Chapter 33: Test Drive

One month later, inside the test field of the Qingtian Automobile Factory.

"This thing, can it even be called a car?"

Chen Shifu asked, looking at the vehicle before him.

The small car in front of him was a massive SUV.

It was just that the trunk was much larger, and the chassis was significantly higher.

This car model was designed directly by Zhang Wen, who also oversaw the manufacturing and assembly of its parts.

Furthermore, it had undergone testing, and the area housing the battery pack had been reinforced.

It used three full layers of steel plating.

There was absolutely no problem with its durability.

It utilized batteries produced by the battery factory managed by Xue Zhi and motors produced by the motor factory.

"This thing? Can it really run?"

Ding Hui, standing to the side, asked doubtfully.

One had to know, this thing didn't even have a transmission.

Could it really move?

"Whether it works or not, won't we know if we just give it a try?"

Zhang Wen looked at everyone's expressions.

He said directly.

"Alright, Ding Hui. You come and give it a try for everyone."

Zhang Wen said to Ding Hui.

Ding Hui hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage and climbed into the car.

Looking at the dashboard in front of him, Ding Hui was a bit bewildered.

What on earth was this thing?

Because liquid crystal screens hadn't really developed yet, Zhang Wen had used mechanical gauges directly.

It was just that there was a small screen in the middle displaying current information.

"Insert the key!"

Zhang Wen shouted from outside the window.

"Okay."

Ding Hui took out the key and started the vehicle.

"This car's sound is very quiet!"

Seeing the lights on the dashboard turn on, Ding Hui asked in confusion.

"Turning it all the way means it's started."

Hearing this, Ding Hui nodded, still feeling a bit clueless.

After all, this type of engine didn't need to drive the vehicle directly.

The RPM was low, so the sound was naturally quiet.

Subsequently, he fumbled around with his feet.

He was suddenly terrified.

He hurriedly shouted: "Why is there no clutch in this thing!"

"Nonsense, there isn't even a damn transmission, where would a clutch come from!"

"This is an automatic car; haven't you seen that high-end cars are all like this?"

Zhang Wen slapped his forehead and said speechlessly.

"Step on the gas to go, step on the brake to stop!"

Because it was truly difficult to install a transmission in this thing, Zhang Wen and his team used a front-wheel-drive setup, then used the pressure on the gas and brake pedals to control the motor's operation, achieving the same functions as a fuel-powered car.

"Alright. Then I'm driving!"

Ding Hui stepped on the gas.

A faint motor sound emerged, and the car shot forward.

Zhang Wen nodded with satisfaction.

The acceleration of an electric motor was indeed well-deserved.

The zero-to-sixty acceleration of this thing.

Even current cars with V8 engines couldn't compare.

However, after eighty, it could only be described as a crawling turtle.

There was no help for it; the motor's power was limited.

The top speed was 110 kilometers per hour.

That was already quite good; after all, it could get on the highway, right?

And given the current situation where not many highways had even been built.

It was estimated that even if people bought it, they wouldn't be able to get on a highway.

"Whoo!"

"That feels great!"

After getting out, Ding Hui couldn't help but say.

"That goes without saying."

"How about climbing hills and such?"

Zhang Wen said.

In order to fit the current situation.

Zhang Wen had specifically made the trunk and chassis larger and higher.

This was for the current reality of rural areas where cement roads had basically not been built yet.

Of course, there wasn't just this one configuration; there was also a dual-motor version.

It would be thirty to forty thousand more expensive.

After a series of tests.

Zhang Wen nodded with satisfaction.

"Excluding R&D, what is the cost?"

"For one car."

Zhang Wen asked.

"The cost is 80,000 yuan."

"Selling for 110,000, and 150,000 for the four-wheel-drive version."

"Selling for that much?"

Ding Hui and Xue Zhi asked at the same time.

However, one felt it was too cheap.

The other felt it was too expensive.

"Once the scale comes up, the cost per car can be reduced to at least 50,000."

"The primary task now is to get the product out there."

"Ding Hui, you go ahead and submit the vehicle for approval."

"I'll hold a press conference for us tomorrow."

"Alright!"

Although Ding Hui and Xue Zhi were filled with doubts in their hearts.

Could this thing really be sold?

