Elon Musk’s Tesla unveils Powerwall – batteries to power the home
Want to be able to power your home in the event of a blackout? US electric carmaker Tesla Motors has unveiled batteries that can power homes and businesses as it attempts to expand its business beyond electric cars.
Chief executive Elon Musk announced the firm would build batteries that store solar energy and serve as a back-up system for consumers during blackouts. The device, dubbed Tesla Powerwall, would allow consumers to get off a power grid or bring energy to remote areas that are not on a grid.
At an event near Los Angeles, Mr Musk explained the company’s strategy of using solar power: “We have this handy fusion reactor in the sky, called the sun. You don’t have to do anything; it just works.”
Tesla plans to start shipping the units to installers in the US by this summer. Musk said the move could help change the “entire energy infrastructure of the world”. “Tesla Energy is a critical step in this mission to enable zero emission power generation,” the company said in a statement.
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery unit would be built using the same batteries Tesla uses for its electric vehicles. Tesla will sell the 7kWh unit for $3,000 (£1,954), while the 10kWh unit will retail for $3,500 (£2,275) to installers.
Mr Musk said the company would partner with SolarCity to install the home batteries, but there would be more companies announced.
Want to know what Elon Musk’s ex-wife thinks of him and what made him successful. Read her astonishing rant here.
You can see the YouTube video from the launch below:
