Tesla has shown it's just as serious about energy as it is cars by building out its energy division.
The energy division is responsible for products like the Powerwall, the rechargeable battery that can power your home, and the Powertrain, a bigger version of the Powerwall that can power infrastructures like companies and even cities. Tesla announced just last week that a new version of the Powerwall is coming this summer.
Tesla has transferred several major players from its core business to work on stationary energy storage products and poached employees from electric utilities and solar companies, Electrek first reported.
The best example of this is the promotion of Mateo Jaramillo, who was Director of Powertrain Business Development from 2009 to 2014. He became Director of Tesla Energy in September 2014, and was promoted again to Vice President of Products and Programs within the department in November 2015.
Drew Baglino, who served as director of Powertrain systems architecture, modeling, and controls was promoted to director of engineering for Tesla Energy in November 2014. He's now serving as Vice President of Technology for Tesla.
Several other senior employees were transferred from working on Tesla's core business, cars, to the energy division as well, Electrek adds.
Tesla poached TrinaSolar President Ben Hill to lead the energy group in Europe and Africa. There are also 15 new job openings in sales and operations for Tesla Energy in Australia.
All of this is occurring at a time where Tesla is releasing a new version of the Powerwall this summer and ramping up production of the Gigafactory, its giant battery factory, in Nevada. There are currently 232 employees working at the Gigafactory.
