Steven Wu serves as Chief Operating Officer at American Battery Technology Company (ABTC), a leading innovator in sustainable battery materials production and recycling. With over 20 years of experience in operations, supply chain management, and advanced manufacturing, Wu has built a distinguished career in the energy storage and clean technology sectors. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Prior to joining ABTC, Wu held senior leadership roles at Tesla, where he optimized global battery production lines, and at Panasonic Energy, spearheading the scaling of gigafactory operations in North America. Under Wu’s leadership at previous organizations, he achieved significant milestones, including reducing manufacturing costs by 25% through lean process innovations and implementing zero-waste recycling protocols that diverted over 90% of battery scrap from landfills. His expertise in lithium-ion battery lifecycle management earned him the Industry Leader Award from the Battery Council International in 2022. At ABTC, Wu has been instrumental in launching the company’s proprietary lithium extraction technology from claystone resources, positioning ABTC as a domestic supplier of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and driving a 300% increase in operational throughput since his appointment in 2021. As COO, Wu oversees all aspects of ABTC’s operations, from raw material sourcing and processing at the Tonopah Flats Lithium Project to commercialization of recycled battery materials. He champions sustainable practices, ensuring compliance with stringent environmental standards while scaling production to meet the surging demand for electric vehicle batteries. Wu’s strategic vision continues to propel ABTC toward its goal of achieving full vertical integration in the U.S. battery supply chain, fostering energy independence and innovation in the green energy transition.