JB Straubel
Encyclopedia
JB Straubel is part of the founding team and the Chief Technical Officer of Tesla Motors
, an electric car
company based in San Carlos
, California
. At Tesla, Straubel oversees the technical and engineering design of the vehicles. Straubel also has responsibility for new technology evaluation, R&D, technical diligence review of key vendors and partners, IP, and systems validation testing.
In 2008, Straubel was named to the MIT
Technology Review
TR35
as one of the top 35 innovators in the world under the age of 35. He spoke at MIT's Emtech
conference on a panel on green transportation in Boston
, MA in September 2008. Straubel was honored to keynote the Stanford Alumni EDAY in July 2008. In July 2008, Straubel spoke on a transportation panel "Progression Toward EVs" at Plug In 2008. In early 2008, Stanford Magazine featured Straubel's role in growing the Stanford presence at Tesla Motors. In September 2007, JB spoke on an energy panel titled "Clean, Secure, and Efficient Energy" at Stanford University
along with former Secretary of State, George Shultz, where he emphasized the importance of education about climate change, and decreasing the intensity of our current energy production methods. Popular Science
magazine featured Straubel in a full-length article in April 2007. His photograph was shown in The Economist
in July 2006, taking Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
for a drive at the Tesla Roadster unveiling in Santa Monica
, California.
Prior to Tesla Motors, Straubel was the CTO and co-founder of Volacom along with Harold Rosen. Volacom worked closely with Burt Rutan at Scaled Composites to design a specialized high-altitude aircraft platform using a novel hydrogen-powered electric power plant. At Volacom, Straubel co-invented and patented the new long-endurance hybrid propulsion concept that was later licensed to Boeing
.
Before Volacom, Straubel worked with Harold Rosen and Benjamin M. Rosen
at Rosen Motors as a propulsion engineer developing a new hybrid vehicle drivetrain based on a micro turbine and a high-speed flywheel. Rosen Motors ultimately closed but both main technologies carried on with commercial success, the turbine at Capstone Turbine
(CPST) and the flywheel at Pentadyne Power Corp. Straubel was part of the early team at Pentadyne where he designed and built a 1st generation 150 kW power inverter, motor-generator controls, and magnetic bearing systems.
In the area of technical expertise, Straubel has consulted with VC firms Taproot Ventures and Kleiner Perkins in addition to several other private equity investors to conduct technical diligence reviews for many start-ups in the energy and clean technologies category. Straubel also consults with Amory Lovins
at the Rocky Mountain Institute
.
Although he did not originally intend to work in the automobile industry, Straubel has had a long personal passion for electric vehicles, including building an Electric Porsche 944 that held a world EV racing record, a Custom Electric Bicycle, and a pioneering new Hybrid Trailer System that he designed while in college. JB received a B.S. in Energy Systems Engineering and an M.S. in Energy Engineering, emphasis on energy conversion, both from Stanford University
.
Outside of Tesla Motors, Straubel is also an accomplished pilot and holds private pilot, instrument and multi-engine ratings.
Tesla Motors
Tesla Motors, Inc. is a Silicon Valley-based company that designs, manufactures and sells electric cars and electric vehicle powertrain components. It was the only automaker building and selling a zero-emission sports car, the Tesla Roadster, in serial production...
, an electric car
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
company based in San Carlos
San Carlos, California
San Carlos is a city in San Mateo County, California, USA on the San Francisco Peninsula, about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. It is an affluent small residential suburb located between Belmont to the north and Redwood City to the south. San Carlos' ZIP code is 94070, and it is within...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. At Tesla, Straubel oversees the technical and engineering design of the vehicles. Straubel also has responsibility for new technology evaluation, R&D, technical diligence review of key vendors and partners, IP, and systems validation testing.
In 2008, Straubel was named to the MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
Technology Review
Technology Review
Technology Review is a magazine published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It was founded in 1899 as "The Technology Review", and was re-launched without the "The" in its name on April 23, 1998 under then publisher R. Bruce Journey...
