions from the upstream end, which is also conducive to the healthy development of the standardized industry.
Chen Weifeng said that the separation of batteries as a shared asset will bring a new experience to the market. We also believe that investors will also give CATL and Epoch a new position in the capital market and anchor.
Moreover, the replacement power station itself is actually a "heavy investment" attribute, and only the firm and sustained investment of powerful enterprises can persist until the harvest period. As the leader of the upstream battery industry, the Ningde era is not only a powerful faction, but also one of the representatives with appeal. CATL also said that in the future, it will introduce city partners to jointly promote the rapid layout of the power exchange business, and in addition, new investors will be introduced to solve the problem of heavy assets.
As for why to take this technical route, Chen Weifeng also said some reasons at the press conference, he said that although new energy vehicles are growing explosively, the demand for power batteries has also surged, but the raw material resources have risen sharply, in contrast, the cost reduction brought by economies of scale and technological progress is only a drop in the bucket, and the cost curve is turning upwards. In this case, they are also reflecting, is the battery only a large power and customization of this technical route?
According to the latest market data report, the installed capacity of power batteries in the Ningde era has ranked first in the world for four consecutive years. However, in the past two years, the price of raw materials represented by lithium ore has risen, and the rapid development of the new energy vehicle market in the world has also caused a shortage of upstream lithium ore resources. The CCTV report shows that in less than a year last year, the price of lithium ore has risen by more than 230%.
The industry believes that there are several research directions to reduce the demand for lithium resources: the first is to make the battery life longer, relying on better battery technology to create a long-life battery; the second is to improve the battery recycling link, the battery can be recycled after recycling; the third power and lithium resources are so precious, for the market need to store electrical energy, on-demand distribution.
So in the long run, as Chen Weifeng said, "the cost reduction brought about by economies of scale and technological progress is only a drop in the bucket", then entering the field of power exchange will also help reduce the demand for lithium resources. On the one hand, in the face of today's rapidly growing new energy vehicle market, CATL is the upstream company that is most capable of creating a better experience for consumers; in addition, creating a closed loop of battery life cycle services is a refined operation of NINGDE era's own battery industry resources.
In addition, for the automotive OEMs that cooperate with Times Electric Services, with EVOGO, it will also bring some new experiences: the new scheme will completely transfer the ownership of the battery to Times Electric Service, which undertakes the design, supply and operation of the battery, and owns the ownership of the battery. Therefore, when the problem arises, consumers and OEMs do not have to "rip off", and auto OEMs no longer bother with the packaging and after-sales of batteries, and can focus more on other indicators such as intelligence and sales profits.
Open the official website of CATL, there will be such an introduction: NINGDE era to build a world-class innovative technology company, to make outstanding contributions to the cause of new energy for mankind is the vision of THE NINGDE era.
The establishment of Times Electric Service also marks the creation of a battery operation network with battery service operators as the core, battery factories, vehicle factories and other enterprises as the supporting, and battery service operators directly facing users.
This makes us can't help but compare the gasoline era, the business model is incomparably simple: oil is not renewable energy, and rely on imports, our car to add gasoline is just "two barrels of oil" plus a little profit on foreign sales; to the era of intelligent electric vehicles, many models and relationships are being broken, like the Ningde era, which has been very stable in the industry, enterprises are also "thinking of danger in peace", establishing direct tentacles to users, at the same time, from the perspective of operating efficiency, The rental of batteries and the management of circulation also bring more room for imagination.
In the next energy ecological C position, the business from the backstage to the front, from a single battery supplier to a composite energy service provider, the imagination space of the Ningde era also has unlimited possibilities.