Rather than straining the grid, the batteries in EVs can actually help to stabilize the energy grid under heavy loads. PG&E gets that, and to encourage participation in its growing V2G programs, the utility is offering GM Energy customers in its territory up to $4,500 toward qualifying home battery systems.
Expand Expanding Close
For years, Tesla Powerwall has been the go-to recommendation for “normals” looking for a painless, low-effort experience from their first home solar and battery backup solutions. But with a recent recall on more than 10,000 home batteries over fire safety concerns, more and more people are beginning to look for alternatives to the trailblazing Tesla brand. The good news: there are plenty of other great home solar battery solutions are there!
UPDATE 13NOV2025: added a new, American brand choice.
Expand Expanding Close
The US battery storage market just had its biggest quarter ever. In Q2 2025, a record 5.6 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity came online, according to the latest US Energy Storage Monitor report from the American Clean Power Association (ACP) and Wood Mackenzie.
Expand Expanding Close
The storm hit. The power’s out. With all the damage around you, it looks like you might be without power for a few days (at least). But you planned for this. You have a home backup battery. What happens now?
Expand Expanding Close
Sunrun is putting tens of thousands of home batteries to work in Puerto Rico as the island’s electric grid faces a summer of high temperatures and energy shortfalls.
Expand Expanding Close
The US energy storage market just posted its strongest Q1 ever, adding more than 2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity across all segments, according to the latest US Energy Storage Monitor from Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association (ACP).
Expand Expanding Close
Abundance Energy, sonnen, and Energywell are teaming up to bring smarter, more resilient energy to Texas homes through a huge new virtual power plant (VPP) initiative.
Expand Expanding Close
Connecticut’s home battery storage program, Energy Storage Solutions, just doubled its upfront incentive to help homeowners invest in backup power – here’s how it works.
Expand Expanding Close
Bluetti, makers of battery backup systems both large and small, have announced its modular take on the home battery backup. With the Tesla Powerwall only available to solar roof customers (and backorders up the wazoo), many are dipping their toes into vehicle or home backup systems from the likes of Bluetti.
Bluetti has announced its flagship AC300 modular backup system, the B300 modular battery, the Fusion Box Pro to connect staggering power, and also the upgraded AC200 MAX all-in-one unit.
Gas generators still own the portable, emergency home-backup power space. Ten years ago there was a lot of hope and hype for using all the energy stored inside EVs’ batteries to power your entire house, but it hasn’t come to pass. No EV maker will sell you a bidirectional charger, outside of Japan and a handful of small utility pilots.
Meanwhile, the 2020 Ford F-150 will come with the option for its own built-in, onboard gas generator. And aftermarket companies, like Indiana’s Real AC power, offer sleek, chassis-integrated generator systems (pictured above) for internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks. EV makers ceded this space for unknown reasons. But now Tesla CEO Elon Musk has teased a 240V AC power outlet on the Cybertruck, something neither Rivian nor Bollinger have announced. We don’t know how many watts we can expect, though. So will the Tesla Cybertruck finally offer EV enthusiasts a path to navigate societal collapse? Or are we stuck with settling for “head’s up, you’re going to lose power” messages?
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.
Expand
Expanding
Close