Leo Pagnac

Leo has a great interest in electric mobility fostering policies. During his career, he has worked in Europe and Brazil to boost electric vehicle dissemination. Today as a Director within GIZ, Leo manages a team of 10 people and is implementing an electric mobility promotion project in Cape Verde, covering topics such as electric vehicle price competitiveness, charging infrastructure aligned with the grid, and favorable regulations.

He also supervise the monitoring of CO2 savings. He is also responsible for a project aimed at structuring an electric bus offering in Dakar, Senegal. In the past, Leo worked for consulting firms as a manager, with a particular focus on transportation, assisting clients in their strategic positioning or change management projects.

He began his career in the automotive industry at Stellantis Group and Renault.

Electric Vehicle and Charging Station Network Financing

International German Cooperation (GIZ)

Funding from: NAMA Facility

2021-Present, Government of Cape Verde

€11.5 million over 3 years

Management of a team of 6 people

I am a Program Director for the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and I oversee the deployment of the Electric Vehicle Promotion project in Cape Verde as part of the NAMA Facility for Climate-Neutral Development.

• I am creating and overseeing a financial mechanism to facilitate the purchase of 600 electric vehicles and 40 charging stations in Cape Verde, representing 30% of annual car sales.
• I am negotiating implementation agreements with a major automobile manufacturer for a pilot project.
• I am supervising the development of training programs for professionals to ensure the capacity-building of electric vehicle maintenance and repair.
• I am managing institutional relations with various government and international partners and initiating synergies with renewable energy projects.
• I propose the evolution of the legal and regulatory framework to the government

Achievements:

• Revision of national legislation to promote the development of electric vehicles.
• Tax exemption for electric vehicles.
• Deployment of a national network of charging stations.
• Design of the financial mechanism for electric vehicle subsidies

Electric Car Development in Brazil

Renault

2010-2014, Brazil

I am the Manager of Public Affairs for Renault in charge of the environment,

safety and fiscal issues

• Coordinated the Electric Vehicle Project with the City of Sao Paulo
• Monitored and realized an impact assessment on Brazilian policies
• and regulations on emissions, air quality, and car homologation
• Renault’s lobbying representative in several groups of interest
• (Anfavea, Sao Paulo Climate Change Committee, Inter-ministerial
• Electric Vehicle study group) and speaker at seminars (Universities,
• conferences).
• Created partnership with NGOs for the C40 city forum (Clinton Climate Initiative) and Government on car electrification promotion
• Developed the environment and safety axis of the Instituto Renault do Brazil (partnerships with the Red Cross, Brazilian cities, and Global Road Safety Program)

Achievements:

• Strategic Partnership with the City of Sao Paulo, displaying Renault-Nissan electric vehicle technologies during the C40, influencing Brazilian’s regulation change car CO2 emissions, 

French Government, Car electrification on Reunion Island

Verso Consulting for the French Government

2014, Reunion Island

I am a Consultant for the French government assessing the dissemination strategy of Electric vehicles on Reunion Island.

• Feasibility assessment of the VERT project (Vehicule Electrique Reunion Transport)
• Coordinate the implementation strategy of a network of charge infrastructures sized in number and charge technique (normal or fast) to meet the mobility needs of a territory with a limited geographical area.
• Coordination of the different stakeholders
• Impact analysis on the electric demand and grid capacity

Achievements:

• Launch of the VERT project with an EV testing fleet

Support to the European Commission for the revision of the regulation on CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles

IHS Consulting for the European Commission,

DG Clima 2010, Belgium

I am a Strategic Consultant leading a 5 monthly study regarding the assessment of the European Regulation to reduce CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles (LCVs or vans)

• Statistical Preparatory work and interviews with OEMs experts and governments regarding technological and regulation efforts toward car electrification in Europe
• Coordination of the work of the consultant team
• Presentation of the findings to the EU representatives from the DG Clima

Achievements:

• Publication of the report Support for the revision of the regulation on CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles

London School of Economics / Sciences-Po Paris (Double diplôme) - 2008

MPA in Public Policy and Management

Londres Royaume-Uni, Paris, France