G. David Felt

Jeep's 57th Anual Easter Jeep Safari reveals an impressive lineup of Easter Jeep Safari Concepts. Highlights: Seven one-of-a-kind Jeep concept vehicles take four-wheeling to the next level and prove why there’s nothing quite like legendary Jeep 4x4 capability Jeep brand’s mission of Zero Emission Freedom takes charge with four new electrified concept vehicles, including the reimagined Jeep Wrangler Magneto 3.0 All concept vehicles are equipped with an array of advanced powertrains and showcase the latest prototype and production parts Jeep has clearly focused on an Electrified Power with Commanding Performance as the front and center of the Jeep Safari 2023. JPP or Jeep Performance Parts worked with the Jeep Brand so that both groups of engineers pushed the capabilities with performance in creating one-of-kind rock-crawling and terrain-traversing vehicles taking four-wheeling to the ultimate 21st century. The 2023 Easter Jeep Safari is allowing Jeep to showcase multiple electric and hybrid vehicles. This starts with the Magneto Jeep Wrangler, Jeep's first battery-electric vehicle that is in it's third iteration along with additional Jeep 4xe concept vehicles. The 2023 Easter Jeep Safari concept lineup is as follows: Jeep Wrangler Magneto 3.0 Concept Third time’s a charm for this off-road beast. When the Jeep design team began building the Jeep Wrangler Magneto concept, the intention was always to use the platform to test, discover and push the boundaries of 4x4 electrification. The Jeep Magneto 1.0 concept was first introduced in 2021 as a fully capable BEV that was stealthy, quiet, quick and an unmistakable rock-climbing force. Jeep brand engineers and designers created a zero-emission vehicle with Jeep 4x4 capability that provided new levels of efficiency, environmental responsibility, and extreme performance on and off road. Based on a two-door 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, the Jeep Magneto features a custom-built axial flux electric motor that operates up to 6,000 rpm and connects to a six-speed manual transmission for ultimate control. The compact e-motor was initially tuned to deliver up to 273 lb.-ft. of torque and 285 horsepower. The debut of the Jeep Magneto 2.0 concept in 2022 pushed the performance envelope further. Peak amperage in the propulsion system was more than doubled to 600 amps, which enabled the concept vehicle to instantly deliver up to 850 lb.-ft. of peak torque to the wheels – more than triple the torque output of the previous version of the concept – and 625 horsepower for serious rock-climbing challenges. Updates to Jeep Magneto this year include a new, more efficient motor that boosts the torque output, as well as updated programming, which results in a 20% increase in useable energy and range. Also new to the Jeep Magneto 3.0 concept this year are three driver selectable functions that capitalize on the benefits of a fully electric powertrain in serious off-road situations: Output select allows the driver to choose between two power settings (standard: 285 horsepower/273 lb.-ft. of torque; maximum: 650 horsepower/900 lb.-ft. of torque) Two-stage power regeneration mode allows normal driving while off, or enhanced brake regeneration using the electric motor when engaged Aggressive hill descent mode can be selected in low range to offer true ‘one pedal’ off-road driving in serious rock-crawling situations Adding to its prowess are Dynatrac 60 front axles (5.38:1 ratio), Dynatrac 80 rear axles (5.38:1 ratio), 20-inch off-road beadlock wheels, 40-inch mud terrain tires and a custom 3-inch lift. The Jeep Magneto 3.0 concept also tests the concept vehicle’s proportion. For ease of access, the door opening has been modified and swept back an additional six inches. For added accessibility, a new B-pillar was moved rearward 60mm from stock to make way for a custom anti-roll bar. The front fender was stretched back on the trailing edge two inches. The windshield has been raked back 12 degrees to give the side view a “chopped” roof feel without shortening the front glass. Jeep Magneto 3.0 has an updated paint scheme that pays homage to all three evolutions of the concept vehicle. The Bright White and Surf Blue motif remains, but the third iteration introduces more vibrant exterior details, including the addition of red accents. The Jeep Magneto 3.0 concept front seats have been re-trimmed in a rich blue leather and adorned with red accent stitching