#SolarChat 1/29/14-Solar & EVs: Intersection, Reality, Challenges & Promise

Solar and Electric Vehicles:

The Intersection, Reality, Challenges and Promise

Is solar power and EVs truly a match made in heaven? How are companies partnering up, what are the latest trends, and where do the challenges lie?

Join our think-tank of top solar and automotive experts as we discuss the next frontier. Our co-host for this conversation will be Zachary Shahan (@zshahan3), director of CleanTechnica and founder of EV Obsession and Solar Love. We will be joined by Mike Tinskey, Director of Global Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure at Ford (@Ford); Ryan Harty, Manager of Environmental Business Development at American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (@HondaInAmerica); John Linney, vice president of marketing for SolarCity (@SolarCity); Paul Scott, Driver's Seat Contributor for Plug-In America (@sunpwrd); and journalist/blogger Michael Graham (@TreeHugger), editor of the Science & Technology and Cars & Transportation sections of TreeHugger.com, as well as the Discovery Green section on the Discovery Channel’s website.

About Our Panelists

Zachary Shahan is the director of CleanTechnica, the most popular cleantech-focused website in the world, and Planetsave, a world-leading green and science news site. He's also the owner/founder of Solar Love and EV Obsession. Zachary has been covering the solar industry for years and has been interviewed by CNBC, featured on Reuters, and referenced by many other leading media outlets regarding solar matters. To learn more, visit ZacharyShahan.com.

Mike Tinskey is currently Director of Ford’s sustainability activities focused on electric vehicles and infrastructure. The focus is to develop and implement new business models, products, and partnerships to clear the way for Ford PHEV and BEV vehicles globally. Prior to this role, Mike led the Product Planning and Program Management activities globally for hybrid electric vehicles and was responsible for developing and implementing Ford’s electric vehicle strategy that was publically announced in January 2009. Mike has held a variety of leadership positions in Ford’s Engineering, Business Development, and Finance activities over his career with Ford that began in 1991. This includes Director, Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Business Development, and Advanced Product Engineering. A common thread in the majority of the roles is he was responsible for identifying and implementing game-changing technologies and new business models – and developing strategies and partnerships to implement them flawlessly.

Ryan Harty is a mechanical engineer and Manager of American Honda's Environmental Business Development Office (EBDO), where he is in charge of developing product proposals, business models, and policy proposals in support of Honda's environmental initiatives. Current projects include Honda's partnership with SolarCity to make solar power more affordable and available to Honda and Acura customers in the U.S. Honda's "Green Dealer" program, which reduces the energy use and environmental impact of Honda's automobile dealerships; and the Honda Smart Home Program, which is demonstrating zero net energy use for housing and transportation using renewable energy. Honda has a company-wide goal of reducing CO2 emissions per unit production by 30% by 2020 compared to 2000 levels, and strives to be "a company that society wants to exist." Ryan spent 10 years at Honda R&D, including pioneering work on hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicles prior to his current assignment in EBDO.

John Linney has an extensive background in hi-tech marketing and products. Before joining SolarCity, John was co-founder and CMO at CloudTalk, a mobile social communications platform and applications company. Prior to that, John was co-founder of Terravado, an early stage workforce carbon management solution. As EVP of Product Development at NBX, John brought to market a pioneering sports social network platform. John has also held several other leadership positions, including VP of Product Management for Grand Central Communications, VP of Product Management at Electron Economy and senior positions in Engineering, Product Management, and Business Development at Novell.

Paul Scott is a founding member of Plug In America and a long-time EV driver and advocate for renewable energy. He has worked in the film business for most of his career while keeping involved as a population activist and environmental activist. Paul currently works as a Nissan LEAF salesman for Nissan of Downtown Los Angeles. Paul is a former president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Southern California.

Mike Graham is currently a full-time journalist/blogger who has been with TreeHugger since May 2005. Between March 2006 and January 2008, he was editor-in-chief, and since February 2008, he’s been editor of the Science & Technology and of the Cars & Transportation sections, giving him more time for his first love, doing research and writing.

Will you be there, too? Register now!

For those new to Twitter, a hashtag (#) is an easy way to find and follow people who are tweeting about a certain topic. #SolarChat, founded by EcoOutfitters.net's Raina Russo, has a simple mission: Curious consumers, energy experts, and installation professionals can tune into Twitter at the designated chat time to share advice and resources, weigh in on discussion topics, pose questions or concerns, and work together to advance solar awareness.

#SolarChat is held monthly, with special sessions held periodically. Visit EcoOutfitters.net for more information.