Martin Eberhard

Born in California, Eberhard grew up in Kensington, a community in the Berkeley Hills. He received a B.S. in computer engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1982 and an M.S. in electrical engineering from the same school in 1984.{{cite web |title=Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning {{!}} American entrepreneurs {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Eberhard-and-Marc-Tarpenning |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}

Eberhard began his career as an electrical engineer at Wyse Technology,{{Cite book |last=Kiermasch |first=Cornelius M. P. |title=Tesla Motors – Eine Innovation von Martin Eberhard und Marc Tarpenning zum Durchbruch des Elektroautos? |publisher=GRIN Verlag |year=2010 |isbn=978-3-640-76942-1 |location=Norderstedt, Germany |pages=5 |language=de}} where he designed the WY-30 ASCII computer terminal as his first product. Eberhard co-founded Network Computing Devices in 1987, where he served as chief engineer through its IPO in 1992.{{cite web |title=Designing Media: Martin Eberhard {{!}} Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |url=https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2010/11/16/designing-media-martin-eberhard/ |website=www.cooperhewitt.org |access-date=10 November 2021 |date=16 November 2010}}{{cite news |last1=Baer |first1=Drake |title=The Making Of Tesla: Invention, Betrayal, And The Birth Of The Roadster |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-the-origin-story-2014-10 |access-date=10 November 2021 |work=Business Insider}}

In 1996, Eberhard founded NuvoMedia with Marc Tarpenning,{{Cite book |last=Fletcher |first=Seth |title=Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8090-3053-8 |pages=60–61 |language=en}} where they developed the Rocket eBook, the first e-book with secure internet delivery of content. Eberhard served as chairman and CEO until NuvoMedia’s acquisition by Gemstar in 2000.

Eberhard's interest in sports cars, concern about the dependence on oil imports, and global warming led him to think about EV cars as part of the solution. Their development of the second generation of NuvoMedia's ebook reader also had an impact due to their experience in sourcing lithium-ion cell technology. Eberhard found out about and attempted to purchase a prototype EV sports car called the AC Propulsion tzero. He provided some financial and technical support in the conversion of the tzero to lithium-ion batteries. Eberhard then tried to convince AC Propulsion founder Alan Cocconi to turn the tzero into a production car.{{cite web|last1=Morris|first1=Charles|title=Tom Gage on ZEV mandates, Tesla's early days, BMW's EV commitment and V2G tech|url=http://chargedevs.com/features/tom-gage-on-zev-mandates-teslas-early-days-bmws-ev-commitment-and-v2g-tech/|publisher=Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine|date=2014-04-07|quote=Gage: I had a neighbor named Steve Casner, who had a Toyota RAV4 electric, and I always had an EV in my front yard, so we got to talking. He was working at a company with Martin Eberhard, so he told Martin about me. Martin called me, and he had all these schemes, and I was sort of talking through what the realities were. We were just converting the tzero over to lithium-ion batteries. He got involved with that. He actually put some investor money – a small amount – into AC Propulsion, and we finished the conversion of the tzero to lithium-ion batteries.}}{{cite web|last1=Shnayerson|first1=Michael|title=Quiet Thunder|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/05/tesla200705?printable=true¤tPage=all|publisher=CondéNet |date=2007-05-14|quote="Musk isn't the one who had the Eureka! moment. That was […] Martin Eberhard. Like anyone else in 2003, the then 43-year-old Eberhard knew that billion-dollar markets had grown almost overnight for laptop computers and cell phones. Rivals were spending huge sums on R&D to pack ever more energy into the lithium-ion batteries that powered those devices. One day Eberhard had a simple thought: Why not put lithium-ion cells into cars? […] Eberhard commissioned a shy, gifted, sometimes difficult California pioneer of electric vehicles named Alan Cocconi to put a pack of lithium-ion batteries into Cocconi's latest electric-vehicle kit car, the T Zero."}} When Cocconi declined, Eberhard co-founded (with Marc Tarpenning), and became the first CEO of Tesla Motors, an electric car company in Menlo Park, California in 2003.

