GREENVILLE — This year marks 25 years that I’ve worked at the intersection of business, the automotive industry and motorsports, which gives me a unique perspective on the interconnectivity of our industry and the far-reaching impacts of large-scale change.
The entire automotive industry — from manufacturers to locally owned auto shops to original equipment manufacturers and everything in between — is interconnected. A shift made in one part of the industry ultimately trickles down and impacts everyone at every level of our ecosystem.
As I’ve watched the discussion play out around the EPA’s proposed new federal emissions standards, it seems that these new rules may not take into consideration that the automotive industry is wide and diverse with a depth of experience and ingenuity that could help advance the goal of zero emissions. When winners and losers are chosen, competition and innovation lose out.
The Biden administration estimates this proposal will result in two out of three new vehicles sold in the United States being electric by 2032, which represents the most seismic shift in the auto industry since the invention of the first car.
However, because this proposal relies almost exclusively on electric vehicles (which are undoubtedly a piece of the puzzle), we miss the opportunity to explore other paths to zero emissions and to take advantage of the innovative spirit innate in our industry. There is no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water and completely reject internal combustion engines. Advancements are being made every day in synthetic fuels, ethanol and even renewable diesel, as well as hybrids and hydrogen.
In fact, history bears this out. When leaded gasoline was phased out in the late 1990s, we didn’t abandon the internal combustion engine. Rather, the industry created a solution to match the challenge.
Ultimately, these sweeping regulations will touch every part of South Carolina’s multibillion-dollar automotive industry. For example, a major auto manufacturer is located very close to my business and it is surrounded by suppliers and small businesses that support it and other major automotive brands. Once the parts and pieces for internal combustion engines are no longer needed, what will be the impact on those businesses and our state?
I have other concerns about infrastructure and the impact of extreme heat on EV batteries, but when I look at these proposed regulations from a business perspective, I have to wonder if a more diversified approach might not help us reach zero emissions more quickly and collaboratively.
Todd Steen is executive director of business development for Jackson Marketing Group.
Sign up for daily roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Upstate. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Greenville news staff.
Commentary: EPA’s new regulations miss chance to learn from automotive industry
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GREENVILLE — This year marks 25 years that I’ve worked at the intersection of business, the automotive industry and motorsports, which gives me a unique perspective on the interconnectivity of our industry and the far-reaching impacts of large-scale change.
The entire automotive industry — from manufacturers to locally owned auto shops to original equipment manufacturers and everything in between — is interconnected. A shift made in one part of the industry ultimately trickles down and impacts everyone at every level of our ecosystem.
As I’ve watched the discussion play out around the EPA’s proposed new federal emissions standards, it seems that these new rules may not take into consideration that the automotive industry is wide and diverse with a depth of experience and ingenuity that could help advance the goal of zero emissions. When winners and losers are chosen, competition and innovation lose out.
The Biden administration estimates this proposal will result in two out of three new vehicles sold in the United States being electric by 2032, which represents the most seismic shift in the auto industry since the invention of the first car.
However, because this proposal relies almost exclusively on electric vehicles (which are undoubtedly a piece of the puzzle), we miss the opportunity to explore other paths to zero emissions and to take advantage of the innovative spirit innate in our industry. There is no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water and completely reject internal combustion engines. Advancements are being made every day in synthetic fuels, ethanol and even renewable diesel, as well as hybrids and hydrogen.
In fact, history bears this out. When leaded gasoline was phased out in the late 1990s, we didn’t abandon the internal combustion engine. Rather, the industry created a solution to match the challenge.
Ultimately, these sweeping regulations will touch every part of South Carolina’s multibillion-dollar automotive industry. For example, a major auto manufacturer is located very close to my business and it is surrounded by suppliers and small businesses that support it and other major automotive brands. Once the parts and pieces for internal combustion engines are no longer needed, what will be the impact on those businesses and our state?
I have other concerns about infrastructure and the impact of extreme heat on EV batteries, but when I look at these proposed regulations from a business perspective, I have to wonder if a more diversified approach might not help us reach zero emissions more quickly and collaboratively.
Todd Steen is executive director of business development for Jackson Marketing Group.
Sign up for daily roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Upstate. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Greenville news staff.
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