to match the exterior. The rear seats have been removed and the floor has been Rhino-lined in Surf Blue for added functionality and durability. Jeep Scrambler 392 Concept Originally introduced in 1981, the Jeep Scrambler (CJ-8) was the Jeep brand’s first convertible, compact truck. Highly capable and versatile, this unique small pickup truck was similar to the CJ-7, but featured a longer 103-inch wheelbase and a long rear overhang for increased cargo space. Fast forward four decades, the Jeep Scrambler 392 concept builds on the fun, open-air origins of the CJ-8 with a powerful twist. Though a V-8 engine was never offered in the CJ-8, the 392 Scrambler concept offers impressive power and incredible torque with its 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 engine (470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque). The Jeep Scrambler 392 concept, which started as a four-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, also emphasizes lightweight off-road performance, achieved through custom carbon-fiber bodywork. The transformation showcases the Scrambler’s new two-door aesthetic with an open-air freedom personality. The windshield is laid back 12 degrees and matches a lower roof. The modified silhouette gives a nod to chopped top hotrods. One of the most exciting features on the Jeep Scrambler 392 concept is the newly released AccuAir air suspension kit developed for the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator. This system allows an adjustable suspension lift ranging from 1.5 inches up to 5.5 inches and can be custom adjusted on the fly with an in-cab controller or through long-range Bluetooth on a wireless device. The sculptural rear quarter panel is designed to emphasize the door aperture, as well as wider rear flares. The updated bodywork also includes a new front fender flare and a new carbon-fiber hood. In the middle of the hood rests a tinted clear insert to spotlight the heart of the Jeep Scrambler 392 concept, its monster 392-cubic-inch engine. Custom front and rear lightweight bumpers and the new fender flares provide added clearance for a larger tire and wheel combo. The Jeep Scrambler 392 concept sits on 40-inch tires wrapped around custom 20-inch rims. The rims and tow hooks are finished in Brass Monkey paint, the same as today’s stock Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. The exterior of the concept is painted in Sublime green, while the interior boasts custom seats with plaid blue inserts and green stitching. 1978 Jeep Cherokee 4xe Concept Another trip down memory lane leads to this year’s Resto-mod concept build. First introduced in 1974, the Jeep Cherokee (SJ) was a sporty, two-door version of the Wagoneer and featured bucket seats, a sports steering wheel and racy detailing designed to appeal to younger, more adventurous drivers. A year later, the Wide-Track option was available with key upgraded features, including exterior stripes, larger tires, 3-inch wider axles, larger front and rear wheel cutouts, Dana 44 front and rear axles and an interior with more creature comforts. Which leads us to the present day of this concept vehicle-loving journey. To pay homage to the Jeep Cherokee SJ, a first-of-its-kind vehicle with on- and off-road chops, the Jeep design team set out to reimagine the iconic full-size SUV with a modern spin. The Jeep Cherokee 4xe concept began its life as a 1978 Jeep Cherokee, which was affectionately blended with a 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe. The original Jeep Cherokee was intended to take the Jeep Cherokee SJ to the next level of performance, and that ethos rings true for this concept vehicle. The original body was heavily modified and the exterior fuses original proportions with a bright, unmistakably 1970s-theme multicolor paint scheme. While the ’78 Jeep Cherokee 4xe concept looks similar to a vintage Jeep Cherokee SJ at first glance, it has transformed into a modern, electrified, off-road performer. Under the hood, the ’78 Jeep Cherokee 4xe concept features the advanced Jeep Wrangler 4xe powertrain, which provides a unique on- and off-road experience through the combination of two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack and a high-tech 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine. An eight-speed automatic transmission is mated to a 4:1 transfer case to deliver more than enough power to 37-inch tires wrapped around custom 17-inch “slotted mag” style wheels. The Jeep ’78 Jeep Cherokee 4xe concept’s custom interior features low-back bucket seats trimmed in leather. The rear bench seat was replaced with a four-point safety cage, and the rear cargo space houses a full-size spare tire just in case the trail gets a little too wild. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Concept Following the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the special-run, limited-edition Tuscadero exterior paint color that debuted in 2021 for Jeep Wrangler models, the Jeep design team decided to up the ante on this head-turning chromatic magenta color. The team drew a line in the Moab sand and decided it was time to flip the color’s perception and make it a lot tougher than expected. Enter this special Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe concept with its legendary electrified off-road capability, unapologetic color palette and a powerful platform for any adventure. The exterior of the Jeep concept boasts an eye-catching, pink-hued paint with Gloss Black accents sprinkled across the front grille and headlamp bezels. The signature seven-slot grille was borrowed from the new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary model, which sets off a custom hood graphic with a tone-on-tone print that fittingly ties into the interior theme. Off-road capability has been increased with the addition of an adjustable AccuAir air suspension kit to allow ample clearance for massive 37-inch tires that are wrapped around custom 17-inch high-gloss black American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Borah wheels. Additional AEV pieces include front and rear bumpers, differential covers and a Warn Zeon winch. Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept Over the hills and through the Canyonlands we go with the cross-trekking 2023 Grand Wagoneer Overland Concept. The all-new Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer vehicles reinterpret their own legacies and take the premium SUV into uncharted territories of comfort and adventure. With this in mind, the go anywhere, do anything concept vehicle takes off-road exploration to the next level – and in true Grand Wagoneer style. The Grand Wagoneer Overland concept leverages the all-new 3.0-liter Hurricane Twin Turbo 510 engine to lead adventure-seekers further off the beaten path. Delivering 510 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of torque, the powerful Hurricane engine offers premium performance while also delivering improved fuel economy versus many competitors’ naturally aspirated V-8 and boosted six-cylinder engines. The overlanding-inspired concept boasts an incredible amount of appointments inside and out. The concept’s main feature is a custom RedTail Overland Skyloft affixed to the top of the Grand Wagoneer’s roof. The carbon-fiber constructed Skyloft unfolds in around 10 seconds from the inside by simply pushing up with one arm. To accomplish the Skyloft’s integration, the design team began by removing the second- and third-row seats. The rear-most sunroof was repositioned to create a custom weatherproof, pass-thru entrance from the lower third-row seating area to the upper Skyloft level. A fore/aft sliding door and a small step, which also doubles as a usable table, allows for easy access. The Skyloft provides a climate-controlled oasis complete with a sleeping space for two people and enough windows to soak in even the most panoramic views. And while the Skyloft may be the optimal choice to take in a starry night, the main cabin space below also received plenty of attention to detail. Whether it’s to escape a quick downpour or change out of muddy hiking gear, the concept’s truck bed-lined cargo floor handles any outdoor element with ease. To complement the Grand Wagoneer’s rear seat entertainment and other creature comforts, the cozy interior was appointed with two oversized beanbags, a plush throw rug, pillows and custom, ambient interior lighting. The spacious interior also provides ample storage for bikes, gear and anything else worthy of the trip. The exterior of the Grand Wagoneer Overland concept is painted in Industrial Green with Gunmetal accents. A massive Warn winch was added to the front grille and features two sets of custom laser lights for superior night-time visibility. A durable, black Rhino-lined roof has a subtle pop of orange color to pay homage to the countless amounts of outdoor gear used by overlanding enthusiasts. Larger wheel openings and custom wheel flares, as well as a custom front chin and rear valance help complete the look, while also delivering aggressive approach and departure angles for superior off-road capability. The concept’s 35-inch tires wrapped around custom 18-inch wheels provide a natural 1.5-inch lift to the vehicle for added breakover and ground clearance. