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Many materials can stop bullets, but they are not all created equal some are best for armor and some are best for cover. There are alsosomethat have yet to be truly tested.

Beloware examples of intermediate barriers that can deflect bullets from their intended trajectory and impede their performance by forcing them to shed velocity and deform or even break into pieces. Your car the body, doors, engine block and windows offer very different results

Testing by firearm instructors suggests that auto glass may change the trajectory of a bullet, BUT it won’t stop it and neither will the dashboard or steering wheel.

The body of your vehicle, like the door, might stop bullets depending on the type of bullet and the angle of fire.

Engine blocks have always been accepted as a good cover and arguably the only part of a vehicle you can consistently rely on to stop bullets, according to Jacob Paulsen, founder and president of ConcealedCarry.com. Filing cabinets full of paper

There has actually been a lot of research on file cabinets due to their general availability for cover in a workplace under active shooter situation.

Research conducted by ConcealedCarry.com suggested that an empty file cabinet will not stop most handgun rounds, but a filing cabinet full of paper is likely to be effective. Sandbags

When filled with sand or dirt and placed in strategic positions, sandbags can provide protection from small arms fire and shrapnel.

The dense layers of sand or soil rapidly deplete projectiles of energy until they come to rest harmlessly inside the sandbag. At worst, bullets penetrate them only after having lost much of their velocity.

You can also use sandbags to reinforce or fortify common structures. Some sandbags can be piled in front of a window or door during times of trouble to provide protection from bullets or to prop up plywood coverings to prevent entry.

Even a basic U- or V-shaped barrier of sandbags can prove to be an excellent defense in times of civil unrest. Masonry brick, concrete, stone

Brick, concrete and genuine stone are conventional, durable and long-lasting exterior and indoor construction materials that typically exhibit excellent bullet-resistant properties, and will usually stop small-caliber handgun rounds entirely.

The only downside to these materials is that they degrade comparatively quickly with each bullet hit and the fractures that radiate out from each impact can lessen the resistance of the nearby material. Steel/aluminum plates

Often regarded as one of the better bullet-resistant materials available for reinforcing or building a wall, steel is used for purpose-made armor in both vehicular and individual applications because it typically endures multiple-bullet hits quite well with very little degradation.

The downside is that steel plates are also extremely heavy and difficult to fabricate or modify on a work site.

And like most other metallic armors, steel is highly vulnerable to high-velocity projectiles and extremely vulnerable to high-velocity armor-piercing projectiles. One must also be cautious of spalling (the breaking away of a concrete surface), which occurs on a major hit or near-penetration. Tiny fragments of the steel de-laminate and break off with lethal velocity on the back side of the plate, potentially injuring or even killing people struck by them.

Aluminum is best used as a component in composite armor solutions. Polycarbonate

Due to its exceptional strength, impact resistance and toughness, bullet-resistant polycarbonate is a unique and valuable material.

Polycarbonate has the advantages of being optically transparent, lightweight and shatterproof. Additionally, it has strong dielectric strength, low moisture absorption and excellent UV protection.

These characteristics make polycarbonate sheet one of the best materials for resisting both physical assaults and multiple-shot ballistic assaults. Kevlar

Made of tightly woven synthetic fibers that can endure incredible amounts of punishment, kevlar is the lightest material for stopping bullets and used all around the world by both militaries and civilians for ballistic protection. As far as armors go, the plates are also lightweight, versatile, durable and heat resistant. (Related: NYC residents are buying body armor in record numbers as lawless Democrats defund police and protect violent criminals.) Polyethylene

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene is a highly durable, water-resistant material that won’t degrade as fast as ceramic or kevlar.

In overall performance, polyethylene is the best material to stop a bullet. Polyethylene can take multiple hits where a plate of ceramic or kevlar would shatter or crack.

While it isn’t as light as kevlar, its strength-to-weight ratio is about 15 times that of kevlar. The material is used to make plates similar to steel plates, only a lot lighter. Non-Newtonian fluids

Researchers in Poland have developed a liquid that’s super-light and flexible. Upon impact,its specially designed shear-thickening fluid, or STF, turns into a solid that is more comfortable than kevlar.

