Tesla started testing the Powewall, its home battery system, with “pilot customers” last summer. At the time, a Tesla spokesperson told Electrek that the 7 kWh version of the battery pack was in production and that over the next few weeks they would “continue to ramp up to volume production”, but a few weeks later, the company moved the production line of its Tesla Energy products to the Gigafactory in Nevada, which delayed the ramp up of production.
The 10 kWh version of the Powerwall was supposed to follow a few months later.
The 7 kWh Powerwall cost $3,000 and is designed for daily cycling, while the 10 kWh version, which costs $3,500, has a different battery chemistry optimized for weekly cycling, making it more appropriate for backup power.
When Tesla announced the premature move of production to the Gigafactory, the company also said that it would accelerate the ramp up during the first quarter of 2016 and apparently, Tesla already started shipping the home battery as evidenced by sightings of custom crates made for the Powerwall:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BAPLQnOnuHq/?tagged=powerwall
Tesla will focus the first deliveries in markets where electricity rates are high. Germany, Australia and South Africa have been mentioned has potential early markets for the company’s energy division to focus on .
Some US markets will also have early access to the Powerwall. Green Mountain Power (GMP), an electric utility servicing 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont, announced that it will receive 500 units over the first few months of 2016.
The company also sells Powerpacks; scalable 100 kWh battery packs for commercial and utility-scale projects. Tesla already inked a few Powerpack deals including a project with 3 high schools in San Diego and a 500 MWh supply agreement with Advanced Microgrid Solutions.
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One of Tesla’s problems is that they “delay the ramp up to production” too often. I assume that’s largely Elon’s doing.
That may work well for SpaceX but not for cars & battery packs, especially when you need cash so badly.
it’s a great idea of a powerwall, but how does the powerwall store electricity in the unit in order to distribute to the home?
Its a wall mounted battery. When power is cheap, you charge. When power is expensive, the Power Wall discharges power into your home to provide your energy needs.
I plan to install 2-3. Combined with our 10kW rooftop solar array, I should be able to generate and store all the power our home needs and charge our Tesla.
Is that worth it? Your initial outlay is going to be almost $14k to get 3 PowerWalls bought & installed.
The cost isn’t much of a factor for me. I’m here to help advance the technology to benefit society.
I purchased my Tesla Roadster in 2010 and although the cost was excessive, it helped pave the way for Tesla to be the powerhouse it is today. I believe in Elon’s vision for a carbon-free society.
Being long Elon Musk have proven to be a profitable investment for me.