Charging forward with electric vehicle energy solutions

Thomas Martin wants to increase the range of your electric vehicle through “smart” internet connectivity and a peer-to-peer charging network.

After completing his B.Eng in Aerospace Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University, Thomas Martin wasn’t sure what to do next. With exceptional technical skills, he got a job right out of university. But he was considering going back to school, perhaps earning a master’s in engineering.  

“Then I came across the MEIE program,” he says. “It fit, because I really wanted to study problems in the world and develop solutions. I wanted to test my skills not only in the technical sense, but in the business and social context. To do that, you need to know how to deal with people and how markets work.”

Not currently interested in starting his own company, Thomas joined SWTCH as its Director of Business Development and used the company as his business case for the MEIE program. SWTCH is a start-up working out of the Clean Energy Zone that provides electric vehicle charging and energy management solutions. Its goal is to establish a network of home and public chargers to support widespread EV adoption.

“In the MEIE program, I’ve come to truly understand the market we’re dealing with. I’ve interviewed hundreds of customers and users – enough to be able to brand ourselves as experts in the industry. The best solutions come from understanding your customer. So now we’re fully commercialized and selling to those same customers.”

Thomas Martin has won both Stage 1 and Stage 2 Norman Esch Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards.