Engineer Cheolwoo Lee (1)
“You really wanted to see me?”
“Yes. I have a bit of work to do with the free vector gear.”
“Ahahahaha… what is it?”
I wondered if the bites would stop coming from somewhere, but they all come from Hyeonseong.
There is Changsu’s father’s benefactor… … .
I needed to hear the story.
“Would you like to change your seat first?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
We followed Jeongho Seo, the team leader, and went to the Hyunseong Motors booth.
“Oh, Hyunsung Motors also participated in this.”
“Yes. I participated to promote the newly created hybrid engine.”
“A hybrid engine?”
“Yes. By adding electric power to the existing engine method, it is possible to achieve higher fuel efficiency. Although it is still in the test phase, some results came out and I participated.”
This Beijing International Technology Fair was not intended to sell finished technology.
It played a big role in promoting various test technologies.
“Oh, it’s a hybrid engine… it’s new. Then I’ll have to put a lot of batteries in the car.”
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“Yes. That’s right. We need to store a lot of electricity, so we can use it when needed. It’s still a research project.”
If this technology is commercialized, the fuel economy of vehicles will surely improve.
“Then is it a technology that can be commercialized right away?”
“It’s not right away, but I left a little bit. Hopefully, we’ll see a vehicle with a hybrid engine next year.”
It’s almost done in the next year.
“Aha, I hope to see you soon. So you asked me to see you because of Free Vector Gear, but for what reason?”
I was interested in seeing the new technology, so the chatter became too long.
“Then I saw the news. And I looked up the patent for the free vector gear. Wow… I’m really speechless. How was he able to design something like that?”
“ha ha ha…….”
“So, our test team started researching it right away. We wanted to see if we could incorporate that gear into vehicles.”
Oh, does my prevector gear go into Hyunsung Motors?
“Yes. So what?”
“I did…. Unfortunately, I couldn’t use it for the vehicle’s steering or transmission. It was harder to withstand high power and high rotation than I thought.”
It is.
The free vector gear I made is for low power and low rotation.
If you put a load on the gear with high power, the saw blade will be misaligned right away.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
He sighed and said.
“But there are many other places to use it.”
“Oh? Where is it?”
“For example, the free vector gear made by Mr. Cheolwoo can be used in user convenience devices such as the steering wheel control device and the seat control device.”
“oh.”
“So I wanted to ask if it was possible to custom-make the product to our specifications.”
“What kind of inquiry are you asking?”
“It’s mainly price and quantity.”
Doesn’t this mean to ask for delivery?
If you supply to Hyunsung Motors, you will be able to earn a lot of money.
“Oh…… I see. If you ask us, we will answer.”
“hahahaha, then I’ll make sure to talk to the sales team. Maybe I’ll get in touch. And this is my business card.”
Team leader Seo Jeong-ho handed over his business card and said,
“Ah, I don’t have a business card yet… Shall I call you?”
“I will listen through the window.”
“all right.”
“Oh, it seems like I took too much time. Have fun watching.”
“hahahaha, no. Then suffer.”
Judging by the call to team leader Seo from behind the booth, it seemed that team leader Seo was also busy.
“Then shall we go and see?”
“okay.”
We left the booth of Hyunsung Motors and started looking at the fair.
“By the way, what is a benefactor?”
asked the window.
“It’s a bit long to talk about…”
“What is it? Can’t you talk?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Then tell me.”
“My dad runs a small factory. It’s a company that makes parts for cars.”
“Uh, so?”
“So far, they’ve been exporting them to Japan.”
“Eh? To Japan? Leaving Hyunsung and other domestic automobile companies behind?”
“Yeah. It’s because Japan pays the unit price better.”
“Where in Japan?”
“Toyo car.”
toyo car. There was a saying that Toyo cars are the best when it comes to car engines.
It was a more global company than Hyunsung Motors, and probably… … . In terms of market capitalization, it will be more than five times Hyunsung.
You mean Changsu’s father was supplying to such a company?
“Eek, your father is great. You should deliver to a place like that. Well, it’s right to deliver to a place that pays better.”
“Yes. My father has a bit of craftsmanship. He has been studying bearings for over 30 years, and he is still thinking about how to make stronger and more flexible products.”
“Oh, you’re a wonderful person. As expected.”
“Anyway, after 20 years of supplying to Toyo Motors, they suddenly cut off the deal.”
“Eh? Why?”
No matter how much it is a car, it wouldn’t have been easy to change a customer who had been trading for 20 years at once.
Did something happen?
“I don’t know that well. My dad doesn’t seem to know either.”
“Um… I guess something happened.”
“I don’t know the details. Anyway, just as I was doing something, team leader Seo Jeong-ho recognized my father and recommended it.”
“Oh, is that so? So you’re supplying to Hyunsung Motors now?”
“Uh. That’s why I called him a benefactor. If it wasn’t for Team Leader Seo Jeong-ho, we could have closed our factory.”
“Ah. But I have the technology, so I would have bought it anywhere.”
“Anyway, that’s how it is. It’s not a big deal, is it?”
“It’s not a big deal, but I must have been very anxious. What the hell is going on, so I’m cutting off a 20-year-old customer.”
“well…….”
We were in the middle of looking around the technology fair while talking about this and that.
“older brothers!”
Hyejeong came running from afar.
“Where is Hyejeong wandering around like that? This is China, not Korea, so be careful.”
“hehehe, it’s okay!”
“What, did you get anything interesting?”
“Yeah. I’ve come across a very interesting fact.”
“Let’s see what.”
Hyejeong took out her digital camera and showed some pictures.
“Huh? Hyunsung Motors?”
“Uh. Here’s where we made the hybrid engine!”
“Oh, I know that. I just went.”
“ah.”
“Is this fun?”
he said disappointedly.
“No no, listen more. The real fun starts here.”
Hyejeong moved on to the next picture.
“Huh? Toyo car? You said you participated here too?”
“Yeah. I didn’t see you yesterday, but I think you’re supposed to be participating from today.”
“so?”
“So I went, and Toyo Motors is also showing off hybrid engine technology.”
“to?”
“How is it fun?”
“No, then you’re saying that Hyunsung Motors and Toyo Motors will face each other?”
“Yep!”
The information that Hyejeong confidently brought was certainly interesting.
“So? How was it?”
“Uh… I don’t know what to say. I brought two pamphlets here. Oppa, take a look.”
I looked at the two pamphlets Hyejeong gave me.
「Hyunseong LKC」
「Doyo GTC」
I don’t know the details because it’s in English, but the performance part is in a table, so I was able to figure it out to some extent.
“Well, if Hyun-seong uses a hybrid engine on a vehicle with a fuel economy of 10 kilometers per liter, it will be able to go 16 kilometers per liter.”
“Wow, fuel economy is 16? That’s amazing?”
“Isn’t that right? Depending on the situation, more may come out.”
“Then what about Toyo?”
“Toyo is… 18 kilometers per liter, 2 higher than Hyeonseong.”
“……Eh, is our country losing?”
“Anyway, Japan makes good cars.”
“Can’t my brother do something?”
Hyejeong complained to me, perhaps feeling unfair about losing to Japan.
“…… Huh? What should I do?”
“Your brother is a genius. That’s why.”
No, for a moment, I got an idea after looking at the pamphlet.
‘This is not like this, if you change fuel injection in a PULL-IN method and transmit power by keeping-down power… … . Do you think it would be better?’
I imagined it in my head.
‘Well, I guess I’ll have to use a free vector gear to do that.’
The problem is that the current free vector gear cannot withstand high power and high rotation.
‘I need to work on the free vector gear too?’
If so, if those issues are resolved.
hmm… … .
“Uh. I think I can. Thirty per liter.”
“Eek? 30 per liter?”
Changsoo, who had been listening to this, said in surprise.
“I guess it will.”
