Debate Over Chinese-Made EVs in American Politics

Professor Helveston Featured in Vox on Biden's Policies Around EVs

March 4, 2024

BYD Seagull hatchback at the Shanghai auto show in 2023.

VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Assistant professor of engineering management and systems engineering John Helveston was interviewed by Vox in the article, “Why is Biden blocking the cheapest, most popular EVs in the world?”, for his expertise in the development of EVs.

Here is an excerpt from the article: “The biggest factor for China is that they control all the upstream material supply” for lithium batteries, Helveston said. Even if your EV’s battery is built by, say, Panasonic in a plant in the US, “the raw materials for that are being processed and refined in China first. It’s the same starting point everywhere.”

Read the full article on Vox.