Created by the Moratex Institute of Security Technologies, the liquid is known as non-Newtonian fluid which only changes its structure according to temperature or pressure fluctuations.

In other words, they can quickly change from liquid to rock-hard solid when they’re hit with something forceful,such as a stray bullet.

Visit SelfDefense.newsfor more related stories.

Watch this video to learn about a simple trick to bulletproof your home for SHTF.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories:

New York bans most civilians from wearing bulletproof vests.

More and more Americans are bulletproofing their cars as crime and lawlessness worsen.

Home security: 3 Ways to protect your homestead.

Looking to improve your home security? Here are 25 things you can do right now.

Sources include:

SurvivalJunkies.com

ConcealedCarry.com

ModernSurvivalOnline.com

ScienceAlert.com

Brighteon.com
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MG begins deliveries of the world’s first mass-produced EV with a semi-solid-state battery

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MG begins deliveries of the world's first mass-produced EV with a semi-solid-state battery

SAIC MG delivered the first MG4 model with a semi-solid-state EV battery in China, starting at under $15,000.

The MG4 is the first EV with a semi-solid-state battery

In August, SAIC MG launched the all-new MG4 at the Chengdu Auto Show, deeming it “the world’s first mass-produced semi-solid-state” electric vehicle.

The new MG4 is available in five different trims: Comfort, Ease, Freedom, Smart, and the semi-solid-state “Secure” edition.

SAIC MG announced on Thursday that it had delivered the first MG4 equipped with the new battery tech. The new MG4 is on sale starting at 68,800 RMB ($9,800), with prices rising to 102,800 yuan ($14,500) for the semi-solid-state battery model.

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It’s available with two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery sizes: 42.8 kWh or 53.95 kWh. The three lowest-priced trims are equipped with the smaller (42.8 kWh) battery, providing 437 km (271 miles) CLTC driving range, while the Smart version uses the 53.95 kWh battery, delivering 530 km (330 miles) of range.

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The new MG4 with a semi-solid-state EV battery (Source: SAIC MG)

Meanwhile, the semi-solid-state variant is powered by a 53.95 kWh semi-solid manganese-based lithium-ion battery, delivering 530 km (330 miles) of CLTC range.

All new MG4 models are powered by a single front-mounted “six-in-one” electric motor with 120 kW (161 hp) and 250 Nm torque. Using DC fast charging, it can recharge from 30% to 80% in 20 minutes.

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The new MG4 (Source: SAIC MG)

The electric hatch is 4,395 mm long, 1,842 mm wide, and 1,551 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm. That’s about the size of the BYD Dolphin.

Like most Chinese EVs nowadays, the new MG4 is loaded with modern tech and features. The smart cockpit is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 in-car chip.

First-EV-semi-solid-state-battery
The interior of the new MG4 with a semi-solid-state battery (Source: SAIC MG)

While the three lower-priced trims feature a 12.8″ central infotainment screen, upgrading to the Smart and semi-solid-state models adds a bigger 15.6″ display with 2.5K resolution.

The company said that by reducing the liquid electrolyte content to just 5%, the semi-solid-state EV battery significantly reduces the risk of combustion and improves the cycle life.

In two recent needle penetration tests, the new battery produced no smoke, no fires, and no explosions after two hours. SAIC MG said it was an industry first, exceeding industry standards by 20%.

SAIC MG delivered over 13,000 new MG4 models in November. It’s also the best-selling independent Chinese car brand overseas, A “beacon of Chinese automotive success,” in the EU and British markets, the company said.

Source: CarNewsChina, SAIC MG

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GM considers former Tesla Autopilot head Sterling Anderson as next CEO, report says

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GM considers former Tesla Autopilot head Sterling Anderson as next CEO, report says

GM CEO Mary Barra is reportedly considering Sterling Anderson, the former head of Tesla Autopilot and co-founder of Aurora, as her potential successor. But first, she is putting him through a “tough test” in his new role as Chief Product Officer.

