BOB KRUSE

COO, Sakti3

Chosen because: At Sakti3, Kruse, 51, is helping develop an advanced, solid-state, rechargeable, lithium ion battery. Earlier, he was General Motors' executive director of vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries. He set up GM's world-class battery laboratory.

Quote: "The team at Sakti3 is committed to executing advanced batteries that will enable widespread adoption of electric vehicles. The adoption of electric vehicles solves many of the problems facing humanity today, whether it's our dependence on foreign oil or the creation of greenhouse gases or the trend toward megacities."