SHERIF MARAKBY

Director of electrification programs and engineering, Ford Motor Co.

Chosen because: Marakby's team recently delivered the Ford Fusion hybrid powertrain.

But he can't rest on that accomplishment. Ford will offer five electrified vehicles in the United States by 2012, including hybrids, a plug-in hybrid and an EV. Marakby, 45, has said Ford thinks the real volume will be in hybrid and plug-in hybrids. Pure EVs are too expensive to appeal to a wide range of consumers, he said.

Quote: "Making this work does not mean just having superior technology," he told Edmunds.com Green Car Advisor. "It has to be affordable."