Mary Barra was recently named new CEO of General Motors (GM 0.85%) and the first woman to head a major automotive maker. She is a longtime GM employee and someone very focused on plug-technology. In fact, she was quoted in late 2012 in a GM News memo as saying, "Plug-based solutions will play a significant role in our technology portfolio going forward." Barra was the company's former top product development executive so her enthusiasm for electric vehicles could become the hallmark of the auto brand she now will drive.