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Departure Concept The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Departure concept builds upon the iconic open-air cockpit of the best-selling and most capable PHEV in America with innovative and conceptual items from the JPP by Mopar design team. Notably, the spare wheel and tire mount allows the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe to push the limits of available departure angles with 4x4 electrification. Riding on 17-by-8.5-inch Vintage Bronze KMC Impact OL wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires, the Wrangler 4xe Departure concept features a JPP 2-inch lift kit with BILSTEIN performance shock absorbers. The BILSTEIN shocks use remote reservoirs to provide greater cooling capability for increased suspension travel and improved Jeep 4x4 off-road capability. Protecting the seven-slot front grille first introduced on the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary edition is a custom-designed tubular grille guard measuring 4 feet by 1 foot that folds down to create an innovative bumper bench, a perfect relaxation perch for two while out on the trails. Below the grille guard is a modified Rubicon bumper with a Warn winch. New, custom, flat-fender flares and wheel liners, designed specifically for larger wheel and tire combinations, provide additional clearance. The flat fender flares have integral removable daytime- running-light (DRL) covers for the off-road enthusiast who may require extra tire clearance for extreme off-road situations. This concept is the first 50-state legal fender flare with OEM DRL and meets 50-state tire coverage requirements. The design team continues to explore customer needs by investigating additional trail lighting. The Wrangler 4xe Departure concept uses three concept header-mounted, 11-inch TYRI rectangular LED lights with custom brackets that mount to the backside of the windshield header. Each light easily pivots out of the way when the windshield is folded down. Illuminating the ground at all four corners are custom rock lights. Custom rock rails with mounted slider tubes provide enhanced body protection and easier access to the elevated cabin, while JPP tube doors provide the ultimate open-air experience. For added storage capacity, the Wrangler 4xe Departure concept features Molle panels that attach to the sport bar and the body tub to house additional trail-rated accessories that need a mounting point. The design team used the Wrangler 4xe Departure concept to explore innovative options to mount the spare wheel and tire, while keeping harmony with other accessories. At the rear is a custom convertible tube gate that offers front- or rear-facing positions for the spare wheel and tire. When the spare is flipped outward, the system acts as a bed extender to provide more cargo space. When the gate is turned toward the cabin, the rear overhang is greatly improved for off-roading while the spare wheel and tire are safely secured. The convertible gate maintains a factory backup camera and CHMSL in either position. The rear cargo compartment features Jeep Rubicon trail rails with tie downs to store additional accessories, and a signature JPP all-weather cargo mat. The stunning Dark Harbor blue exterior on the Wrangler 4xe Departure concept is contrasted inside the cabin with the vivid chromatic seating surfaces. The design team uses an expressive color combination of light Acorn Squash Nappa leather contrasted with darker Carnegie Hall brown Nappa leather, accented with warm off-white Serafil stitching. The Dark Harbor blue color continues onto the instrument panel, which features various Vintage Bronze accents. The Wrangler 4xe Departure concept also features a concept instrument panel accessory rail to mount phones or accessories for recording trail rides. For the driver, stainless-steel JPP pedal covers include black rubber pads, adding plenty of traction to the accelerator and brake pedals. In addition, JPP door-grab handles provide easy entry and exit. The new JPP heavy-duty vinyl flooring system is available now for all production four-door (JL) Wranglers. With integrated Jeep floor drains it allows for easy interior cleaning. Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Sideburn Concept The Jeep Gladiator Sideburn concept, wearing a striking Solar Flash Yellow, explores new tools designed for the burgeoning interest in off-road adventure. Powered by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, the Gladiator Sideburn concept features a JPP 2-inch lift kit with BILSTEIN performance shock absorbers. The BILSTEIN shocks use remote reservoirs to provide greater cooling capability for increased suspension travel and improved Jeep 4x4 off-road capability. At all four corners, black HRE 17-by-9-inch FT1 six-spoke wheels ride on 37-by-13-inch BF Goodrich tires. Protecting the seven-slot front grille borrowed from the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary edition is a custom-designed tubular grille guard measuring 4 feet by 1 foot that folds down to create an innovative bumper bench, a perfect relaxation perch for two while out on the trails. Below the grille guard is a modified Rubicon bumper with a Warn winch. Responding to customer feedback and debuting on a Gladiator Sideburn concept, the JPP by Mopar design team installed a pair of removable 11-inch TYRI rectangular LED lights to each of the roof panels, suspended by custom bracketry in the concept-light fairing. The light fairing is attached to each roof panel and features a quick disconnect. A concept JPP Gladiator Sport Bar, made from lightweight carbon fiber and steel, enhances the space between the cabin and the bed with a design that features bed steps on both sides for easy access. The sport bar also features a mid-shelf with tie downs for portable storage totes. Each tote can be locked and secured via eight available tie-down loops. Four T-track rails on the upper portion of the sport bar enable easy installation of bike, kayak or other roof-mounted cargo systems. The bed on the Gladiator Sideburn concept is truly unique. Created to further enhance the strong and lightweight Jeep design language, the bed features integral Molle panels above and behind the wheel flares for additional storage. Integral RotoPaX containers are specially designed for liquid storage during off-road adventures. Within the bed is a modified Mopar bed-mounted spare tire carrier that holds a 37-inch wheel and tire. A custom tailgate carries the standard back-up camera, CHMSL and features three Molle-panel openings, along with a custom floating Jeep badge in the center opening. The open-air feel of the Sideburn Gladiator concept is further enhanced by the available JPP half doors while JPP side steps and JPP grab handles assist with entry into the elevated cabin. The open cabin features seats, armrest, shift boots, parking brake handle and half-door pull straps trimmed in a deep, dark, red-brown Vienesse Relicate Nappa leather with Soul-stopper thread. The thread accents continue onto the top pad of the instrument panel and steering wheel. Custom instrument panel bezels carry a 3D topographical map of Moab scenery finished in matte-black base and gloss dark-silver trails. Accents throughout the cabin are finished in Atomic Silver matte paint. Decorative, stainless-steel JPP pedal covers provide foot traction for feathering through the trails, and a concept JPP heavy-duty vinyl floor system (for JT Gladiator model) with integrated floor drains allows for quick interior hose-outs. 2023 Easter Jeep Safari Photo Album The photo album shows a wide range of both external and internal photos of these concepts. Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) Created in 2012 and offered by Mopar for the Jeep brand, JPP provides off-road enthusiasts with high-end, hard-core quality aftermarket accessories and performance parts. The portfolio of factory-backed, quality-tested parts includes axles, lift kits, bumpers, winches, skid plates, suspension components and more. The products are created in close conjunction with the Jeep brand, engineering and product design-office teams for development, testing and validation. Strict standards and factory-exclusive data — information not available to the aftermarket — are used to seamlessly integrate performance parts and accessories in order to deliver proper fit, finish and quality right down to the color, grain and appearance of each product. To see the full line of Jeep Performance Parts, visit mopar.com/jpp.

