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.
Recorded video available
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 |
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Track Programme
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Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.05.26[Mon]
10:00 ~ 12:30
(Venue Open 09:30)
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- Venue
- Theme Weeks Studio
Programme details
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*Subtitles may not show with multiple languages or overlapping
audio.
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
【Reflection】
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 Initiatives】
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
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Community and Mobility Week