“No, if it’s crazy 30 per liter… it’s twice as much fuel efficiency as it is now, that’s impossible unless the thermal efficiency changes. It’s ridiculous.”
“Yes, we have to increase thermal efficiency twice as much as now. But right now it’s impossible, we need to know more about the core technologies related to hybrid engines, and the free vector gear needs some improvement.”
“Do you know what thermal efficiency is?”
Changsoo said as if he was dumbfounded.
“know.”
Thermal efficiency refers to the ratio of the amount of heat effectively used out of a given amount of thermal energy.
In general, gasoline engines, that is, engines using gasoline, are 15 to 28%. Oil is similar, and I know that diesel is about 30-38%.
“That hybrid engine is also a gasoline engine after all. According to what you said, you’re saying that the thermal efficiency should be at least 50%?”
“Maybe? Wouldn’t that be enough?”
It seemed possible to increase the thermal efficiency by 50% if it was built as well as I designed it.
“Sounds crazy.”
Changsoo said with a genuinely crazy expression.
“why?”
“No, if that’s possible… Energy innovation will come? Considering that the thermal efficiency of a gasoline engine is 25% at most, it’s twice as much.”
“Yes, I said. Twice.”
“……It’s okay. Let’s not talk.”
“Then can’t my brother make it? That hybrid engine?”
There were a lot of problems in making it right.
“Right now it’s a little difficult, first I need to work on the free vector gear and I need to know a little bit about the core technology of that hybrid engine.”
I knew the principle roughly, but the core technology was not disclosed to Hyunseong or Toyo.
“Your brother is a genius.”
“… But that doesn’t mean I can’t immediately know the technology that hasn’t been made public.”
“Umm, then I’ll do it with Hyeonseong!”
“No, we’ll try to do something together while providing technology in Hyeonseong.”
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“Yeah, I don’t like losing to Japan.”
“Why would you be like Hyejeong? Do you have any ill feelings toward Japan?”
“huh.”
“……I see. Let’s take a peek at the opportunity.”
“okay.”
It seems that Hye-jeong knows that it is not an adult thing to complain anymore.
“I think I’ve finished watching, but shall we go back now?”
“OK.”
“huh.”
We toured Beijing, China for a few more days and then returned to Korea.
* * *
“Cheolwoo, here’s the inquiry form.”
Minseok said.
“That’s it? A free vector gear from Hyunsung Motors?”
“uh.”
“How did you come?”
“Um… First of all, it’s about asking for some samples. It’s about size and unit price.”
“What’s the size? No, let’s see.”
I saw the inquiry in person.
It is larger in size than the free vector gear used in the existing AHS. About 8 cm.
“Well, I’ll have to make a new one.”
“Isn’t it? But there’s another problem.”
“What?”
“It’s a unit price. It’s about 36,000 won. They say it’s possible to adjust it to some extent…”
“36,000 won?!”
“huh.”
“No, can you make it for 36,000 won?”
“So that’s the problem. When I placed an order as a personal order, I paid 60,000 won each. After all, our gears are complicated.”
“You mean we have to reduce the unit price from 80,000 won to 36,000 won?”
“Well, it’s expensive because it’s a personal production, and if you mold it and make it mass-produced, it will be much cheaper, but 36,000 won seems a little tough. I don’t know if I can make a free vector gear with existing mold technology.”
Well, the free vector gear I made is not a normal structure.
Geometrically shaped gears. It probably won’t be possible to make it with normal production methods.
“……It’s difficult.”
“That’s why commercialization is difficult. We have to make it at least 24,000 won, not just 36,000 won, so we have something left over.”
“36,000 won.”
“Yes. Is it possible?”
Running a business was definitely difficult. Even if you have technology, you cannot sell it unless you match the technology to the market price.
What Hyeonseong wanted was 36,000 won.
“Didn’t I say that Changsu’s father runs a factory?
It was a perfect task to be acknowledged by Hyeonseong.
In addition, even if the free vector gear was modified to withstand high power and high rotation, the unit cost was an important issue.