Japanese industrialists tapped for Energy Systems Network board

Energy Systems Network, the Indianapolis-based clean tech/energy initiative, has landed big names to its board.

They include Toshiba Corp.’s president and CEO, Norio Sasaki, and Itochu Corp.’s chairman, Eizo Kobayashi.

Also tapped were John Bear, president and CEO of Midwest ISO, and Reuben Munger, chairman and CEO of Bright Automotive.

Bright recently moved its headquarters from Anderson to Michigan after the electric-delivery-truck developer received a big investment from General Motors Corp.

Paul Mitchell, president of ESN, noted that the companies represented by the new directors are involved in a number of the organization’s initiatives, including plug-in electric vehicle deployment and electric grid storage projects using advanced batteries.

ESN received dispiriting news last month when one of the companies involved in its Indiana initiatives, Norwegian electric car maker Think, filed for bankruptcy, leaving the future of its northern Indiana plant in doubt.