MICKY BLY

Executive director of global electrical systems, hybrids, EVs and batteries, General Motors

Chosen because: Bly, 44, oversees GM's work in all things related to electrification, including drivetrains, batteries and even connectivity inside the vehicle. He was director of global hybrid integration and controls when development of the Volt plug-in hybrid began. That process -- the Volt development -- took just 29 months from the ground up, which Bly called a record at GM for introducing new models.

Quote: "Pure battery electric vehicles -- they're not going to be niche vehicles, but they're not going to be a primary vehicle."