TR35
TR35
The TR35 is an annual list published by MIT Technology Review magazine, naming the world's top 35 innovators under the age of 35.Some of the most famous winners of the award include Larry Page and Sergey Brin , Linus Torvalds , Jerry Yang , Jonathan Ive , Mark Zuckerberg...
as one of the top 35 innovators in the world under the age of 35. He spoke at MIT's Emtech
Emtech
The Emtech conference, produced by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Technology Review magazine, is an annual conference highlighting invention and new developments in engineering and technology...
conference on a panel on green transportation in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, MA in September 2008. Straubel was honored to keynote the Stanford Alumni EDAY in July 2008. In July 2008, Straubel spoke on a transportation panel "Progression Toward EVs" at Plug In 2008. In early 2008, Stanford Magazine featured Straubel's role in growing the Stanford presence at Tesla Motors. In September 2007, JB spoke on an energy panel titled "Clean, Secure, and Efficient Energy" at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
along with former Secretary of State, George Shultz, where he emphasized the importance of education about climate change, and decreasing the intensity of our current energy production methods. Popular Science
Popular Science
Popular Science is an American monthly magazine founded in 1872 carrying articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. Popular Science has won over 58 awards, including the ASME awards for its journalistic excellence in both 2003 and 2004...
magazine featured Straubel in a full-length article in April 2007. His photograph was shown in The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
in July 2006, taking Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
for a drive at the Tesla Roadster unveiling in Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
, California.
Prior to Tesla Motors, Straubel was the CTO and co-founder of Volacom along with Harold Rosen. Volacom worked closely with Burt Rutan at Scaled Composites to design a specialized high-altitude aircraft platform using a novel hydrogen-powered electric power plant. At Volacom, Straubel co-invented and patented the new long-endurance hybrid propulsion concept that was later licensed to Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
.
Before Volacom, Straubel worked with Harold Rosen and Benjamin M. Rosen
Benjamin M. Rosen
Benjamin "Ben" M. Rosen is the former Chairman and former Acting Chief Executive Officer of Compaq.-Early life and career:...
at Rosen Motors as a propulsion engineer developing a new hybrid vehicle drivetrain based on a micro turbine and a high-speed flywheel. Rosen Motors ultimately closed but both main technologies carried on with commercial success, the turbine at Capstone Turbine
Capstone Turbine
Capstone Turbine Corporation , incorporated in 1988, is a California based gas turbine manufacturer that specializes in microturbine power and heat cogeneration systems. Key to the Capstone design is its use of foil bearings, which provides maintenance and fluid-free operation for the lifetime of...
(CPST) and the flywheel at Pentadyne Power Corp. Straubel was part of the early team at Pentadyne where he designed and built a 1st generation 150 kW power inverter, motor-generator controls, and magnetic bearing systems.
In the area of technical expertise, Straubel has consulted with VC firms Taproot Ventures and Kleiner Perkins in addition to several other private equity investors to conduct technical diligence reviews for many start-ups in the energy and clean technologies category. Straubel also consults with Amory Lovins
Amory Lovins
Amory Bloch Lovins is an American environmental scientist and writer, Chairman and Chief Scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute. He has worked in the field of energy policy and related areas for four decades...
at the Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute is an organization in the United States dedicated to research, publication, consulting, and lecturing in the general field of sustainability, with a special focus on profitable innovations for energy and resource efficiency. RMI was established in 1982 and has grown into a...
.
Although he did not originally intend to work in the automobile industry, Straubel has had a long personal passion for electric vehicles, including building an Electric Porsche 944 that held a world EV racing record, a Custom Electric Bicycle, and a pioneering new Hybrid Trailer System that he designed while in college. JB received a B.S. in Energy Systems Engineering and an M.S. in Energy Engineering, emphasis on energy conversion, both from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Outside of Tesla Motors, Straubel is also an accomplished pilot and holds private pilot, instrument and multi-engine ratings.