Few have been more important in bringing about the explosion of the electric-vehicle (EV) market than JB Straubel, who co-founded Tesla. Now he’s working on one of the industry’s biggest challenges: sustainably sourcing materials to make the batteries that power EVs. His company Redwood Materials—which last year raised $775 million in funding—is building massive facilities to make components from new minerals and used batteries. It’s signed agreements to help supply many of the biggest car- and battery-makers, like Ford and Panasonic.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now, You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time