JB Straubel (US)

JB Straubel, one of the co-founders of Tesla, served as the comapny’s Chief Technical Officer for 15 years. He led developments in all areas of engineering, software and power supply at the cutting-edge company as it grew to be the leaders in pioneering electric vehicle and battery technology.

Frequently cited as one of the most innovative companies operating in any sector in the world, Tesla have revolutionised the car industry and, perhaps more significantly, power and battery technologies. JB oversaw areas including Tesla Energy, the division of the company responsible for developments in commercial and domestic energy storage. He was also responsible for the company’s super-fast charging technologies, as well as overall R&D, supplier and partner relations.

JB’s interest in electric vehicles goes back to his teenage years when at 14 he rebuilt a golf cart. At university he rebuilt a Porsche 944 converting it to electric power and claiming the world EV racing record with the car. Whilst at college he built a solar racing car and a hybrid trailer system. He has gone on to hold over 30 patents, including those covering most areas of Telsa’s innovative battery, motor and controls systems.

Having left Tesla, JB focuses on a range of projects including his role as co-founder and CEO of circular economy startup Redwood Materials which looks at recycling complex technologies. He has also served on the board of the leading US domestic solar power company Solar City, and lectured in engineering and energy storage at Stanford. He has been named in the MIT Technology Review as their top ‘35 Innovators Under 35’ and by Fortune as second in their ‘40 under 40 most influential business and innovation leaders’ list.