The Future of Community and Mobility Week
Driving Green : Promoting Solar EV Deployment
International Solar Alliance
The session discusses key opportunities and challenges faced by the ISA member countries in developing the solar charged e-mobility ecosystem, with a focus on unique regional and vehicle segment context and needs. It will delve into the current global landscape of solar e-mobility sector covering the policy, regulatory, technology and the business models in the solar EV ecosystem. Further ISA’s Solar EV Ecosystem Readiness Assessment (SEERA) framework will be introduced.
Discussion
- EV/FCV
- Energy storage technologies #Batteries #Compressed air energy storage #Gravity energy storage #Pumped hydro energy storage.
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
Reservations are required for this programme.
Booking typically opens with the '2-month advance lottery.' Click below for details.
* Arrive early; latecomers may not be admitted.
For more information about making a reservation to watch a programme.
Please watch the Virtual Studio if you are outside the venue.
-
Track Programme
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
- Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.05.26[Mon]
10:00 ～ 12:30
(Venue Open 09:30)
-
- Venue
- Theme Weeks Studio
Programme details
Key Messages/Themes:
-Solar-powered transportation solutions
-Community-based solar projects
-The role of solar energy in reducing carbon footprints
Activities Planned:
-Expert panel discussions
-Case study presentations
Target Audience:
-Transportation authorities
-Renewable energy companies
-Community leaders and organizations
Researchers and academics
-General public interested in sustainable mobility
Speakers:
-Representative from the International Solar Alliance
-Representative from the ISA member countries
-Speakers from industry
Key Participants:
-Solar energy companies and startups
-Transportation companies
-Research institutions and universities
Reports
1. Readiness Assessment for Solar-Powered Electric Mobility — a strategic SEERA Framework for 64 LDCs and SIDS to scale up solar-charged two- and three-wheelers, small cars, and ferries was presented.
2. The final report on the study ‘Readiness Assessment for Solar-Powered Electric Mobility: Developing an Implementation Framework for ISA’s Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States’ was launched.
3. Panel discussion aimed at accelerating solar EV solutions as a key lever for climate action, clean energy, and sustainable development in LDCs/SIDS.
【【Post-Expo Initiative】
1. Invite comments on the Consultation draft Report, launched at the session.
2. Explore collaborations for next phase of the study
Cast
Moderator
Joseph Teja
Consultant - Senior Specialist, CALSTART
Joseph is a public policy specialist with over 13 years of experience at the intersection of climate finance, infrastructure development, and sustainable transport. He has led several high-impact, country-driven initiatives advancing zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and sustainable mobility in India.
At CALSTART, he spearheads efforts to accelerate the market for Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (ZE-MHDVs) by driving policy certainty and industry alignment through innovative public-private partnerships. His work is focused on scaling climate solutions through systems-level collaboration.
Previously, at NITI Aayog, Government of India’s apex policy think tank, he was instrumental team member in formulating the country's $16 billion electric mobility programs. Facilitated early demand signal for over 8,000 electric trucks under e-FAST India, and led strategic EV partnerships with governments in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Japan and the Netherlands.
He has also been instrumental in advancing India’s global EV agenda through key platforms such as the G20, COP26, and COP27, helping position India as a leader in clean transport policy and international collaboration.
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Mridula Bharadwaj
Programme Lead - Solar E-Mobility, Storage & Green Hydrogen, ( ISA- ADB TA)
Dr. Mridula Dixit Bharadwaj is a Capacity Building Specialist at the International Solar Alliance under the ISA-ADB Technical Assistance Program. She is currently leading ISA Programs related to Green Hydrogen, Solar Electric Mobility, and Storage.
Dr. Bharadwaj holds a Post Doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, USA, and a doctorate in rechargeable battery systems from Bangalore University. She has more than 28 years of research experience in batteries, EV, and materials science domains. Some of the academic recognitions include the Best Research Paper Award in the Material Science Category by the Microscopy Society of America.
Prior to ISA, she worked with the United States Steel Corporation, General Motors (R&D), and a technology-policy think tank as lead researcher and Section Head. She has participated in several government committees on EV and storage including the National Rare Earth Expert Committee of NITI Aayog, India.
Dr. Bharadwaj has several research publications in international journals including a US patent related to automotive corrosion prevention.
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Speakers
Ashish Khanna
Director General, ISA
Mr Ashish Khanna has over 26 years of experience in the energy sector across more than 15 developing countries in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has worked across the solar value chain—from project conceptualisation to financing and implementation. As former Head of the World Bank’s West and Central Africa Program, he led Mission 300 to expand energy access to 300 million Africans by 2030. In the MENA region, he led a program enabling $20 billion in private energy investment in Egypt.
In India, as Lead Energy Specialist at the World Bank, he supported MNRE on policy reforms for private sector participation in solar. Born and raised in India, he understands the challenges of energy access. He believes that ISA’s success hinges on strong institutional capacity and accountability. Mr Khanna holds dual postgraduate degrees in Management and Public Administration and was named a Littauer Fellow for Global Leadership Potential at Harvard Kennedy School.
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Kartikey Hariyani
Founder & CEO of Group BillionE
Mr. Kartikey Hariyani, Founder & CEO of Group BillionE, is an Alumni of Stanford University (School of Business) and LD College of Engineering, is an entrepreneur by passion and an engineer at heart.
For past 20+ years, he has worked through utility, industrial and commercial applications of electrical engineering and information technology through building three core businesses of renewable energy + EV charging networks and E-Mobility for trucks each of them known as Billion Energy, CHARGE ZONE and Billion-Electric. Today, CHARGE ZONE is India's largest EV Charging network in India catering to commercial EVs and personal mobility segment.
