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Are they allowing off-grid people to buy their batteries yet? The last time I tried to talk to them, they refused to discuss anything that was not grid-tied.

Are they allowing off-grid people to buy their batteries yet? The last time I tried to talk to them, they refused to discuss anything that was not grid-tied. In the mean time, I've been looking into LifePO4 batteries as they appear to be a little safer.

cogman10 6y ago
Unfortunately, it looks like the their home power division is taking a back seat to their car division. I really hope that changes when they get more battery capacity. That said, the sad truth is they may abandon it in favor of doing utility storage solutions :(. I'd really love to do a solar + power wall setup for my own home. If you don't go through tesla, you might be able to get a powerwall supplier to install it for an off grid solution. However, I hear powerwalls are in short supply (and for good reason, they are the cheapest storage solution on the market).
- toomuchtodo 6y ago
  > Unfortunately, it looks like the their home power division is taking a back seat to their car division. This is not accurate. Tesla's stationary storage unit is seeing unprecedented demand outstripping their supply of cells [1], and they are prioritizing deployment in geographies where they have partnerships (South Australia [2] and Vermont's Green Mountain Power territory [3], both of which are deploying distributed storage as large virtual batteries [VPPs]). Off-grid applications simply aren't a priority at this time (and there are other vendors for such applications, such as Enphase, SunPower, and Generac, who are offering stationary storage for off grid), as grid tie batteries offer more value both to electrical consumers and the electrical grid. [1] https://www.utilitydive.com/news/tremendous-demand-for-stationary-storage-outstrips-teslas-2020-supply-ca/577157/ https://www.utilitydive.com/news/tremendous-demand-for-stati... [2] https://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-vpp-expands-to-add-virtual-big-battery-to-south-australia-grid-19504/ https://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-vpp-expands-to-add-virtual... [3] https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/05/26/green-mountain-powers-battery-pilot-programs-approved-for-expansion/ https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/05/26/green-mountain-powers... EDIT @boulos: That wasn't my interpretation, but if that's the case, I hope my citations are still helpful.
  - boulos 6y ago
    Isn’t the person you’re responding to saying exactly that? Tesla is prioritizing utility storage over home storage (and your links provide helpful evidence).
  - cogman10 6y ago
    @boulos is correct. That was my bad writing :) I don't know which has a higher priority for tesla, utility or car manufacturing. It looks like both have a higher priority than the home battery distribution (hence the ever increasing price of the powerwall without increasing capacity). Powerwall remains the best choice in the market for home energy storage, if you can get one.
- hinkley 6y ago
  I wonder if logistics plays any role in this? Between miles traveled and not being able to use any mains power tools. Current and last generation cordless power tools can be pretty sweet, and the ads always show professionals using them (don't you want to play dress-up like the real adults?), but I'm never clear how deep that market penetration is. For the batteries, that's pretty terrestrial, so cords aren't that big of a problem, unless there's no power grid. I could see the solar guys being largely cordless though. I don't want to die because I tripped over your power/pneumatic lines. (also how much of this would be solved if Tesla started using their own truck for construction?)

cogman10 6y ago

Unfortunately, it looks like the their home power division is taking a back seat to their car division. I really hope that changes when they get more battery capacity. That said, the sad truth is they may abandon it in favor of doing utility storage solutions :(. I'd really love to do a solar + power wall setup for my own home. If you don't go through tesla, you might be able to get a powerwall supplier to install it for an off grid solution. However, I hear powerwalls are in short supply (and for good reason, they are the cheapest storage solution on the market).

toomuchtodo 6y ago
> Unfortunately, it looks like the their home power division is taking a back seat to their car division. This is not accurate. Tesla's stationary storage unit is seeing unprecedented demand outstripping their supply of cells [1], and they are prioritizing deployment in geographies where they have partnerships (South Australia [2] and Vermont's Green Mountain Power territory [3], both of which are deploying distributed storage as large virtual batteries [VPPs]). Off-grid applications simply aren't a priority at this time (and there are other vendors for such applications, such as Enphase, SunPower, and Generac, who are offering stationary storage for off grid), as grid tie batteries offer more value both to electrical consumers and the electrical grid. [1] https://www.utilitydive.com/news/tremendous-demand-for-stationary-storage-outstrips-teslas-2020-supply-ca/577157/ https://www.utilitydive.com/news/tremendous-demand-for-stati... [2] https://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-vpp-expands-to-add-virtual-big-battery-to-south-australia-grid-19504/ https://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-vpp-expands-to-add-virtual... [3] https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/05/26/green-mountain-powers-battery-pilot-programs-approved-for-expansion/ https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/05/26/green-mountain-powers... EDIT @boulos: That wasn't my interpretation, but if that's the case, I hope my citations are still helpful.
- boulos 6y ago
  Isn’t the person you’re responding to saying exactly that? Tesla is prioritizing utility storage over home storage (and your links provide helpful evidence).
- cogman10 6y ago
  @boulos is correct. That was my bad writing :) I don't know which has a higher priority for tesla, utility or car manufacturing. It looks like both have a higher priority than the home battery distribution (hence the ever increasing price of the powerwall without increasing capacity). Powerwall remains the best choice in the market for home energy storage, if you can get one.
hinkley 6y ago
I wonder if logistics plays any role in this? Between miles traveled and not being able to use any mains power tools. Current and last generation cordless power tools can be pretty sweet, and the ads always show professionals using them (don't you want to play dress-up like the real adults?), but I'm never clear how deep that market penetration is. For the batteries, that's pretty terrestrial, so cords aren't that big of a problem, unless there's no power grid. I could see the solar guys being largely cordless though. I don't want to die because I tripped over your power/pneumatic lines. (also how much of this would be solved if Tesla started using their own truck for construction?)