The promotional video concluded, and the entire venue fell into a stunned silence. After a long moment, Li Jing, recovering first, inquired, "Mr. Huang, I am extremely curious. Is this promotional video for a film you are about to release, or is it a beautiful vision of your future?"
Li Jing’s question was phrased quite artfully. A less sophisticated questioner might have directly asked if Huang He was dreaming.
"No!" Huang He shook his head, then smiled. "This is technology that our Jiangnan Group is actively developing. We officially commenced research and development for vacuum high-speed trains several months ago. According to our projections, the technology will be mature within ten years, and the first vacuum high-speed rail line in China will be completed within twenty years!"
...A ripple of astonishment spread through the crowd. Huang He wasn't joking; the technology that resembled something from a science fiction film, Huang He actually intended to bring into reality.
"Huang He, has he truly gone mad?" one businessman couldn't help but murmur to himself.
"Have you ever seen such a rich madman? Such a money-making madman?" someone nearby retorted with a snort. "This is just a trick by Huang He. He'll definitely launch this project, establish a company, create some hype, and then go public to make a killing on the stock market!"
"That’s a very clever maneuver. Huang He is indeed Huang He; his skills and methods for making money are extraordinary!" This individual was quite insightful, instantly grasping Musk's strategy.
"Mr. Huang, are you absolutely certain that your words can truly be realized? Can Chinese technology truly build such a futuristic vacuum high-speed train?" While Li Jing knew it wasn't ideal to question a guest, she couldn't help but ask.
"My words are based on meticulous scientific calculations!" Huang He stated seriously. "Don't dismiss this technology as unrealistic just because it sounds like science fiction. In reality, it's a technology that only requires a few minor breakthroughs!"
"Firstly, there are several key technological focal points. The first is in-tube magnetic levitation technology, which will ensure the train glides rapidly in a suspended state within the vacuum tube."
"Actually, this technology is largely solved. There's a company in Germany that has already developed mature magnetic levitation train technology, allowing trains to move at high speeds while levitating above the track!"
"Therefore, achieving magnetic levitation within a vacuum tube isn't an exceptionally difficult task. It merely requires modifications and improvements to existing technology. Our Jiangnan Group has already established its own magnetic levitation technology team, and we are actively working on breakthroughs. With an unlimited budget, we are certain to succeed within five years!"
"Next is the vacuum tube technology itself. It's not inherently difficult to manufacture; it boils down to material issues. The challenge lies in the sealing and connection of individual vacuum tube segments, the reinforcement of the tubes, and the process of creating a vacuum within long stretches of tubing."
"Many technologies for this aspect have already been realized. We plan to collaborate with China's space engineering program to share some of their technologies. Combined with our own research, we can also achieve mature technology within five years."
"Finally, there's the technology for constructing the entire pipeline. Setting aside the difficulty of a 3,500-kilometer pipeline, even a 10-kilometer pipeline would present significant construction challenges. Furthermore, the strength of the tubes is a major concern! When considering the construction process in different regions, thousands of unique difficulties will inevitably arise, and that is the most vexing problem."
"However, I believe that in the face of the great Chinese people, these problems are not insurmountable and will definitely be resolved!" Huang He concluded.
"I see!" Li Jing nodded. After Huang He’s explanation, the technology did seem potentially achievable. However, Li Jing was no fool. After a moment's thought, she immediately asked, "Mr. Huang, have you considered the construction costs for this vacuum train pipeline?"
"A technology that completely utilizes pipelines, comparable to railways, would likely cost ten times that of trains. Building a hundred-kilometer vacuum pipeline could require hundreds of billions, or even trillions, of yuan. Can Jiangnan Group truly afford such an expenditure?" Li Jing continued to inquire.
"That’s an excellent question. Firstly, the construction costs are not as high as you might imagine. The largest cost component of this pipeline lies in the material cost of the pipes themselves."
"We've calculated that based on current technologies, the cost of building one kilometer of pipeline is roughly equivalent to five times the cost of building one kilometer of railway. The pipes themselves don't require overly expensive materials. In our design, the pipes will have a dual-layer structure. The inner layer will be made of metal materials, along with the equipment for magnetic levitation.
"Based on calculations, the metal material used for our pipes will be approximately 5 millimeters thick. Converting this to mass, it would only be about 1.7 times the mass of railway tracks."
"However, to protect our pipes, we will use a special concrete casing for protection, and incorporate a buffer layer between the two layers of pipes."
"The cost of reinforced concrete is extremely low. Therefore, my estimation is that the material cost per kilometer of pipeline will be approximately five times the material cost of a railway. This figure is reliable and should not exceed seven times." Huang He stated.
"Even if it's seven times, that's still an incredibly daunting figure! For the same price, one could build seven railways. Wouldn't that be better?" Li Jing commented.
"No, in the actual construction process, the cost per kilometer of pipeline will only be about two-thirds that of one kilometer of railway!" Huang He presented a surprising assertion.
"That's impossible! The materials alone are seven times more expensive, and then you have to erect the pipes. That must be an enormous figure!" Li Jing exclaimed.
"No, you might not realize that in the construction of a railway, the highest cost is not the material cost, but the land acquisition cost!" Huang He chuckled.
"Land acquisition cost!" Li Jing gasped.
"Precisely, land acquisition cost!" Huang He nodded. "A railway is built on the ground. It passes through farmland and villages, inevitably involving extensive demolition and requiring substantial compensation payments for relocation. This is the true bulk of railway construction costs."
"However, our vacuum high-speed rail is different. During actual construction, except for seismic zones, most high-speed rail can be built approximately three meters underground."
"Of course, we won't directly bury the pipes. Instead, we will first construct underground tunnels similar to subway tunnels using concrete, and then lay the pipes within these tunnels. This will facilitate maintenance and prevent corrosion from external environmental factors, thus avoiding material degradation and pipe damage."
"Furthermore, once the pipes are laid and covered with soil, it will not affect the normal lives of the residents above. They won't even know there's an underground artery beneath their feet."
"However, if there are areas where underground construction is inconvenient, such as across rivers, we can have the pipes exposed. They can be routed across via pipeline bridges and other facilities. The construction approach can be cleverly adapted based on the terrain."
"Additionally, as the pipeline approaches cities, we can transition to having the pipes emerge above ground, thereby avoiding the significant traffic disruptions caused by underground construction in urban areas."
"In fact, our planned pipeline route will skirt the edges of cities, which will minimize construction costs to the greatest extent possible."
"According to our estimates, apart from some compensation for construction disruptions to local residents, no land acquisition compensation will be required. This also saves on the substantial costs of ancillary railway infrastructure construction."
"Based on our comprehensive estimates, the construction cost of a vacuum high-speed rail line is actually about 2.5 times that of a conventional railway. However, considering the significant time savings offered by vacuum high-speed trains, and the development of various advanced technologies, the actual returns from a vacuum high-speed rail line will be more than ten times that of a conventional railway!" Huang He stated sincerely. These figures were based on simple calculations by his experts. While not entirely precise, they were likely within a 50% margin of error.
"Even so, with a construction cost 2.5 times higher, a single railway would likely require hundreds of billions of yuan. Can Jiangnan Group truly bear such an expense?" Li Jing asked, still curious.
"No, Jiangnan Group does not need to bear this expense!" Huang He said with a slight smile. "Jiangnan Group is not a construction company; we lack the capacity to build such a massive railway. Therefore, Jiangnan Group will only be responsible for the research and development of the relevant technologies, providing a complete technical solution, and then collaborating with other enterprises for construction."
"Consequently, we only need to fund the technological development. We recently secured a loan of 60 billion RMB, which I believe should be sufficient for the relevant technology research and experimental work over the next ten years!"
"As for the specific construction costs, I am confident that once Jiangnan Group presents truly tangible and feasible technology, we will have no shortage of domestic and international partners willing to collaborate with us!" Huang He concluded. Good heavens, he had no intention of funding the railway construction himself.
However, if Huang He truly wished to fund the construction of a railway himself, it wouldn't be permitted in China. Thus, this endeavor had to be delegated to others, allowing Huang He to discreetly profit from behind the scenes.