FRED SMITH

Founding member, Electrification Coalition, CEO, FedEx Corp.

Chosen because: When Smith, whose company has one of the largest delivery fleets in the world, throws his support behind electrification, it carries weight. Smith, 66, was a founding member in November 2009 of the Electrification Coalition, a group of top business executives whose mission is to promote widespread use of electric vehicles. The coalition has issued road maps for fleet and private auto electrification, as well as a report on the economic impact of EVs. Under Smith, who founded FedEx, the company has committed to improving the efficiency of its more than 80,000-vehicle fleet by 20 percent by 2020. In March 2010, FedEx introduced all-electric delivery trucks, adding to its fleet of more than 1,800 alternative-fuel vehicles.

Quote: "Electrification will not be easy, and if it is not undertaken in the proper manner, it may make things worse, not better."