J.B. Straubel

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.