Henry Liu: Beyond the Electric Vehicle
By Pamela Lava Moreno
Communications Research Assistant, Center for International Environment and Resource Policy (CIERP) and Climate Policy Lab (CPL) | The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
What happens when technology transforms more than an industry?
For CPL’s Associate Research Scholar, Henry Liu, this question is at the foundation of his research. His work on electric vehicles (EVs), technological innovation, and China’s growing role in green technology explores changes that extend far beyond the cars themselves. As China becomes a leader in EVs and green technologies, Henry examines what these shifts could mean for global trade, geopolitics, energy, green careers, and the future of the global economy.
Henry’s interest in technological transformation began while pursuing his master’s degree at John Hopkins University. He became fascinated by innovation studies and the ways recent technologies can reshape industries. He then went on to complete his PhD at the Fletcher School with Dean Kelly Sims Gallagher, whose research examines energy and climate policy, technological innovation, and green industrialization, further deepened his passion. As Henry’s advisor and mentor at Fletcher, Dean Gallagher introduced him to questions surrounding how technologies develop, move across borders, and transform industries. Those questions continue to inspire and shape Henry’s research today. His focus has expanded to the transformation of the automotive and energy sectors, particularly the growing role of EVs and Chinese firms in the global energy transition. However, he made it clear that his goal isn’t to find a grand solution, but to understand what is happening in the world. His enthusiasm derives from his natural curiosity to understand complex questions: How is growing trade in used EVs changing access to mobility? How might changes in oil prices influence the transition? Where is progress occurring and where are inequalities emerging in this field? By approaching these questions through “rigorous and neutral analysis,” Henry hopes to better understand the complex forces shaping the energy transition.
“EVs are not just about cars.”
For Henry, EVs are one tiny piece of a larger transformation. As China becomes a powerhouse in green technologies, its influence in the EV industry could provide implications far beyond transportation. He is interested in what China’s growing influence could mean for global trade and geopolitics, as well as how other countries might respond. It’s important to understand that any changes to the EV-Industry could affect green careers, bilateral trade relationships, energy systems, and countries whose economies have historically depended on fossil fuels. Batteries are also crucial in this transformation. Henry is paying attention to how quickly battery technology develops and how inexpensive it becomes. As batteries become more accessible, they could fundamentally change transportation or the geopolitics of energy. These developments also question the future of the global economy. If countries that have traditionally relied on fossil-fuel imports gain greater access to new energy technologies, the economic and geopolitical relationships built around energy can change. Henry reminds us that the EV transition doesn’t just encourage us to shift from one type of car to another, but it pushes entire economic systems to rebuild.
Henry mentioned that the diversity of the Fletcher and CIERP communities has given him a broader global perspective, encouraging him to look beyond how EVs are developing within individual countries and consider their effects across borders. It has also pushed him to think more closely about how the energy transition differs between the Global North and South. He emphasizes the importance of the transition and understands how access to tech and the benefits of the transition are distributed globally. For Henry, research is inherently collaborative. No researcher has all the answers, and engaging with colleagues from diverse backgrounds can reveal questions that might otherwise go unnoticed. The exchange of ideas allows Henry to share his research with a global audience while continuing to ask broader questions about who benefits from technological change and who may not.
Inspiration and Advice
As he looks toward the future, Henry is watching EVs and battery technology closely. He expects EVs to continue evolving, especially as innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence become increasingly integrated into transportation. Henry is equally interested in what happens beyond the technology itself, including the affordability of EVs in the West. He points to the affordability of EVs in China and other markets, and the role of tariffs in making EVs more difficult to obtain in the U.S. How will the industry adapt? Henry is also interested in whether Western automakers can remain competitive amid intensifying competition from Chinese EV manufacturers.
His curiosity is what motivates him to continue learning. Henry’s message to students is simple. “Stay curious, keep learning, and don’t chase the latest trend.” For Henry, finding a research focus that genuinely interests you is worth the time it takes. He took a while to understand what he’s truly passionate about, and the process of finding that focus ultimately paid off. As EVs, batteries, and other technologies continue to evolve, Henry will be watching closely to see where the transformation leads.