Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla seeks Gigafactory architect, Uber hails carpools

Thu, Aug 7 2014

Tesla is looking for an architect to help design its proposed Gigafactory battery manufacturing facility. According to the Palo Alto-based job listing, which is titled "Architect - Gigafactory," the applicant must have, among other qualifications, over five years of experience with "high-tech infrastructure and operational facilities (semiconductor, solar, battery, waste water treatment plants, etc.)." The job also includes being away from home quite a bit, as it the listing states, "This full time role requires the flexibility of traveling when needed (up to 70 percent) and doing whatever it takes to achieve project objectives." Think you've got what it takes? See the listing for yourself, here, or read more at Silicon Valley Business Journal.

Tesla has appointed Robyn Denholm of Juniper Networks to its board of directors. Denholm is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operations Officer at Juniper Networks. Denholm replaces Brad Buss as chair of Tesla's Audit Committee and a member of the company's Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees. Buss will remain a member of Tesla's board as he joins SolarCity as CFO. Denholm is Tesla's first female director. Read more at Bloomberg, or in the press release below.

Uber, the company behind the now famous ride-hailing app, is introducing its carpooling service, UberPool. The service matches drivers with (hopefully multiple) passengers going to similar destinations, with users paying just a fraction of the cost of a normal taxi, or even an Uber ride. If a rider can't get matched with a driver, they can enjoy a discounted Uber ride. As the company points out in its blog, "At these price points, Uber really is cost-competitive with owning a car, which is a game-changer for consumers." UberPool is currently running a private beta program, which it plans to expand on August 15. Read more in-depth about the UberPool at Forbes, or learn more at Uber's blog. For a few reasons why this new expansion might run afoul of archaic laws (put there to keep entrenched interests in play), check out Engadget.

Plug-in hybrids are encouraging an evolution of transmission technology. Companies like Schaeffler and ZF Friedrichshafen are adapting their transmissions to include electric motors within them for use in plug-in hybrids. For example, the electric motor in ZF's eight-speed powers the transmission when the internal combustion engine is shut off. In applications like Schaeffler's, torque from the engine is split between the transmission's input shaft and electric motor. Additionally, some companies are rethinking the strategy of adding more gears, and are leaning toward simplification, such as Schaeffler's electrified three-speed transmission it is developing. Read more about how electrification is affecting transmission technology at Automotive News.

Audi is now selling its A3 E-Tron at 105 dealerships in Germany. Every dealership offering the plug-in hybrid is getting a charging station, and sales and service employees are receiving special training at a center in Munich. The A3 E-Tron has a combined gas and electric range of almost 600 miles, and a base price of ˆ37,900 (about $50,740 US). Read more at AutoEvolution.

Juniper Networks' Robyn Denholm to Join Tesla's Board of Directors
Wednesday, August 6, 2014

PALO ALTO, CA, August 6, 2014 Â– Tesla today announced that Robyn Denholm, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operations Officer at Juniper Networks, Inc., has been appointed to its board of directors, effective August 11, 2014.

Denholm has also been appointed to chair the company's Audit Committee and be a member of the Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees. These roles were previously filled by Brad Buss, who is vacating his committee positions upon joining SolarCity as its Chief Financial Officer. Buss will remain a member of Tesla's board and will provide valuable continuity from his experience since joining the board in 2009.

Denholm joined Juniper in 2007 and has helped the company achieve record revenues while delivering breakthrough innovations to customers. In 2011, Denholm was a Bay Area CFO of the Year finalist and she was recently named on Silicon Valley Business Journal's Women of Influence List. She joined Juniper from Sun Microsystems, where she served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategic Planning.

Denholm began her career in Australia, serving in various finance assignments for Toyota Motor Corporation and Arthur Andersen and Company. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Sydney and a master's degree in commerce from the University of New South Wales. At Juniper, she is responsible for company's finance, administration and business operations, including planning, IT, real estate, investor relations, internal audit, and manufacturing operations.

Featured Gallery Tesla Motors Gigafactory plan

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News Source: Silicon Valley Business Journal, Forbes, Automotive News, Uber, AutoEvolution, Bloomberg, Tesla
Image Credit: Tesla

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By John Beltz Snyder