Eberhard and Tarpenning had observed a common sight in the driveways of the wealthy suburb of Palo Alto, California: a conspicuously efficient Prius parked next to a high-end sportscar or luxury car such as a Porsche, a BMW or a Lexus.{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Charles |title=Why is the middle class largely not buying EVs |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/11/06/charles-j-murray-the-middle-class-is-not-buying-electric-vehicles-as-hoped-what-happened/ |access-date=11 November 2023}} They saw that affluent buyers of high-end cars were displaying their green virtue (now called conspicuous conservation) with a Prius, but still wanting the driving experience and prestige of a high-end car. Eberhard and Tarpenning realized that these affluent, environmentally motivated buyers were a perfect market for a performance oriented electric car, and that such a car would change the market perception of what an electric car could be.

Eberhard’s guiding principles were:{{Cite web |title=Leader in Residence {{!}} Illinois Leadership® Center |url=https://leadership.illinois.edu/leader-residence#:~:text=Eberhard's%20key%20innovations%20have%20set,to%20a%20successful%20electric%20car. |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=leadership.illinois.edu}}

{{quote|

1) An electric car should not be a compromise. With the right technology choices, it is possible to build electric cars that are actually better cars than their competition.

2) Battery technology is key to a successful electric car. Lithium ion batteries are not only suitable of automotive use; they are game-changing, making decent driving range a reality.

3) If designed right, electric cars can appeal to even the most serious car enthusiast, as electric drive is capable of seriously outperforming internal combustion engines.}}

Eberhard drives the second of Tesla Motors Founder's Series Roadsters cars, which is the first series of the Tesla Roadster (2008).{{cite web |url=http://www.teslamotors.com/media/press_room.php?id=29 |title=Tesla Motors - press room |date=14 November 2006 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114163504/http://www.teslamotors.com/media/press_room.php?id=29 |archive-date=November 14, 2006 }} The Tesla Roadster is a battery electric sportscar with {{convert|244|mi}} (EPA) range.

On November 30, 2007, Tesla released a press release titled "Martin Eberhard, Co-founder of Tesla Motors, to Transition to Advisory Board."{{cite web |url=http://www.teslamotors.com/media/press_room.php?id=748 |title=Tesla Motors - press room |date=13 December 2007 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213100430/http://www.teslamotors.com/media/press_room.php?id=748 |archive-date=December 13, 2007 }} Fortune magazine reported in December 2007 that chairman Elon Musk had asked Eberhard to leave. Musk stated in an interview that it was not due to ideological differences, but that he did not see a role for Eberhard.{{cite web |last1=Woody |first1=Todd |title=Tesla Motors founder ousted |url=http://greenwombat.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2007/12/04/tesla-motors-founder-ousted/ |website=Fortune - Green Wombat |access-date=23 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115214844/http://greenwombat.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/ |archive-date=2008-01-15}} On January 7, 2008, the New York Times reported that Tesla Motors issued a statement explaining that the co-founder and former chief executive, Martin Eberhard, "has transitioned from the board of directors and executive management of the company to the advisory board."{{cite web |author=Dealbook |url=http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/an-unhappy-tesla-founder-or-an-imposter/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714222135/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/an-unhappy-tesla-founder-or-an-imposter/ |archive-date=2011-07-14 |title=Unhappy Tesla Founder, or Impostor? - NYTimes.com |publisher=Dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com |date=2007-12-04 |access-date=2011-09-24}}

Eberhard noted that while he had signed a non-disclosure agreement with Tesla, "so I must, by contract, be a bit careful about how I word things", he was not happy with the transition. In his since-deleted Tesla Founders Blog, Eberhard criticized Tesla layoffs, which he labeled a "stealth bloodbath".{{cite book |last1=Niedermeyer |first1=Edward |title=Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h_SADwAAQBAJ&pg=PT52 |publisher=BenBella Books |access-date=23 May 2020 |language=en |date=20 August 2019|isbn=9781948836326 }}

