[1] Eberhard began his career as an electrical engineer at Wyse Technology,[6] where he designed the WY-30 ASCII computer terminal as his first product.

[7][8] In 1996, Eberhard founded NuvoMedia with Marc Tarpenning,[9] where they developed the Rocket eBook, the first e-book with secure internet delivery of content.

Their development of the second generation of NuvoMedia's ebook reader also had an impact due to their experience in sourcing lithium ion cell technology.

[9] Eberhard found out about and attempted to purchase a prototype EV sports car called the AC Propulsion tzero.

[10][11] When Cocconi declined, Eberhard co-founded (with Marc Tarpenning), and became the first CEO of Tesla Motors, an electric car company in Menlo Park, California in 2003.

Eberhard and Tarpenning had observed a common sight in the driveways of the wealthy suburb of Palo Alto, California: a conspicuously efficient Prius parked next to a high-end sportscar or luxury car such as a Porsche, a BMW or a Lexus.

"[17] Eberhard noted that while he had signed a non-disclosure agreement with Tesla, "so I must, by contract, be a bit careful about how I word things", he was not happy with the transition.

[23] In September 2016, Eberhard founded stealth-mode startup inEVit in a bid to supply major OEMs with electric drivetrains and power storage solutions.