Lauren Ellis was recognized by the Charleston Regional Business Journal as a 2024 Forty Under 40 winner. Nominated by esteemed members of the Charleston community, Ellis joined an exclusive group of individuals under 40 who had demonstrated exceptional professional achievements and a solid commitment to community involvement.

Since its inception in 1998, the Forty Under 40 program had celebrated the accomplishments of rising stars in the Charleston area. The honorees exemplified the dedication, innovation, and leadership that drove success in their workplaces and communities.

The Forty Under 40 honorees were celebrated at a special event on Thursday, October 24, 2024. For more information about the event and to view the complete list of honorees, please visit SC Biz News.

Kip Watson, Director of Business Research, and Dayton Ward, Project Coordinator, represented Charleston County Economic Development (CCED) at The 2024 Battery Show in Detroit, Michigan. This premier industry event provided a platform for professionals in the battery and electric vehicle (EV) sector to connect, share knowledge, and explore opportunities for growth.

Key takeaways from the conference included the importance of battery recycling for sustainability and supply chain resilience. Despite challenges, recycling presents a significant opportunity to onshore battery production and reduce dependence on foreign sources, particularly given that 70% of lithium-ion supply currently relies on China. The potential for a circular value chain is widely recognized as essential for future electrification.

Attendees also gained insights into the basics of battery technology and manufacturing processes, as well as the future landscape of the industry. Projections indicate a substantial increase in jobs along the battery value chain, reaching 10 million by 2030. Advancements in battery technology are expected to contribute to a more sustainable future.

The conference highlighted the evolving market for battery storage, with a growing demand for stationary storage solutions driven by renewable energy. Discussions also addressed the economic impacts of potential delays in EV adoption, focusing on range anxiety and charging infrastructure challenges.

Keynote speakers from GM and Volkswagen Group America shared their companies’ commitments to an all-electric future, emphasizing the ongoing momentum in the EV sector and the need for strategic planning and collaboration across the industry.

A particularly engaging session led by The Boston Consulting Group focused on state and local economic development strategies to attract investment and talent in the battery sector. With South Carolina taking an aggressive stance toward incentivizing the industry, the discussion highlighted the importance of fostering industrial ecosystems and leveraging competitive advantages in a concentrated market where over 50% of EV production is in just six states (Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, California, and Nevada).

Overall, The Battery Show offered valuable insights and networking opportunities for Charleston County Economic Development. Looking ahead, CCED is excited to explore how these learnings can benefit our local economy and support our local businesses in navigating this dynamic industry.

South Carolina is leading the automotive industry’s evolution, and Charleston is in the driver’s seat.  

As a 100-year-old industry is completely reinventing itself, OEMs and suppliers across the State are repositioning to win big through electrification and tech-fueled autonomous driving options.

Celebrating its 13th year, the SC Automotive Summit is an annual gathering of automotive thought leaders from across South Carolina committed to advancing manufacturing and economic prosperity across the State. With $4.3 Billion in automotive capital investment announced in 2023 alone, the summit was exciting. Presentations covered everything from electrification and related infrastructure, the mind-bending quantum computing power driving autonomous vehicle development, the future of tires, and Mercedes-Benz /Mercedes-Benz Vans’ leadership in quality, electrification, design, and accident-free driving.

Amy Klinkenberger: Mercedes-Benz Vans Research & Development 

Industry leader Mercedes-Benz Vans (MBV) continues to innovate and lead the industry in design, performance, and safety. Amy shared MBV’s bold vision of accident-free driving with their cutting-edge Drive Pilot automated driving technology. With over 40 advanced vehicle safety systems working in unison, MBV proudly became the first automobile manufacturer in the US to achieve a Level 3 certification from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). With the world’s first eSprinter rolling off the production line in North Charleston to rave reviews, buckle up for upcoming technology innovations in the delivery van, service vehicle, and #vanlife worlds.

MBV’s passion and track record for vehicle innovation, safety, and performance, coupled with their commitment to South Carolina and Charleston County, continue to fuel our excitement for the progress of the automotive industry and supply chain development across our beautiful region.

Gary Silberg: KPMG 

Gary took us on a journey of the intersection of massive computing, AI, quantum, and nuclear fusion because the next automotive industry leaders will be technology companies that can leverage AI with quantum computing power. There is no question that automobiles are rapidly transforming into high-powered computers with AI decision-making capabilities for the future of autonomous driving. Companies continue to make massive technology investments to compete in tomorrow’s automotive industry and keep up with one clear industry leader, Tesla. In 2008, the Toyota Corolla was the world’s number-one selling car; just 15 years later, it is now the Tesla Model Y.

Transitioning from fossil fuels to other energy sources, Gary announced that we could see a clean nuclear fusion surface as a permanent solution to global energy demands because of a few “Quantum leaps” in that power-generating technology. Keep a close eye on these two organizations leading clean commercial energy generation: the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

Harry Husted: Borg Warner 

BEV sales are accelerating globally, and 14% of vehicles sold are BEVs, equating to 10.3 million vehicles last year. That is an 8x increase in BEV sales in the previous five years. Borg Warner had built its business over decades of supplying parts for power trains for vehicles with internal combustion engines. Beyond detailing their aggressive M&A strategy over the past few years and shifting to the BEV market, Harry walked summit attendees through a total transformation and repurposing of Borg Warner’s Seneca, SC plant from transfer cases to battery packs for BEVs.

Rob Bedenbaugh: SCDOT

In support of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and partnership with the energy office of South Carolina, SCDOT is rolling out an aggressive plan to bring charging infrastructure to our state’s roadways. The highly collaborative plan details alternative fuel corridors along major roadways that will provide travelers with reliable, affordable, and accessible fast-charging options across the state.

By: Jay Kramer & Gene Borzendowski

The South Carolina Automotive Summit is one of the highest-impact conferences in the State. Industry leaders visit Downtown Greenville annually to discuss evolving industry trends, innovations, and forecasts. Electrification was the hottest summit topic again in 2023 since EVs are driving the “Next Automotive American Revolution,” with manufacturing, supply chain innovation, sustainability, and raw materials all in the spotlight. While attendees were buzzing with excitement from a rapidly evolving and exciting industry, presenters detailed some of the factors that will be critical to the automotive industry’s success in the years to come.

Manufacture Locally, on a Global Scale
Automotive OEMs continue to make decisions to lessen geopolitical ambiguity by locating facilities near their customers. Manufacturers cite regulations in Europe, conflict in eastern Europe, and uncertainty in China as major reasons for local manufacturing. Using the “manufacture where you sell mindset,” supply chains will continue to follow the OEMs to fulfill local product demand. With heavy regulations across Europe and rising energy prices, the US will continue to see massive investments in automotive manufacturing, especially regarding EVs. Local manufacturing helps OEMs and suppliers eliminate a certain amount of supply chain risk and shipping delays that have plagued manufacturers in recent years.

Race for Raw Materials
Every manufacturer of electric vehicles will increasingly rely on new raw materials: nickel, lithium, cobalt, and copper, all essential in battery cell manufacturing. Demand for rare earth magnets will continue to peak as companies engineer more powerful and efficient electric motors. The companies or suppliers that can efficiently access these raw materials will be positioned for success in EV manufacturing. Some suppliers are even making vertical integration moves to acquire mining operations to keep control of the supply chain. A “Battery Belt” has started to surface in the US, running from Michigan to Georgia, and operations in these states will experience increased reliance on these raw materials. Just outside of Charleston County, Redwood Materials sits strategically at one end of the battery belt and will be positioned to supply a handful of OEMs with the batteries they need for success. China is strategically positioned for success in every aspect of the battery manufacturing process because they have access to mining and processing these materials and experience doing so. American manufacturers quickly identify global mining partners to compete as the EV industry matures for decreased reliance on foreign suppliers.

Sustainability Through Manufacturing Processes, Synthetics, and Material Circularity
Automotive OEMs are targeting fewer emissions from tailpipes and fewer emissions in the manufacturing process as a part of their comprehensive plans for carbon emissions. Almost every presenter touched on the importance of carbon neutrality as it becomes the new gold standard for manufacturing emissions. Automotive interior suppliers cite synthetics’ importance in replacing animal-based materials with high-performance substitutes with identical properties and functionality. Tire manufacturers continue to improve tread patterns and compounds to decrease road resistance and combat the 20% faster wear EVs experience with tires because of their torque. The quest for material circularity continues as material innovations are made inside and outside the vehicles of tomorrow.

Newcomers, Innovation, and Reality
The EV excitement in the automotive industry has driven dozens of new automotive companies toward new vehicle offerings across the globe. Some of the most celebrated exhibitors at CES this year were automotive companies showcasing their EV products, including the Vietnamese-founded company, VinFast. They will test a new model of renting batteries to their customers and change them out as needed to alleviate uncertainty in battery functionality and replacement. Tech companies previously unrelated to the automotive industry, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Intel, are all surfacing as players in the EV supply chain market with a focus on driver-assisting tech and e-mobility solutions. Considerable innovations in battery efficiency, driver assists, autonomous busses, e-mobility, and dozens of new automobiles are offered as EVs. However, it is critical to understand that with all the innovation, marketing, and attention on EVs, only 10% of vehicles on the road in the US are anticipated to be electric by the year 2030.

While the next decade will reshape the automotive industry, Charleston County and the State of South Carolina are well positioned to support automotive OEMs and suppliers to achieve their EV goals regionally and nationally. With our robust logistics backbone, decades of experience in the automotive industry, and culture of innovation, Charleston County is committed to supporting the success of existing and new automotive companies across the County.