"We sincerely apologize for our erroneous decisions that led to the production of a large batch of electric vehicles posing severe risks to user safety. As a token of our apology, we have decided to recall all Tesla electric vehicles.
Furthermore, as the President of Fotte Group, I pledge to you all. We will immediately dismantle departments related to electric vehicle production and research. From this day forward, we will cease producing any electric vehicles!"
Following Andrew Fotte's initial apology, the other three automotive groups, including Tongyong Group, bowed and apologized in succession.
As electric vehicles, fresh from the factory, were recalled by the four major American automotive groups, the reputation of electric vehicles was utterly ruined.
Soon, electric vehicles produced in Germany, Britain, and Japan also faced a wave of returns.
They had struggled, but facing the American four major groups, who held monetary hegemony, and the covert actions of the largest industrial nation, Long Country, they were completely unable to make any impact.
In the end, with the exception of Long Country Heavy Industries, which produced Long Crystal electric vehicles, the stock prices of all other electric vehicle manufacturers plummeted. The Long Country government seized the opportunity to acquire numerous companies and recruit a vast amount of talent.
Unbeknownst to them, a month had passed. Currently, the only electric vehicle company still standing in this world was Long Country Heavy Industries.
Although Jing Mingqiu had returned to the Taklamakan Desert early to continue his research on the desert modification system, the endurance test of the Long Crystal electric vehicles had not stopped.
The highest leader had specifically arranged for several groups to continue the live broadcast in a manner of continuous driving.
Initially, the executives of the four major American automotive groups harbored some resentment towards Andrew Fotte for his rash decision to go all-in.
However, upon seeing that the Long Crystal cars produced by Long Country had been driving for a month, covering over 40,000 kilometers, with more than half of the battery still remaining, they felt a chill down their spines and expressed their gratitude to Andrew Fotte.
After all, the difficulty of creating a narrative when one side holds an advantage versus completely crushing the opponent is on entirely different levels. With the level of technology currently displayed by Long Country, any attempt to spread rumors would likely be dismissed as jealousy, with almost no chance of success.
Unknowingly, another three days passed. As the driving mileage increased daily, the discussion surrounding the safety of Long Country's Long Crystal electric vehicles gained momentum, finally breaking through the pre-set threshold.
Deep within the Taklamakan Desert, after a month of modification, Jing Mingqiu had successfully upgraded the farm into a pasture. He was feeding rabbits with freshly cut grass alongside Morey Xue, with "Experience +1" popping up over their heads from time to time.
"Brother," the Cangyue sprite, sitting obediently on Jing Mingqiu's shoulder, suddenly spoke, "the data has reached the predetermined level. The time is right, it's your turn to act!"
Jing Mingqiu glanced at the data sheet that Cangyue projected before him and shook his head slightly. "A bit slower than I imagined. The United States isn't cooperating!"
"Xue'er, I'm going out for a bit. I'll leave these little rabbits to you."
After speaking, Jing Mingqiu handed the remaining grass to Morey Xue, pressed his abdomen, and with the controlled nuclear fusion reactor fully activated, abundant power enveloped him. Jing Mingqiu transformed into a beam of light and shot through the air.
More than two hours later, Jing Mingqiu found the testing team, who had stopped and were waiting at a highway service station.
After a brief greeting, Jing Mingqiu took over the live broadcast again. He scanned the surging barrage of comments and waved his hand.
"I won't waste your time with pleasantries. I'm here to address your doubts about the safety of the Long Crystal electric vehicles.
"First, let me introduce you," Jing Mingqiu lifted the front hood of the Long Crystal electric vehicle, pried open the engine cover, and took out a black crystal the size of a fist. "This is the power source of the Long Crystal electric vehicles, the cry-type crystal battery.
"This is a high-density energy battery with silicon as its core. It is extremely sturdy and has a very high ignition point. Unless you throw it into the sun, conventional collisions and high temperatures will have no effect on it."
To verify his words, Jing Mingqiu threw the crystal battery onto the ground and stomped on it hard twice. Still not satisfied, he went to a nearby road, borrowed a car, and drove over it in front of everyone.
After testing its pressure resistance, Jing Mingqiu threw it on the ground, poured gasoline on it, and set it on fire. After burning it, he used a hammer to smash it…
After a series of extremely violent tests, the cry crystal battery remained unchanged, except for some dust on its surface.
Jing Mingqiu casually took out two pieces of tissue paper, wiped the dust off the c-battery, and placed it in front of the camera.
"See? This is the strength of the cry crystal battery. Ordinary methods cannot cause any damage to it, let alone cause it to catch fire or explode."
Upon seeing this scene, some people began to hesitate, while others remained unconvinced and shouted loudly in the comments.
"It might look the same on the outside as before, but in reality, it's completely ruined inside!"
"That's simple, we'll know if it can still be used after a drive."
Jing Mingqiu casually tossed it back into the engine compartment.
Then, he got into the car, started it, released the handbrake, and pressed the accelerator…
The entire operation was smooth and flowing. Under everyone's gaze, the Long Crystal electric vehicle roared and sped away.
Leaving the highway service area, Jing Mingqiu drove around the ring road and then pulled over. He glanced at the camera and said, "How is it? Do you believe in the safety of the Long Crystal electric vehicles now? As long as you drive normally, it will absolutely not catch fire or explode without reason."
As soon as Jing Mingqiu finished speaking, someone immediately jumped out to contradict him.
"Who knows if what you just took out is actually the power source of the Long Crystal electric vehicle? What if you just took out a random piece of metal and pretended it was the battery?"
"Exactly!" someone chimed in. "Its high temperature resistance and hardness indicate that the item you just took out is extremely stable in nature. How could it provide power?"
"If you hadn't reminded me, I would have been fooled. Wasn't it said that you could take out anything from the front of the car, and it would be the power source? If you insist it's the power source, where's the evidence? We want evidence!"
Such a reaction was within Jing Mingqiu's expectations. He calmly shifted into gear and started moving again.
"Considering that most people don't understand car design, it's very troublesome to prove to you that this is the power source of an electric vehicle!
"However, it's not without a solution." Jing Mingqiu drove off the highway using the access road and arrived at an abandoned parking lot filled with several dusty, scrapped cars.
"As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. According to your claims, the dangers of electric vehicles mainly lie in two aspects: one is catching fire and exploding during charging, and the other is exploding and catching fire while driving.
"The Long Crystal car replaces a battery every year and does not need to be charged, so the first point can be ignored. As for the second point, whether it will explode or not, we'll find out by trying!"
Before he finished speaking, Jing Mingqiu suddenly accelerated and crashed directly into the old cars in front of him…