In the past few years, discussions on how to ensure the operation of safety systems for new energy vehicles after collision have repeatedly attracted public attention. Essentially, it stems from an intuitive concern: in new energy vehicles, "electricity" is almost equal to everything. Once the power is cut off, will many functions also fail?

But from an engineering perspective, the core of such issues is not whether there is a power outage, but whether there is an independent, stable, and controllable power supply system to ensure that the most basic safety actions can be completed after the power outage.

Therefore, the reliability design of low-voltage power supply systems is becoming a new focus of attention for new energy vehicle companies. At present, most new energy vehicles still retain a seemingly "traditional" lead-acid battery. It does not participate in driving or determine the range, but in extreme situations, it bears the ultimate "fallback responsibility" for the entire vehicle. In the industry, it is called "Safety Power".

From improving battery performance, to introducing redundant power supply solutions, and even adopting a dual 12V battery architecture in some high-end models, they are essentially answering the same question:

Who will provide power for the "last mile safety" of the entire vehicle when an accident occurs?

Goalkeeper: That underestimated 12V battery

In the industry, this 12V lead-acid battery has a special name: "Safety Power" - the "goalkeeper" of new energy vehicles.

Fan Binbin, Senior R&D Manager of Products and Systems at Ke Ruishi, explained: "In the event of a serious collision, if the high-voltage power battery automatically loses power, the only power source for the entire vehicle will be this 12V battery. It needs to maintain functions such as automatic rescue calls and dual flashing lights. ?

For this reason, some high-end new energy vehicles are even equipped with two 12V batteries directly - it is better to have multiple safety measures than to lose control at critical moments.

Since this battery bears the safety bottom line of the entire vehicle, the reliability of the battery will inevitably become a key concern for consumers.

Fan Binbin believes that judging the quality of a battery depends on its stability in extreme environments: "From extreme cold in Northern Europe to scorching heat in the Middle East, from American pickups to new energy vehicles in China, we have conducted on-site limit tests. The extreme cold starting in winter in the north, the high temperature in the engine compartment in summer, and the instantaneous high current demand after long-term parking - all of these are constantly testing the limits of the battery

He reminded car owners not to downgrade and replace the battery just to save one or two hundred yuan: "The specifications chosen by the OEM are calculated based on the overall vehicle load. Downgrading and replacing the battery will increase the probability of breakdowns

At the same time, identifying genuine products and choosing the right channels are equally crucial: "It is difficult to distinguish the authenticity of batteries on the market. Buying counterfeit products not only has a short lifespan, but also poses safety hazards. The safest way is to choose a legitimate channel authorized by the brand

The 'selection anxiety' under the change of new forces

With the accelerated turnover of new energy vehicle companies, the real challenge for car owners is often not just whether the battery is good or not, but whether they can choose the right model and buy genuine products.

This is exactly the problem that Tuhu and Walta are working together to solve, "said Fan Binbin. Starting from the sales cooperation in 2015, to the joint launch of the "Yellow Label" series in 2019, to the debut of the "Purple Gold" series on Tiggo in 2022, and to the joint launch of the new brand "BERGA Dominator" in 2024- this is a continuously deepening path.

Fan Binbin introduced that when car owners input the vehicle model on TuHu, the system automatically matches the battery model, solving the anxiety of car owners who "choose the wrong battery" from the source.

The person in charge of Tuhu battery service experience told reporters that in terms of product sources, Tuhu directly cooperates with brands such as Walta. When the technician comes to install, they will scan the code on site to verify the authenticity, ensuring that each battery is a genuine new part with no usage record. Moreover, for car models with a certain market share, TuHu's supply chain will prepare corresponding models of batteries in advance to meet the battery replacement needs of different car owners as much as possible.

The service network behind the 28 minute on-site battery replacement service

Master Li, who has been a home technician at Tuhu for five years, has a more intuitive understanding of the meaning of "goalkeeper".

Last winter in the early morning, I received an order. The customer had just disembarked from the airport and the car had been parked in the parking lot for five days. The battery was running low and couldn't start, "Mr. Li recalled." When I arrived, he was standing next to the car with his suitcase still on the ground. He said he called several platforms, but they all said it was too late and no one took the order

Master Li replaced the battery in less than half an hour. At the moment the vehicle started, the owner said, "I never expected anyone to come at this point." Then, he posted a photo of Master Li replacing the battery on the Tuhu Car Maintenance APP's car friend circle.

Actually, our system assigns orders nearby, and whoever is closer will receive them, "said Master Li.

According to the person in charge of TuHu battery service experience, TuHu has a service network for on-site battery replacement in 94% of cities across the country, with over 7000 technicians on standby throughout the year. Cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen also offer night time delivery services, with the latest available until midnight.

We have been doing one thing all along, which is to bring services closer to users. TuHu is also the industry's first platform to launch night time battery delivery services, and technicians can install on-site in as fast as 28 minutes

At the same time, how to solve after-sales problems after replacing the battery? It is the most concerning issue for many car owners.

Tuhu provides nationwide warranty. No matter where the car owner goes, they can handle after-sales service nearby. During the warranty period, we also provide one free on-site inspection - no need for the car owner to run, we will run

This' certainty 'is the core of Tuhu's service system. When sudden situations such as battery depletion occur, car owners no longer need to check the model, find a store, or worry about authenticity themselves. Just enter the vehicle model on Tuhu, and leave the rest to the platform.

From "selling batteries" to "selling certainty"

In a sense, what Tiggo is doing is not just selling a battery.

But rather, the links of brand direct supply, system matching, and technician on-site are connected into a standardized service process. In the past, in the automotive aftermarket, car maintenance relied on the experience of experienced professionals and the reliability of this store. Now emergency needs like batteries have been caught by digital systems - efficient, transparent, and worry free.

Replacing the battery is faster than ordering takeout, it's a result of the process, "said the person in charge of Tuhu battery service experience.

When technology, supply chain, and service network are integrated, the so-called "experiential consumption" falls on car owners in one sentence: when truly needed, someone can deliver the right products, in the right way, and in a timely manner. And this is also becoming a new service benchmark in the automotive aftermarket.