COMMENT: How US public policy can shape vehicle powertrain strategy

US government policy, from tax incentives and R&D funding to emissions and fuel economy standards, can influence the evolution of new motor vehicle and powertrain technologies in the US market. The impact of such public policy levers varies from administration to administration, however, and the signals sent by government policy can change dramatically from one administration to the next.

The transition from the Obama to the Trump administration offers a particularly dramatic example of change.