The Frontline | Entering the VeriSilicon Quzhou Jidian Factory, one battery cell can be produced and come off the production line in just 2.5 seconds.

Written by Han Yongchang

Edited by Li Qin

The Zeekr 7X delivered more than 10,000 units within 25 days of its launch. Such a speed is inseparable from the support of the supply chain, and the Zeekr Power Factory, which produces the Golden Brick Battery and the electric drive, has made significant contributions.

On October 16, the Quzhou Zeekr Power Factory held a media open day event, and 36Kr had a close-up visit to this intelligent manufacturing factory that supplies battery cells, Packs, and electric drives for Zeekr.

It is understood that the Quzhou Zeekr Power Factory is one of the four major production and manufacturing bases of VeriSilicon, covering a total area of 1,567 mu. It has the production and supply capabilities of new energy power battery cells, battery packs, three-in-one electric drive systems, and energy storage systems.

One of the "star products" produced by the Zeekr Power Factory is the Golden Brick Battery that was released at the Zeekr Energy Day last year. This product was first launched on the Zeekr 007, and now the Zeekr 7X is equipped with the second-generation product of the Golden Brick Battery. In just 8 months, the product has completed its iteration.

The second-generation Golden Brick uses the full-process lithium-ion acceleration technology, with a maximum charging rate of up to 5.5C. The charging time from 10% to 80% SOC only takes 10.5 minutes. It is a lithium iron phosphate battery in mass production that exceeds the charging speed of ternary lithium batteries, effectively alleviating users' range anxiety.

During the visit to the battery cell production line, according to the relevant process supervisor, each production line in the battery cell factory deploys more than 5,000 quality control points, is equipped with more than 750 CCD intelligent detection cameras for 360° seamless monitoring. Coupled with the "dual-pump coupling technology" and the "dual-light control monitoring and feedback system", it can correct errors and form a closed loop in real-time online to comprehensively ensure the quality of battery cells.

At the same time, in terms of technology, different from the thermal composite lamination and Z-shaped lamination, the battery cell production line of the Zeekr Power Factory applies the fully automatic die-cutting and lamination integration technology, achieving a single-machine lamination efficiency of 0.15 seconds, a pole piece width dimension accuracy of ±0.2mm, and a length dimension accuracy of ±0.5mm. This not only improves the battery safety but also reduces the comprehensive energy consumption.

In terms of production efficiency, it is introduced that the battery cell factory has achieved 100% automated production in the entire process, with a production line efficiency of up to 24 PPM, and an average of one battery cell can be produced every 2.5 seconds.

In addition, thanks to the self-developed and self-produced 800V architecture and the improvement of the production efficiency of the Zeekr Power Factory, the Golden Brick Battery has achieved a 23% reduction in the total cost of components outside the battery cell, and a 14.8% reduction in the comprehensive cost per kWh compared to the ternary lithium battery with the same performance.

Another main product of the Zeekr Power Factory is the high-performance electric drive. The Zeekr 001FR, which has a zero-to-hundred acceleration of only 2.02 seconds, is equipped with an electric drive from the Zeekr Power Factory.

It is introduced that the 800V high-performance SiC four-motor distributed electric drive independently developed and produced by VeriSilicon is the first mass-produced electric drive in China to adopt the carbon fiber-wrapped rotor technology. Its motor has a maximum power of 930kW and a maximum torque of 1280N·m.

With the support of the distributed four-wheel drive, the Zeekr 001FR has a zero-to-hundred acceleration of only 2.02 seconds, a maximum lateral G-value of 1.4G, and can also achieve "tank turning" without choosing the road surface and "snake-like slalom" without turning the steering wheel, etc.

The maturity of the manufacturing process is the basis for the performance of the electric drive. It is introduced that the Zeekr Power Factory uses the fully automatic electric heating drip painting process to achieve precise control of the amount and angle of the insulating material drip painting, successfully solving the industry difficulty of incomplete drip painting, with a filling rate in the drip painting tank of ≥99%.

In the welding process, the Zeekr Power Factory uses a 3D camera to assist the robot for automatic welding. Before welding, the 3D camera will take pictures of the appearance for identification. If it is qualified, the welding will start. After the welding is completed, the CCD camera will take pictures to confirm the welding quality.

The automation capability is an important indicator to measure the advancement of a factory. The Quzhou Zeekr Power Factory takes 5G + Industrial Internet as the carrier, deeply integrates advanced technologies such as big data, AI, and digital twin, and builds an intelligent manufacturing management system. In September this year, the Quzhou Zeekr Battery Cell Factory obtained the "CMMM Level 4 Standard Certification", becoming the first Level 4 maturity factory in Zhejiang Province.

At present, the products independently developed and produced by VeriSilicon are not only used in Zeekr models but also widely installed in models of multiple brands such as Lotus, Polestar, Volvo, smart, Lynk & Co, Geely Galaxy, Geometry, etc. In the future, with the further increase in the sales of various brands of Geely Group, the production and supply capabilities of the Zeekr Power Factory will have new breakthroughs.