Electrifying Transportation

The OLLI Tech Impact Forum presents:

Electrifying Transportation

An Online Talk with Toyota's Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Electrified Vehicle Heads

Tuesday, November 16th at 5pm Eastern

Free and open to all | Online via Zoom
Click here to RSVP

Given the major role of automotive transportation worldwide in the increasing level of greenhouse gas emissions, it has become clear for years that electrification is the best way forward. At the same time, it must be understood that electrification is the biggest transition the automotive industry has ever had to face. There are major challenges along the entire value chain that need to be resolved in order to reach this goal. One important example is the complementary role of battery electric and fuel cell electric technologies.

To explain and clarify these issues, we have two speakers from Toyota, a company that has been addressing environmental issues for over 30 years. Dr. Stephan Herbst, currently acting as the Technical Head Powertrain Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Business Unit of Toyota Motor Europe’s (TME) R&D and Fuel Cell Business Group, is responsible for hydrogen strategy, new products and sustainable mobility. He is on the Management Board of the Hydrogen Council and actively involved in Hydrogen Europe. Ash Corson is the Senior Manager for the Electrified Vehicle & Technologies Office (EVTO) of Toyota Motor North America. Working within Toyota’s Corporate Strategy & Planning group, Ash’s primary responsibilities for EVTO include North American electrified mobility progression, fuel cell electric powertrain deployment, and hydrogen infrastructure enablement. Our moderator will be Eric Planey, CEO of Solablock as of September 2021. Eric has over 25 years of experience in global banking and international economic development, with a developed expertise in emerging clean technologies.

Dr. Stephan Herbst is currently acting as Technical Head Powertrain Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Business Unit of Toyota Motor Europe’s (TME) R&D and Fuel Cell Business Group responsible for hydrogen strategy, new products and sustainable mobility.  He is on the Management Board of the Hydrogen Council and actively involved in Hydrogen Europe.  Stephan is alternate Liaison Delegate to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.  Previously he held various positions in TME Environmental Affairs, Trend Research and Business Strategy. Stephan also worked in Toyota’s Global Headquarter in Japan looking after the global environmental strategy.  Stephan studied business administration and economics and he holds a PhD in economics. Stephan worked for seven years in the automotive industry in Germany and China before joining TME in 2005.

Ash Corson is the Senior Manager for the Electrified Vehicle & Technologies Office (EVTO) of Toyota Motor North America. Working within Toyota’s Corporate Strategy & Planning group, Ash’s primary responsibilities for EVTO include North American electrified mobility progression, fuel cell electric powertrain deployment, and hydrogen infrastructure enablement. Currently, Ash is helping spearhead Toyota’s PORTAL project to study the feasibility of applying zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell electric technology to heavy-duty freight transport. Ash also authors feature articles for the Toyota North American Environmental Report. Previously, Ash helped bring the Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric car to market and was the Senior Product Planner responsible for the Lexus RX, ES, & IS model lines, including helping plan and launch the Lexus RX400h, the world’s first luxury hybrid. Ash received his MBA from Georgetown University, a double major in Economics and Chinese from Connecticut College, and has many years’ experience in the consulting, digital, and strategic planning spaces.

Eric Planey is CEO of western Massachusetts' Solablock as of September 2021. Eric has over 25 years of experience in global banking and international economic development, with a developed expertise in emerging clean technologies. He has a Bachelors of Science in Finance from Bowling Green State University, and a Masters of International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. His most recent position prior to SolaBlock was Director of Leveraged Finance at Sumitomo Mitsui Bank in New York City, where he covered private equity-backed relationships in the automotive, aeropace, and energy industries.  Eric has studied and worked in six countries, and is co-host of The Pirates of Cleantech podcast.

Free and open to all | Online via Zoom
Click here to RSVP

Co-sponsored by 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Innovation Center