Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a much anticipated announcement at an event in Los Angeles on Friday. He unveiled an integrated roof and storage product. Here are some of the main details. You can also watch the full presentation below.
Solar roof
Tesla and SolarCity’s new solar roof is meant to be beautiful and efficient, “making homes look better while creating an efficient roof. Musk said the roof is meant to cost less than a traditional roof plus the cost of electricity, and last longer. Though the tiles look like shingles they’re actually made of durable glass. This allows light to pass through to solar cells underneath. If the acquisition goes through, Tesla wants Panasonic to produce these cells, while Tesla assembles the tiles and other components.
Tesla said customers would be able to choose which sections of their roof will contain the hidden solar cells while still having the entire roof look the same. Tiles come in textured glass, slate glass, Tuscan glass and smooth glass to complement a variety of architectural styles.
Powerwall 2
Tesla’s plan is to combine the solar roof with its Powerwall 2 to power an entire home with 100% renewable energy.
On Thursday, Tesla announced the Powerwall 2, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery designed to enable self-consumption of solar power, emergency backup, load shifting and other grid service applications. It is the second generation of Tesla’s original Powerwall product, which was first introduced to customers in 2015.
Powerwall 2 consists of a 14 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, liquid thermal control system, an integrated inverter and software that intelligently dispatches electricity when it’s needed most. The unit mounts on a wall or on the ground, indoors or outdoors, and is integrated with the grid to export excess energy, maximizing the opportunity for economic benefit.
Powerwall 2 specs:
- Mounting: Wall or Floor Mounted, Indoor/Outdoor
- Inverter: Fully integrated Tesla inverter
- Energy: 14 kWh
- Power: 5 kW continuous, 7 kW peak
- Round Trip Efficiency: 89% for AC Powerwall, 91.8% for DC Powerwall
- Operating Temperature Range: –20°C to 50°C (–4°F to 122°F)
- Warranty: Unlimited cycles for up to 10 years
- Dimensions: 1150 mm x 755 mm x 155 mm (45.3 in x 29.7 in x 6.1 in)
- Weight: 122 kg (269 lbs)
While Tesla moved to buy SolarCity this summer, the deal is contingent on shareholder votes on November 17.