How Clemson University is supercharging electric vehicle research in Greenville.

David Clayton has a front row seat to the rise in electric vehicle manufacturing in South Carolina.

The Greenville native, who has lived in the Upstate nearly his entire life, is executive director of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, and an expert in the advanced manufacturing and mobility industries.

With more than 20 years' experience in higher education, industry and public service, Clayton has helped create high-wage opportunities for scores of students while keeping technological advancement at the forefront.

That includes the Deep Orange rapid vehicle prototype program within Clemson University's two-year master's degree focused on systems integration in automotive engineering.

Related content: Clemson creates nation's first bachelor's degree in automotive engineering

It's all being done at the center, which is a 250-acre advanced-technology research campus founded in 2007 where university, industry and government organizations collaborate.

"What excites me the most about what I do is helping contribute to positive economic development in an area that is close to my heart," said Clayton, who is also assistant vice president, corporate partnerships and strategic Initiatives at CU-ICAR. "The day-to-day personal satisfaction in helping create learning opportunities for our students, as students come first, and Deep Orange is a perfect example of giving them an experience unlike any other."

Clemson students have the opportunity to work with prestigious corporate partners in the automotive industry and learn from them, Clayton added.

"Going from just an idea to a prototype from their own imagination, solving some of the world's biggest challenges with world-changing technologies and advancements that the auto industry is tackling and to help our students prepare for that is very rewarding," he said. "This is a great time to be a part of this industry."

Take adeep dive into Deep Orange automotive enginering initiative

Deep Orange is a flagship rapid vehicle prototype program within Clemson University's two-year master's degree focused on systems integration in automotive engineering. The program provides students with experience in market analysis, target customer profiles, vehicle design, prototyping and manufacturing while balancing costs and design targets in an aggressive timeline.

The innovative vehicle prototype program encourages students to push the boundaries of conventional design and...