Tesla's Cost-Cutting Battery Tech Engineer Jumps Ship To Massachusetts Startup: Another Blow For Musk?

Former Tesla Inc TSLA electrode engineering director Hieu Duong has taken on the role of Chief Manufacturing Officer at AM Batteries, a move he announced through LinkedIn. 

What Happened: During his four-year tenure at Tesla, Duong played a significant role as the lead inventor of the dry battery electrode (DBE) process, which aimed to reduce the company’s battery costs, The Information reported.

Massachusetts-based AM Batteries focuses on developing dry battery electrodes, making Duong’s expertise highly relevant.

DBE was a key element of Tesla’s 2020 Battery Day announcement, with CEO Elon Musk stating that it would bring about a 15% cost reduction.

The startup has also welcomed Lie Shi, the former president of lithium battery material supplier Celgard, as its CEO. 

“When I saw how AM Batteries could change the landscape of Lithium battery production by eliminating solvent usage, to me, that was a calling that I could not pass up. I can't wait to be an instrumental part of AM Batteries and the industry’s growth,” Shi said on LinkedIn.

Why It Matters: Duong is the latest on the list of high-profile exits at Tesla. Zach Kirkhorn stepped down as CFO of the EV giant in August, while Tesla’s senior director of AI, Andrej Karpathy, quit in July 2022. 

This strategic recruitment of experts in the field underlines AM Batteries’ ambitions and potential to make a significant impact on lithium battery technology.

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