One could do a basic internet search and come up with plenty of stories on the top 8, Top 10 or Top 12 solid state battery companies in 2023. Here at Cheers and Gears we have done 9 such stories covering College Research turned into Battery Startup's that all have their own take on the ultimate Forever battery of Solid State design. What is a solid-state battery and why is it considered a Forever battery? To understand this discussion, we have to start with understanding the difference between a Conventional and solid-state battery. Traditional EV batteries, pretty much any battery today as it has been used for the last century is made up of a cathode, anode, and electrolyte. The electrolyte under fast charging has an additional issue and that is one of catching on fire. In the case of a traditional EV Lithium-ion battery, the electrolyte is a liquid solution connecting the two. All batteries have worked this way for decades. Due to the electrolyte's physical limitations, we have reached the limit of the energy cell density. If consumers want their phones, watches, electric cars, etc. to last longer, charge faster, we need a fundamentally different battery cell. Welcome to the Solid-state battery or what industry observers and creators are calling the "Forever Battery". But why call it this term? Solid-state batteries have the potential to allow powering a heavily used cell phone for days, charging your smartwatch in seconds rather than 10's of minutes and yes, filling up an EV in minutes with driving for hundreds if not thousands of miles depending on the battery pack size. They also do not have the fire issue that you have with todays current batteries. Yet with this, there is still a big problem with batteries and that is a known issue called DENDRITES. This video shows that through charging and discharging, dendrites is an issue that hits both traditional batteries of today with a liquid electrolyte and solid-state batteries. This video shows the growth of dendrites during the charging and discharging process. Once dendrites grow from the anode to the cathode they short out and will no longer hold a charge. This is also why over time batteries loose capacity of electrical charge. Over the last couple of decades, college scientists working with venture capital firms across the globe have invested heavily in R&D to build solid-state batteries that are far more energy dense, does not have the dendrite issues that cause cracking in the battery and short circuiting. In just the last two years, college R&D has moved to prototype production lines as multiple research groups have moved into the startup phase with what they believe to be is a solution that cracked the code of a dendrite free solid-state battery. These designs allow for a fire safe, solid energy dense battery that is what the media has termed "Forever Batteries" as the current testing is showing that such battery packs should last a million miles at least if not longer, reducing the need to replace them every 7 to 10 years. Solid-state batteries allow for a reduction in packaging size, while gaining energy density, fire safety, along with the packaging improvements. There is also the benefit of multi-layering which increases energy density storage in both traditional batteries and solid-state. Solid-state wins here due to the reduced packaging size while increasing the energy storage capacity. While the solid-state battery research started with a single layer battery cell, the last few years saw them move to 4-layer and 10-layer battery cells and many of these soli-state startups are now producing working prototypes of 16-layer cells of which the auto industry is testing. Companies such as QuantumScape a R&D group from Standford University and now a tech startup of solid-state batteries has shipped their first deliveries of batteries to auto companies for testing. A company that went into startup mode in 2010, QuantumScape is hoping to go full mass production of their solid-state, 16 layer cells in 2024. Many would ask and rightly so would want to know how this technology translates into real world applications. Solid-State batteries would on size alone be about a 20 to 25% reduction in physical size if kW to kW was the same over liquid. But then you have the energy density gains which are from 50% to 80% increase over the old standard Lithium-ion liquid battery. This would mean if you had a 200 mile range Lithium-ion liquid battery, a solid-state battery would be 20 to 25% smaller and deliver 300 to 400 miles of range depending on the application at a minimum. Research on the life of current batteries is still limited due to the amount of EVs on the roads today and volume of battery production, but indications are that it is good and will only get better. How Long Do EV Battery Packs Last? Per the most current study, we have the following data: Battery replacements are quite rare. In our community of 15,000 cars, only 1.5% have been replaced (outside of big recalls like Chevy Bolt). Degradation is not linear. We're including battery degradation curves that illustrate how well these batteries hold up over time. There's some drop in the beginning then it levels out for a long period. Most replacements occur under warranty. For example, a new Rivian has battery coverage for 175,000 miles or 10 years. The federal minimum warranty is 8 years or 100,000 miles. This is why