We reported back in May that GM hired Anderson as its new Chief Product Officer in a surprising move that put a tech executive in charge of the legacy automaker’s entire vehicle development program.

Anderson is well-known in the EV community. He led the Model X program at Tesla and was the director of the Autopilot program during its formative years (2015-2016). He later left to co-found Aurora Innovation, a self-driving startup that has focused heavily on autonomous trucking.

Now, a new report from Bloomberg states that Barra sees Anderson as a frontrunner to replace her when she eventually steps down.

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According to the report, Barra is “gauging” Anderson for the top job by giving him a massive portfolio that serves as a trial by fire. Since joining in June, Anderson has been tasked with overseeing the end-to-end lifecycle of GM’s products, both gas and electric, including the critical integration of hardware and software.

The “test” essentially boils down to whether Anderson can successfully execute Barra’s vision of transforming GM into a tech-first company. This involves untangling the automaker’s software woes and delivering on the promise of “eyes-off” autonomous driving for personal vehicles, a pivot away from the robotaxi-focused strategy of its former Cruise unit.

While Barra, 63, hasn’t announced a retirement date, the pressure is on to find a leader who can navigate the rapid transition to electric and software-defined vehicles. If Anderson passes this “test,” he could become the first outsider with a tech background to lead the 117-year-old automaker.

Electrek’s Take

“Tech background” is not entirely true, but mostly accurate. He has spent a few years at Tesla and then built Aurora; both are in the auto industry, but certainly on the techy side of it. Before that, he spent years at MIT, and the ‘T’ stands for technology.

I’ve only had a few interactions with Sterling, but from what I could tell, he is a smart guy who was among the most realistic about autonomy at Tesla, which is probably why he didn’t last long at the head of the program and went on his own.

He helped build Aurora into a multi-billion-dollar company that is now seen as the leader in autonomous trucking.

GM is starting to build an extensive and impressive EV lineup, but it still has issues committing to high volume due to the political landscape, which, in my opinion, the company itself often lobbied the wrong way.

I think some fresh blood could help.

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House passes bill to ease permits for building out AI infrastructure

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House passes bill to ease permits for building out AI infrastructure

House passes bill that would help advance AI data center buildout

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill aimed at making it easier to get federal permits to build infrastructure for artificial intelligence projects.

The bill, known as the SPEED Act, is backed Big Tech giants such as OpenAI, Micron and Microsoft

The bill cleared the House in a 221-196 vote, overcoming a conservative rebellion that nearly sank the legislation in a procedural vote earlier this week.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is likely to be part of a larger conversation around permitting reform. 

The SPEED Act’s proponents argue it is critical to help the U.S. outpace China and other global competitors in the race for AI dominance. 

“The electricity we will need to power AI computing for civilian and military use is a national imperative,” said Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., the bill’s sponsor and chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. 

The SPEED Act would reform the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act, which mandates federal reviews for projects that would impact the environment.

It would tighten the timelines for NEPA reviews and shrink the statute of limitations for NEPA litigation to 150 days from the current six years. 

Permitting reform has drawn bipartisan support recently as clean energy projects supported by Democrats became ensnared in permitting delays.

Pressure has built on Congress to act as AI has emerged as a key sector and power-hungry data centers have placed an increased strain on the electric grid. 

Read more CNBC politics coverage

The Democratic cosponsor of the bill, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, said the SPEED Act would allow the U.S. to be “nimble enough to build what we need, when we need it.”

Most Democrats opposed the SPEED Act, however, demanding that any permitting bill overturn President Donald Trump‘s moves to choke renewable energy sources like offshore wind

Democratic resistance was only compounded after GOP leadership inserted language to exempt Trump’s efforts to block renewables from provisions in the SPEED Act that would limit the White House’s ability to arbitrarily yank permits it does not like.

The amendment was added after a standoff on the House floor during a procedural vote, where conservatives opposed to renewable energy demanded concessions for their votes.

“That provision codifies a broken permitting status quo,” said Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., who supports permitting reform but opposed the SPEED Act.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle in the Senate to craft a bipartisan product that can become law.”

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