GW Engineering faculty are regularly sought out by the media to provide research-based insights about national issues and global challenges. Assistant Professor of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering John Helveston was recently featured in two national news outlets and a podcast for his expertise on electric vehicles and U.S. policy surrounding critical minerals.
In the article “Exclusive: Trump set to waive some legal requirements to boost critical minerals,” Reuters reports on President Donald Trump’s plan to ease legal requirements around the production of critical minerals and weapons to reduce U.S. dependence on China. Helveston noted that while this move could offer long-term benefits, it would leave the U.S. vulnerable in the short term.
Here is an excerpt from the article: “This all means that if the U.S. wants to have access to these minerals over the next 5-10 years, the U.S. will have to maintain a trade relationship with China,” Helveston said.
Read the full article in Reuters.
In “What the Trump-Musk breakup may mean for SpaceX and Tesla,” NPR explores the fallout between President Trump and Elon Musk. On the subject of federal support for EVs, Helveston explained that ending these programs might not derail Tesla, but could harm the automotive industry more broadly.
Here is an excerpt from the article: “The end of federal programs aimed at growing the EV sector would not damage Tesla as severely as other problems the automaker is confronting, said John Helveston, a professor at George Washington University who studies the electric vehicle industry.”
Read the full article on NPR.
Additionally, Helveston appeared on WAER's "Deeper Shade of Green" podcast, where he shared his research findings on EV adoption rates and the challenges the U.S. faces in scaling up domestic manufacturing. The episode explored the factors influencing EV adoption and their significance to the U.S. auto industry.
Listen to the full podcast episode on WAER's website.