And could this thing really be used for a long time?

Even though they had manufactured it themselves.

They really had no confidence in their hearts.

Especially since everyone currently drove fuel cars, and suddenly someone popped up saying they wanted to make electric cars.

Wasn't this just wishful thinking?

The two shook their heads.

However, Zhang Wen did not have those thoughts in his mind.

How to hype it up was what was on his mind.

After racking his brains for a long time.

Zhang Wen finally had an idea.

That's right.

A reversal!

It just so happened that there was an auto show in Magic City next month.

That was the place.

Zhang Wen thought.

However, it was still lacking a bit of buzz.

Zhang Wen immediately called the newspaper with the greatest influence in the country.

New Capital Newspaper.

"I have an explosive piece of news here."

"Do you want to come?"

Upon receiving the call, Tian Hao, a reporter for the New Capital Newspaper, was a bit bewildered.

"What explosive news?"

"We have built a car that only uses charging."

"Are you coming to take pictures or not?"

"And it will be unveiled at the Magic City Auto Show next month!"

"What?"

As a long-time reporter, his sense of smell was extremely keen.

He immediately realized that this was definitely big news.

Especially the Magic City Auto Show exhibition.

Cars nowadays definitely counted as major purchases, just like houses.

People were very concerned about these things.

"Are you coming or not?"

Zhang Wen asked again.

"I'm coming, where are you?"

"Three Towns City."

"I'll be there this afternoon. You wait for me."

Fortunately, Tian Hao happened to be out interviewing and wasn't far away.

By the afternoon.

Zhang Wen finally met Tian Hao.

After negotiating the travel expenses, Tian Hao finally wrote this article according to Zhang Wen's requirements.

And it was placed on the front page of the New Capital Newspaper.

"The first in history! Electric cars appear! May break the myth of joint-venture cars."

Below it was an introduction to a series of Zhang Wen's history and the history of Qingtian Factory.

But regarding the description of the car, there was only a little bit of information.

As well as some subjective evaluations from the reporter.

For example, that it was very easy to drive.

That the loading space was very large.

And that the acceleration was very good, and so on.

On the second day.

Rumors about the New Capital Newspaper were flying everywhere.

All kinds of letters came one after another.

All kinds of insults were practically about to drown the New Capital Newspaper.

Things like "fake news."

Things like "exaggerating the facts."

All these words came out.

Facing the accountability from the editor-in-chief.

Tian Hao, however, stated: "Just wait until next month, everything will quiet down."

At this moment, Zhao Dong, who was paying attention to automotive news, discovered this piece of news.

"What the hell?"

"Electric car? Isn't that a toy?"

"What does it use to drive, farts?"

Zhao Dong laughed out loud.

During this period, he had been excited about his own massive investment!

He had directly drained the group's liquid capital and even mortgaged quite a few things.

Only then did he borrow enough money to promote the development of his own business.

Cars.

That's right, Zhao Dong believed that under the development of the economy, the automotive industry would definitely have great prospects.

So he invited various foreign experts and hired them at high salaries to participate in the construction of his factory.

He even poached some experienced workers.

After working for a long time, he finally managed to finalize the first car model.

Although the transmission was purchased from the Hans Country, the engine was imported from Xiao Ri Zi, and the car frame was imported from Eagle Country.

Zhao Dong's factory could only be considered an assembly plant.

However, such was the era.

Whoever launched a product first had the advantage.

Especially since he had spent a lot of money to hire a large group of people to tune the chassis, the feel of the steering wheel, and such things.

The slogan he put out was to manufacture the motherland's own BMW.

It just so happened that they were also going to participate in the Magic City Auto Show next month.

He looked at the name of Qingtian Automobile Factory in the newspaper.

He asked with some confusion.

"Which factory is this? Is it a factory of our own people?"

The secretary quickly answered him.

"Zhao Dong, it's that bodyguard of yours."

Reminded to this extent.

Zhao Dong immediately understood.

"So it was him."

Zhao Dong thought to himself, originally seeing that Zhang Wen had actually become an important national designer in such a short time.

Zhao Dong could only grit his teeth and abandon his plan for revenge.

But, now.

A fierce light was revealed in Zhao Dong's eyes.

"This is you, seeking your own death." ===== CHAPTER 34 =====