J.B. Straubel is a distinguished engineer and entrepreneur, acclaimed for his seminal contributions to the advancement of sustainable energy and electric vehicle technology. He is perhaps most renowned for his foundational role as the Co-Founder and former Chief Technology Officer of Tesla Inc., a global leader in electric vehicles and... Read more
J.B. Straubel is a distinguished engineer and entrepreneur, acclaimed for his seminal contributions to the advancement of sustainable energy and electric vehicle technology. He is perhaps most renowned for his foundational role as the Co-Founder and former Chief Technology Officer of Tesla Inc., a global leader in electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions. Straubel’s comprehensive expertise in electric powertrains and advanced battery technology has been a driving force in propelling Tesla to a vanguard position within the sustainable energy industry.
Before establishing himself at Tesla, Straubel sharpened his competencies in energy storage systems at Volacom, an aerospace company he co-founded. There, he worked on groundbreaking projects such as the development of hybrid electric aircraft. Upon his move to Tesla, Straubel was responsible for orchestrating pivotal initiatives, including the conception and development of the Tesla Roadster, Model S, and Model 3. His leadership was instrumental in the conceptualization and realization of Tesla’s Gigafactory, which significantly expanded the company’s production capabilities. Throughout his fifteen-year tenure as CTO, Straubel played a crucial role in research and development, team building, and operational scaling, overseeing the company’s evolution from prototype vehicles to mass production and gigawatt-hour-scale energy storage.
In addition to his work at Tesla, Straubel was a driving force behind the establishment of SolarCity, a Tesla subsidiary specializing in solar energy services. This extended his influential footprint in the renewable energy domain even further.
In 2019, Straubel pivoted his focus towards the creation of a sustainable circular economy and founded Redwood Materials. Serving as the CEO, he is committed to revolutionizing waste management by recycling lithium-ion batteries and electronic waste, thereby contributing to resource recovery and furthering his enduring commitment to sustainability.
Since 2023, Straubel has re-engaged with Tesla in the capacity of an independent board member, having been elected by the company’s shareholders. Through his continuous involvement in both Tesla and Redwood Materials, Straubel challenges conventional energy paradigms and stands as a luminous figure in the fields of technology and sustainability.