Part 7/14:
Despite this enthusiasm, the tangible impact remains limited. The conference's size—around 1,200 attendees—symbolizes a niche movement rather than a nationwide revolution. Much of the machinery used in American factories still relies heavily on imported technology from Germany, Japan, and Portugal, illustrating a worrying dependence on foreign manufacturing equipment. Even at major automakers like GM, investments in battery research are promising, yet there's an acknowledgment that the foundational lithium-ion technology originated from U.S. universities, and China has since mastered the manufacturing processes, edging out Western competitors.