GARY CAMERON

Global director of power electronics forward and advanced engineering, Delphi Automotive

Chosen because: Cameron, 58, has been in the middle of several vehicle-electrification breakthroughs over the past 20 years. He led engineering of the propulsion motor and energy storage systems on General Motors' EV1 all-electric car. Other achievements include development of one of the first automotive-grade DC/DC converters and lithium battery monitoring and control systems on passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

Quote: "Powertrain electrification is a foregone conclusion. Changes in oil prices, government incentives, continued innovation and production volumes will bring costs down and value up."