Chapter 27: A Single Slap to Crush the Oil Tanker

August 1st, evening, in this universe.

Lin Ran had just finished his shift and was feeling deeply conflicted. After several years of hard work, he had finally managed to save up a small amount of capital. Perhaps out of envy for his colleagues, or perhaps because he felt his driver’s license shouldn't go to waste, he had decided to buy a car of his own.

However, he was still hesitating. Should he buy a gasoline-powered car or an electric one?

"The momentum behind electric vehicles has been very strong lately, but the range is..."

Lin Ran’s hometown was 900 kilometers away. If he were to drive back, an electric vehicle would require charging stops along the way. That might be fine under normal circumstances, but what if he ran into holiday traffic? That would be a nightmare. Yet, the driving experience of an electric vehicle was indeed superior to that of a gasoline car. This left him in a state of indecision.

He was browsing various car reviews on his phone, hoping to find a model that caught his eye. While scrolling, a news headline suddenly made him bolt upright.

"BREAKING NEWS! A Boon for Public Welfare: North Industries Group has authorized the release of exoskeleton battery technology, establishing 'Multi-Dimensional Era.' In collaboration with major domestic automakers, they are set to provide a civilian version of these batteries."

"According to the president of North Group, this is a revolutionary battery that utilizes new technology, capable of significantly extending the range of electric vehicles."

"He declared that this is in response to the nation's carbon neutrality goals, fully pushing for electric vehicles to replace gasoline ones."

"Furthermore, their first electric vehicle in collaboration with BYD will be unveiled tomorrow!"

This news was too important for Lin Ran to ignore. He had seen reports on exoskeletons before and knew they were highly dependent on battery technology. When he first saw that news, he had wondered to himself what would happen if that battery technology were applied to electric cars. And now, only a few days later, the technology had been released!

"This is fantastic! I'll wait for tomorrow's press conference to see that new battery!"

Lin Ran had considered the safety of the new battery, but remembering that it was derived from military exoskeleton technology, his concerns vanished instantly. Good grief, the soldiers were wearing these batteries right against their bodies; if the troops weren't afraid, what was there for civilians to worry about? It wasn't like that unreliable junk from the U.S. military.

Within minutes, the news hit the trending topics. The netizens in the comments were getting increasingly hyperbolic. Everyone was curious about just how impressive this released technology really was. After all, it was a battery designed for exoskeleton armor. It had to be absurdly powerful!

Time passed quickly. The next evening, the live stream of the press conference began. The president of BYD stepped onto the stage. To his left stood an electric vehicle covered by a curtain.

"Everyone, thanks to the support of Multi-Dimensional Era, we have successfully produced an electric vehicle utilizing this new battery technology."

With a confident smile, Chen Hongyuan paused briefly before joking, "When the people from North Group first approached us, we were terrified. We thought we had done something wrong, but it turned out to be a gift from heaven."

"No, that doesn't even describe it—it’s more like a mother’s love!"

"Hahaha!" The car enthusiasts attending the conference burst into laughter. A mother’s love. That "mother" could only be Motherland!

"I can guarantee you all that this 'mother’s love' is substantial—so substantial that it is the final missing piece needed to completely eliminate gasoline vehicles!"

Chen Hongyuan waved his hand forcefully. His final words were almost a roar. The room went silent for a few seconds before erupting in chaos. The enthusiasts in the audience were shocked beyond measure. While the trend toward electric vehicles was strong, they still had significant flaws compared to gasoline cars, which was why gasoline vehicles still accounted for the majority of sales. Under these circumstances, for Chen Hongyuan to claim this battery was the key to eliminating gasoline cars? Wasn't that a bit too arrogant?

In the live stream chat, netizens were equally stunned.

"No way. At least up until now, I haven't seen any signs that electric cars could completely replace gasoline ones."

"I think this 'Big-Head Chen' must be drunk."

"He’s bragging without even checking the facts. With the current level of electric cars, they want to replace gasoline cars? That’s hilarious."

"I’m optimistic about electric cars, but that’s a pretty tall claim."

"Guys, this is a new battery from an exoskeleton. If this car has a range of 1,000 kilometers, how can gasoline cars compete? With gas prices?"

"The person above is crazy. 1,000 kilometers? Please, look in the mirror before you start dreaming!"

Clearly, most people in the stream were skeptical.

On stage, seeing the buzzing crowd, Chen Hongyuan knew he had achieved his goal of warming up the atmosphere, so he gestured for quiet.

"You must all be wondering why I am so confident. Why I dare to say this is the key piece to eliminating gasoline cars."

Chen Hongyuan looked at the now-quiet, curious crowd, then stepped aside and pressed a button in his hand.

"This is the source of our confidence!"

"With the support of this new battery technology, a vehicle of the same size can reach a range of 2,000 kilometers!"

A massive number flashed on the screen behind him. 2,000 kilometers!

"Holy cow, holy cow, holy cow!"

"I thought over 500 kilometers was impressive, but this is an insane figure. Whose army is this?"

"2,000 kilometers! It completely destroys gasoline cars. Big-Head Chen wasn't bluffing this time!"

"The era of electric vehicles is truly here! It’s really here!"

Once the number 2,000 appeared, everyone in the live stream and at the venue was dumbfounded.

"How about that? Is this 'mother’s gift' big enough? Is it shocking enough?"

Seeing the excitement, Chen Hongyuan pushed it further. His voice was high-pitched, his arms spread wide, his face filled with exhilaration. The atmosphere reached a climax instantly. One had to realize that standard civilian gasoline cars usually had a range of less than 700 kilometers. This electric car had pushed the range directly to 2,000. This was effectively leaving no path for gasoline cars to survive!

"Killing off" gasoline cars was no longer just empty talk. At this mileage, if it were true, gasoline cars would be dead on arrival! Looking at it this way, it was far more than just a "mother’s gift." It was as if Mother had decided she couldn't watch anymore and had entered the fray to sweep the competition!

"How about it? Does this electric car excite you?" There was no need to mention any other specifications; this range alone was enough. Chen Hongyuan leaned forward, asking the enthusiasts in the audience.

"I’m excited!"

"Hurry up and show us!"

"Damn it, stop teasing us, bring it out!"

"Hahaha, I can hear that our friends here are getting impatient." Chen Hongyuan’s mouth curled into a smirk, his hand resting on the curtain. "Before we unveil it, let us first thank Multi-Dimensional Era for their technical support!"

*Whoosh.*

The curtain was pulled away. A sci-fi-looking electric car, with an all-white body and a majestic presence, was revealed to the crowd. At the same time, the price of the vehicle appeared on the giant screen.