Recurrent Reports are essential. Recurrent can give you insights into an EV battery without costly or invasive tests. Auto makers are stating that they expect EVs to last between 15 to 20 years moving forward. Yet we do have the data going back over the last two decades. This data has then been broken down by year of battery replacements where we see that the Nissan air temperature controlled battery and the Tesla S liquid temperature controlled battery have the highest percentage of battery replacements. The study shows the following details of battery replacements as follows: 2013 Tesla Model S (8.5%) 2014 Tesla Model S (7.3%) 2015 Tesla Model S (3.5%) 2011 Nissan LEAF (8.3%) 2012 Nissan LEAF (3.5%) This does take into account the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt recall, and the 2019 Hyundai Kona recall. The Nissan Leaf and Tesla S both had early recalls on battery packs due to the early day chemistry of those cells before they changed over to the current hearty cell chemistry that everyone is currently using. There is much data at the link above if you wish to see more granular breakdown by actual OEM EV models. The benefit is that if an EV works for you needs today, you will get a long useful life out of the EV that is greater than many see with ICE auto's. This leads us to the "Forever Battery", the solid-state darlings that are just now ramping up testing sample production for auto companies across the globe. The following list of solid state battery companies that have moved into production from development today: Home - Solid Power (solidpowerbattery.com) Building the Best Solid State Battery | QuantumScape Ampcera – Solid State Electrolytes and Batteries Solid-State Li-Ion batteries utilizing proprietary polymer matrix electrolyte (PME) technology (brightvolt.com) ProLogium Technology Co., Ltd Toyota Solid-State Battery Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC) - Toyota USA Newsroom ilika Solid State Battery Home of the World's Smallest Solid-State Batteries - Cymbet Keep in mind that this is just a sample of the Solid-State Battery startup companies above and there are more that are mentioned below that you can look at. Not all companies will survive in their current state as some will be swallowed up by legacy battery companies that do not currently have this technology. End result is that we are on the start of a major battery revolution that will promise to change not only the auto industry but the rest of the industry that needs batteries from the smallest used in hearing aids to the largest that would be used to store excess power till it is needed. Stories on Solid State Batteries over the last 18 months:

Over the last couple of decades Ford's flagship mid-size Saloon sedan has been enjoying unprecedented popularity with a triple digit year over year growth and particular huge growth in the Middle East. Specifically, the middle east has seen massive growth as follows: Saudi Arabia up 73% Kuwait up 125% Oman up 63% Bahrain up 42% The All-new Ford Taurus has gone through an extensive comprehensive testing in facilities around the world from the mundane to the extreme such as Dubai where temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The All-New Ford Taurus is built in Thailand, India, Australia and Chine for global markets ensuring they are built to Blue Oval's exacting world-class standards. Per Siya Dallalah, Product Development General Manager, Ford International Markets Group: “It’s crucial to the comfort of our customers, and the integrity of the all-new Taurus, that we test in such extreme climes. Dust and sand can play havoc on engine internals and suspension components by accelerating wear on moving parts. Add that to the searing heat, and you are faced with a vehicle that has to work much harder than it might have to in more favorable conditions. Our testing ensures Taurus’ engine, transmission, driveline- and cooling systems can handle the demands of the region.” Ford had the following statement to say on the Taurus Launch: "From a panoramic sunroof and three alloy wheel size options to its powerful and efficient 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine with eight-speed automatic transmission – operated by a contemporary rotary gear shifter on the centre console – Taurus delivers more of what large sedan buyers. Driver assist technologies include adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation system and blind spot intervention (BLIS), while on the inside, wireless charging and an impressive 13.2-inch centre screen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatibility, along with an 8-eight-inch digital cluster display, ensuring the technophiles are catered to." "The all-new segment-leader Ford Taurus will arrive to Middle East showrooms soon with its all-new modern design, powerful turbocharged engine, unique regional premium touches, and highly desired technologies." Ford has even delivered on flush door handles that upon unlocking the car from your fob, the door handles rise out to allow a pull for entry. Front grill is auto adjusting to enhance airflow for optimized performance of the EcoBoost powertrain. Starting at 3:20 in the video you will see the self adjusting grill and then the door handles. This is then followed by the interior. This video has no audio but is released by FORD to show off the All-New Ford Taurus. Taurus.mp4