In June 2009, Eberhard brought a lawsuit against Elon Musk for libel, slander, and breach of contract, alleging that Musk pushed him out of the company, publicly disparaged him, and compromised Tesla's financial health.[https://www.wired.com/2009/08/eberhard-tesla-lawsuit/ Eberhard Says 'Uncle' in Tesla Lawsuit] Retrieved June 13, 2017. In August 2009, Eberhard dropped the lawsuit for undisclosed reasons. A Tesla spokesperson declined to comment on the change, raising the likelihood of a settlement.{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/08/17/daily45.html |website=San Jose Business Journal |access-date=23 May 2020|title=Tesla lawsuit dismissed}} In September 2009, Tesla confirmed the settlement, but did not provide further details.{{Cite news|date=2009-09-21|title=Electric carmaker Tesla, former CEO settle lawsuit|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/tesla-suit-idUKN2131161020090921|access-date=2021-02-09}}

Eberhard confirmed in an interview with CNBC in October 2019 that he is still a shareholder of Tesla, and is still rooting for their success.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=6 February 2021|title=Tesla's Founders On Elon Musk And The Early Days|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1467&v=eblPwXFb7TE|access-date=|website=YouTube}}

In 2010, Eberhard confirmed to Autoblog Green that he was doing work with Volkswagen, but no further details were provided.{{cite web|last=Abuelsamid |first=Sam |url=http://green.autoblog.com/2010/01/19/rumor-tesla-co-founder-eberhard-working-with-vw/ |title=Confirmed: Tesla Co-Founder Eberhard working with Volkswagen |publisher=Green.autoblog.com |date=2010-01-19 |access-date=2011-09-24}}

In September 2016, Eberhard founded stealth-mode startup inEVit in a bid to supply major OEMs with electric drivetrains and power storage solutions.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Gina |title=Lesser known Tesla co-founder is now heading up stealthy electric vehicle startup |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2017/05/10/martin-eberhard-tesla-electric-car-startup-inevit.html |website=Silicon Valley Business Journal |access-date=23 May 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://electrek.co/2017/05/10/tesla-co-founder-martin-eberhard-started-ev-startup-inevit/ |title=Tesla's original co-founder Martin Eberhard started a new EV startup called 'InEVit' |date=10 May 2017 | access-date=2017-09-16}}

SF Motors (now Seres) acquired inEVit in October 2017.{{Cite web |last=O'Kane |first=Sean |date=2018-03-29 |title=SF Motors is exactly the kind of EV startup Elon Musk complained to Trump about |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/29/17176038/sf-motors-electric-suv-tesla-musk-eberhard |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} Eberhard served as chief innovation officer until leaving in July 2018.{{cite web |last1=Walz |first1=Eric |title=EV Startup SERES Hires Auto Industry Veteran to Lead its U.S. Operations |url=https://www.futurecar.com/3243/EV-Startup-SERES-Hires-Auto-Industry-Veteran-to-Lead-its-U-S--Operations |website=FutureCar |access-date=23 May 2020}}

In 2019 Eberhard founded Tiveni, which seeks to make "intelligent EV battery systems."{{cite web |last1=Lambert |first1=Fred |title=Tesla founder launches new electric car battery startup and there's a twist |url=https://electrek.co/2019/05/29/tesla-founder-eberhard-new-electric-car-battery-startup/ |website=Electrek |date=29 May 2019 |access-date=18 May 2022}}

He is married to Carolyn Eberhard.{{cite web |last1=Communications |first1=Grainger Engineering Office of Marketing and |title=Martin Eberhard |url=https://grainger.illinois.edu/alumni/distinguished/9561 |website=grainger.illinois.edu |access-date=10 November 2021 |language=en}}

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Category:1960 births

Category:American chief executives in the automobile industry

Category:American chief executives of manufacturing companies

Category:Living people

Category:Tesla, Inc. people

Category:Grainger College of Engineering alumni

Category:Businesspeople from Berkeley, California

Category:People from Kensington, California

Category:American founders of automobile manufacturers