His core-experience has helped Group BillionE to build the Energy Transition Platform while working closely with government regulators, state departments, technology providers, equipment manufacturers to create micro-grids with energy storage and help de-regulate electricity sector.
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Manon Rolandone
Sustainable Development Attaché, the economic department of the Embassy of France in Japan
Ms Manon Rolandone graduated from the School of International Affairs of Sciences Po Paris in international public management, specializing in environmental affairs. She has an expertise in bilateral and multilateral international cooperation on climate change and the environment. After working for the French Ambassador for Climate and the French Agency for Ecological Transition, she began her career at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs as environment and pollution officer, where she was in charge of international negotiations. In January 2024, she joined the economic department of the Embassy of France in Japan as sustainable development attaché to develop Franco-Japanese ties in the fields of energy, transports, buildings and environment.
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Sandith Thandasherry
Founder & CEO, Navalt Solar and Electric Boats
Sandith Thandasherry is the founder CEO of Navalt Solar and Electric Boats, the firm that built India’s first solar ferry and recently the largest and fastest solar boat as well; Now in the process of completing land mark projects in defence, fishing and ROROs – all solar electric. He is a graduate from IIT Madras and an MBA from INSEAD. He is also an author of the book, “Solar Electric Boats” published by ETN. He is a winner of numerous awards. Some of them are Gustave Trouve Award for World’s Best Electric Ferry, Solar Impulse, Innovator of the year from TiE, GCIP, Vilgro, Tissot, and Prime Minister of India.
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Stephanie Kodish
Senior Global Director, Drive to Zero, CALSTART
As Senior Global Director of CALSTART’s Drive to Zero program, Stephanie Kodish advances international strategies to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial vehicles. Drawing on two decades of experience as an environmental and social justice leader, Stephanie has spearheaded initiatives resulting in the strengthening and implementation of clean air and climate laws and policies. She has advocated for accountability from fossil fuel industries, protected public lands, and forwarded legislative self-determination for indigenous communities.
Previously, Kodish built and led programs for the National Parks Conservation Association and represented pollution overburdened communities with the Environmental Integrity Project. Kodish holds a Juris Doctor and a Master’s in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School and believes that together we will heal the world.
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Pawan Dwivedi
Associate Director, E-mobility and Clean Transportation ICF Consulting India Private Limited
Pawan Dwivedi leads the Electric Mobility and Clean Transportation practice at ICF India, where he works closely with governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector stakeholders to accelerate the global transition to sustainable, low-emission transport systems.
With over 14 years of experience, Pawan brings deep expertise in electric mobility, public transport planning, multimodal integration, traffic management, and digital transformation in the transport sector. He has led and contributed to high-impact projects including electric vehicle market entry strategies for global automotive OEMs, national and city-level electric bus transition plans, solar EV readiness assessments, and investment advisory for EV fleet operators. His portfolio also includes the development of comprehensive mobility plans, non-motorized transport and pedestrian infrastructure strategies, the establishment of Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities, and the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in urban centers.
Pawan has played a key role in shaping decarbonization strategies for the road transport sector, with a focus on integrating innovative technologies such as electric vehicles and solar-powered charging infrastructure into national and regional mobility frameworks.
Driven by a commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient mobility, Pawan applies his strong technical foundation in transportation planning and civil engineering to support clean transport transitions across South Asia and emerging economies worldwide.
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Keiichi Komoto
Senior Manager, Mizuho Research & Technologies
Keiichi Komoto is working for the Mizuho Research & Technologies, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. He has been in the field of PV technology for more than 30 years, especially from viewpoints of environmental and socio-economic aspects. Currently he is managing IEA PVPS Task17: PV and Transport, which is one of the technology collaboration programmes under the IEA.
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Jiwan Acharya
Principal Energy Specialist, ADB
Jiwan Acharya is working in Energy Sector Office – South Asia Team, Sectors Group of Asian Development Bank (ADB) as Principal Energy Specialist. He currently focuses on developing and implementing energy efficiency, renewable energy and other broader energy sector projects in India and Nepal. He is also serving as focal person for Regional Cooperation and Integration for Energy in South Asia. Prior to that, he was with Energy Sector Group Secretariat in the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department of ADB since 1 October 2006 as Senior Energy Specialist. He is a key member of ADB's Energy Sector Group and Climate Change Team and was responsible for overseeing ADB's several key initiatives including Energy for All, and Low Carbon Technology Transfer, among others. Mr. Acharya served as ADB’s focal point for Clean Technical Fund (CTF) and Scaling Up Renewable Energy for Low Income Countries (SREP) under the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) as well as Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4All).
Prior to joining ADB, Mr. Acharya was Senior Research Officer in Winrock International in Kathmandu, Nepal covering climate change, carbon financing, energy access and broader clean energy areas.
Mr. Acharya, who is a Nepalese national, has a Master of Arts in Economics, Master of Science in Energy Systems and Management and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
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Co-organiser
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
CALSTART
The Future of Community and Mobility Week
Driving Green : Promoting Solar EV Deployment
The session discusses key opportunities and challenges faced by the ISA member countries in developing the solar charged e-mobility ecosystem, with a focus on unique regional and vehicle segment context and needs. It will delve into the current global landscape of solar e-mobility sector covering the policy, regulatory, technology and the business models in the solar EV ecosystem. Further ISA’s Solar EV Ecosystem Readiness Assessment (SEERA) framework will be introduced.
-
2025.05.26[Mon]
10:00～12:30
(Venue Open 09:30)
- Theme Weeks Studio
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
Reservations are required for this programme.
Booking typically opens with the '2-month advance lottery.' Click below for details.
* Arrive early; latecomers may not be admitted.
For more information about making a reservation to watch a programme.
Please watch the Virtual Studio if you are outside the venue.
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Community and Mobility Week
