Chelsea Sexton

Chelsea Sexton is a veteran clean transportation and energy advocate. Through the course of her career, she has critically analyzed and helped shape the concept of the electric vehicle from its inception, and worked extensively on creating innovative ways to bring Electric Vehicles (EVs) to the market and on balancing energy efficient technology with our existing transportation environment and culture. Chelsea joined a handful of forward-thinkers in the launch of General Motors’ EV1 program, drafting company partnerships, working through public policy and incentives, developing market strategies, and engaging with vehicle drivers.
For Chelsea’s work and involvement in General Motors’ EV1 program, she was interviewed and portrayed in the Sony Pictures Classics film, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” which discusses the entities and processes that took place in the 1990s which led to the disappearance of the commercial electric car of that era.
In 2005, Chelsea joined the automotive X PRIZE foundation, and was integral in its efforts to set efficiency standards, gain sponsorship and recognition, and implement a “technology surging” open competition and incentive program. Since her time with automotive X PRIZE, $10 million has been awarded and the foundation has been catalytic in increasing interest in energy efficient vehicles.
Chelsea has stood as senior advisor to VantagePoint Venture Partners’ Cleantech practice which engages environmentally aware, clean technology companies, such as Tesla Motors, and enables them to compete in a highly competitive corporate business climate.
She developed an alternative fuel division in vehicle purchasing for the Santa Monica California based start-up Zag.com, and co-founded Plug In America, the largest consumer-oriented electric drive advocacy group.
Most recently, Chelsea founded the Lightning Rod Foundation. Lightning Rod is an advisory and educational organizationthrough which Chelsea and other professionals collaborate to deploy clean technologies and provide consumer education, with a particular emphasis on electric transportation.
Additionally, Chelsea is a Consulting Producer on Chris Paine’s next film, “Revenge of the Electric Car”.
For Chelsea’s work and involvement in General Motors’ EV1 program, she was interviewed and portrayed in the Sony Pictures Classics film, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” which discusses the entities and processes that took place in the 1990s which led to the disappearance of the commercial electric car of that era.
In 2005, Chelsea joined the automotive X PRIZE foundation, and was integral in its efforts to set efficiency standards, gain sponsorship and recognition, and implement a “technology surging” open competition and incentive program. Since her time with automotive X PRIZE, $10 million has been awarded and the foundation has been catalytic in increasing interest in energy efficient vehicles.
Chelsea has stood as senior advisor to VantagePoint Venture Partners’ Cleantech practice which engages environmentally aware, clean technology companies, such as Tesla Motors, and enables them to compete in a highly competitive corporate business climate.
She developed an alternative fuel division in vehicle purchasing for the Santa Monica California based start-up Zag.com, and co-founded Plug In America, the largest consumer-oriented electric drive advocacy group.
Most recently, Chelsea founded the Lightning Rod Foundation. Lightning Rod is an advisory and educational organizationthrough which Chelsea and other professionals collaborate to deploy clean technologies and provide consumer education, with a particular emphasis on electric transportation.
Additionally, Chelsea is a Consulting Producer on Chris Paine’s next film, “Revenge of the Electric Car”.