Electric Vehicles: Cars, Charging Stations & The Utility Grid

Donald Karner, President of ECOtality North America, has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering.  Mr. Karner has over 25 years experience in the advanced transportation and energy areas including fifteen years of electric utility industry management experience.  Mr. Karner held the position of Chief Nuclear Officer for Arizona Public Service Company during the construction and commissioning of the 3800 MWe Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.  During this period Mr. Karner directed a staff of 3,000 and interfaced with and provided testimony for the multiple plant owners, the NRC, various State regulatory commissions and the financial community regarding plant matters.  As President of ECOtality North America, Mr. Karner provides Strategic direction, conducts Research and directs the development of products and services in the areas of energy, environment, and advanced transportation. Mr. Karner has authored numerous papers on these topics and ECOtality North America offers a number of products associated with these technology areas including battery fast chargers, specialized battery products, hydrogen fueling infrastructure and internal combustion engine vehicle hydrogen fuel conversions.Walter Rosenkranz
Business Development Manager, car2go
Walter  Rosenkranz  is  responsible  for leading a progressive expansion of car2go,  a wholly-owned  car-sharing  subsidiary  of Daimler North America Corporation,  for  the  Western  Region  of  North  America. Working at the corporate  level,  Walter  has  been  responsible  for  strategic planning, execution and oversight of one of the country’s most visionary and exciting new  transportation businesses. In his role with car2go, Mr. Rosenkranz was responsible  for  opening  North  Americas largest all-electric car-sharing fleet  in  the City of San Diego, and most recently introduced the business model to the Portland, Oregon market.  Mr.  Rosenkranz joined car2go in November 2010 after 20-years of management experience.   Prior  to  assuming  his position with car2go, Mr. Rosenkranz worked in  various  corporate leadership positions for the San Diego based specialty retail chain, PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.  Throughout  his  career  –  including  his 10-years with PETCO – Walter was charged  with  progressively  responsible  roles  which included serving as Director  of  Operations  overseeing  a  new  business launch and a company acquisition,  as  well  as  oversight  of  inventory management systems and warehouse replenishment.MODERATOR:
Joel Garcia
Founder & Partner, CM Tech Partners
Joel Garcia is the founder and partner of CM Tech Partners, an advisory company that assists early stage companies with business, technology and funding challenges.  He utilizes his previous engineering and technology experience from companies such as Hughes, Qualcomm, Nokia and Northrop Grumman in his current entrepreneurial work. After receiving his MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, his endeavors have leveraged technology in such diverse areas as cleantech,wireless, e-learning and gourmet food services.  In addition, Joel is an entrepreneur in residence at CONNECT, a globally recognized organization fostering entrepreneurship in the San Diego region. He received an MS from UC Berkeley and BS from UC San Diego, both in mechanical engineering.