Rivalry between firms Sonnen and Tesla seems to extend beyond residential energy storage products to include employees.
German residential energy storage system firm Sonnen has hired former Tesla Energy’s North American sales manager Blake Richetta.
Richetta will lead Sonnen’s expansion into the US as vice president of sales.
Last year we reported how a number of Tesla employees, including high level management positions, had defected to Sonnen.
Earlier this year BBB reported how German battery storage companies have had a strong business showing in the first half of 2016 with Sonnen in the lead.
Analysis by EuPD Research showed German companies were not only present in domestic markets, but held strong positions within European and non-European countries such as the US and Australia.
Philipp Schroeder, managing director and chief sales & marketing officer of Sonnen, said: “Sonnen recognises the vital role that regional distribution partners play in the US.
“We also understand, like no other company in this sector, that winning at energy storage requires the smartest not the cheapest battery box.”
The firm develops and manufactures the sonnenBatterie smart energy management systems in Germany and in San Jose, California.
Sonnen was not the only company to bring in new leadership, as Eos Energy Storage announced additions to its advisory board.
The zinc-hybrid battery maker named five people, including Steven Chu, former US Secretary of Energy; Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo! Inc.; and General Wesley Clark, retired US Army General and Commander of NATO.
Eos aims to make move into the customer-facing markets and beyond utilities to commercial, industrial and military applications.