Bold Names

Why Elon Musk’s Battery Guy Is Betting Big on Recycling

Feb 11, 2025

JB Straubel, former Chief Technology Officer of Tesla and current CEO of Redwood Materials, shares his journey from pioneering Tesla's battery technology to leading a recycling revolution. He envisions recycled batteries powering a sustainable future and discusses how this could challenge traditional oil giants. Straubel emphasizes the critical need for lithium-ion battery recycling and the potential for trillion-dollar businesses in this sector. He also reflects on effective leadership and the balance between work and well-being amidst the fast-paced tech world.

28:12

Episode guests

JB Straubel

AI Summary

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

JB Straubel's Redwood Materials aims to revolutionize battery recycling, potentially replacing traditional mining with sustainable practices for essential metals.

His experiences at Tesla shaped his belief in the importance of team alignment and work ethic to tackle challenges in the EV market.

Deep dives

Revolutionizing Battery Recycling

J.B. Straubel's company, Redwood Materials, is pioneering the recycling of lithium-ion batteries, achieving a significant milestone by recycling 20 gigawatt hours of these batteries annually. This equates to the amount used in approximately 250,000 electric vehicles, enabling the recovery of critical materials like lithium and nickel. By repurposing materials from batteries instead of extracting them from the earth, Redwood is positioning itself as a disruptor in the electric vehicle industry, aiming to alleviate the environmental impact associated with traditional mining practices. Straubel envisions a future where recycled batteries play a key role in powering a diverse range of devices, from electric cars to consumer electronics.

Insights on Leadership and Team Dynamics from the Tech Industry

03:54

Intro

2min

From Tesla to Recycling: A Sustainable Shift

9min

The Future of Energy: Battery Recycling vs. Oil Giants

3min

The Future of Trillion-Dollar Companies in EV Recycling

2min

Insights on Leadership and Team Dynamics from the Tech Industry

4min

Balancing Work and Well-being

7min

JB Straubel was Elon Musk’s battery guy. Now he’s trying to turn what some see as trash into power for the electric vehicle revolution. Straubel was there at the earliest days of Tesla, and in his 15 years with the electric vehicle company, he played an integral role: he developed the battery pack used in the first Tesla vehicle, was the company’s Chief Technology Officer, and now sits on the board of directors. But his day job is running the battery-recycling startup Redwood Materials, and he envisions a future where recycled batteries power our cars, cell phones and power tools. So could companies like his one day replace the oil giants who fueled the last century? Why does he think humans have room to work harder? And can the Tesla board manage Musk as he takes on a growing role in U.S. politics, including advising the Trump administration? Straubel speaks to WSJ’s Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims in episode three of our interview series Bold Names.

Let us know what you think of the show. Email us at BoldNames@wsj.com

Further Reading

In the Desert With an EV Entrepreneur Who Insists Trump Will Be Good for Business

The Boom in Battery Metals for EVs Is Turning to Bust

Cost-Cutting Lessons From Musk World for DOGE

What Americans Get Wrong About Electric Cars

One of the Brains Behind Tesla May Have a New Way to Make Electric Cars Cheaper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices