Tesla, a company that is synonymous with electric vehicles, has announced something new over the weekend. It isn’t a new electric vehicle, but it is something that could have a great impact to the whole “renewable energy” industry.
This new thing that Tesla announced is called the Powerwall 2, and it is Tesla’s own line of solar panels with integrated batteries. Tesla vision for this device is simple: residential homeowners will use the Powerwall 2 to replace their entire roof, allowing them to harness solar energy to be used as electricity. The Powerwall 2 is made of a textured glass tile with integrated solar sells. While it looks like a regular roof tile, these panels are completely transparent to the sun. The tiles themselves are hydrographically printed, which, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, makes each tile unique.
The Powerwall 2 will also come with an updated battery system, allowing it to store 12kWh of energy with a 5kW continuous power draw. Addtionally, the battery comes with a 10 year warranty, and can be mounted on the floor or the wall, either indoors or outdoors. The solar panels themselves will come in variations such as Textured Glass Tile, Slate Glass Tile, Tuscan Glass Tile, and Smooth Glass Tile.
Source: The Verge
