JB Straubel, Tesla’s cofounder and CEO of Redwood Materials, recently reflected on the lessons he learned from Elon Musk. In an episode of The Wall Street Journal’s “Tech News Briefing” podcast, Straubel remarked, “He has an incredible tolerance for working incredibly hard and for putting in immense focus and hours into all these different projects.”
While Straubel credits Musk with instilling values such as aligning teams with a clear mission and fostering company-wide passion, he also expressed concern for Musk’s well-being. “I do want to make sure he tries to balance that and doesn’t burn himself out,” he noted, adding that peak productivity requires some moments of rest.
Straubel believes many business leaders could benefit from Musk’s intensity, arguing that humanity often underperforms relative to its potential. While he acknowledged Musk may occasionally exceed optimal effort, he views his example as a catalyst for inspiring others to push harder.
Straubel observed that societal comfort may be contributing to diminished work intensity in some regions, comparing the U.S. unfavorably to nations where the hunger for self-improvement and generational progress is more pronounced. He advocates for setting “aggressive goals,” admitting that his leadership style sometimes mirrors Musk’s optimism about achievable timelines.
As the CEO of Redwood Materials, Straubel is channeling this mindset into revolutionizing EV sustainability. Founded in 2017, the company focuses on creating a “remanufacturing economy” by extracting raw materials like nickel and lithium from used batteries and reintroducing them into production. In 2023, Redwood Materials estimated a $200 million revenue, with aspirations to support battery production for 1 million EVs annually.
Redwood Materials has already made significant strides, extracting enough resources to supply batteries for approximately 250,000 electric vehicles. This approach aims to reduce reliance on traditional mining while enhancing the sustainability of the EV industry.
Despite the company’s advancements, Straubel acknowledged the challenges EVs face in the U.S. While Tesla has achieved global popularity, EV adoption in America lags behind markets like China, where electric cars accounted for 27% of new vehicle sales in 2022. A June study by McKinsey & Co. found that nearly half of U.S. EV owners might switch back to gas-powered cars, citing limited charging infrastructure and high costs.
The future of EVs in the U.S. remains uncertain as political factors come into play. President Joe Biden’s $7,500 tax credit for EV buyers has provided incentives, but incoming changes under Donald Trump’s administration could see such policies revoked, potentially affecting consumer sentiment and industry momentum.
Through Redwood Materials and his advocacy for sustainable practices, Straubel exemplifies the forward-thinking leadership needed to address these challenges, drawing inspiration from Musk’s drive while championing a balanced approach to productivity and innovation.