Is the Tesla Powerwall the Best Solar Battery Available?
Tesla’s Powerwall is one of the hottest home solar batteries on the market. With this article, our goal is to help you answer that question. We have put together all of the information that you need to know about the Powerwall and how it stacks up to the competition so that you can make a final decision about whether or not to buy one. Keep reading to learn more.
Tesla Powerwall Overview
The Powerwall is Tesla’s home battery option. Its purpose is to enable homeowners with solar energy panels to store the excess power that those panels generate for later use.
This allows the homeowner to continue using solar energy to power their home even when the sun isn’t shining, which reduces their reliance on the electric grid and saves them money.
Tesla began developing the Powerwall in 2012 and first announced the product in 2015. The company has since released several updated versions of the Powerwall and continues to add new functionality to the home battery to make it more responsive to the varying needs of homeowners who rely on solar energy to power their homes.
Latest Tesla Powerwall Updates
Tesla is a company that’s known for innovation. In this section, we will take a look at how Tesla is continuously innovating its Powerwall product line and what those innovations mean for consumers.
Number Installed
Tesla’s latest update shows that the company has now installed over 200,000 Powerwall battery packs across the globe.
200,000 is a very big number when it comes to home batteries. For example, one of Tesla’s main competitors is a German energy storage company called Sonnen. They’ve been installing home batteries in consumers’ homes for more than 10 years and have only installed about 60,000 batteries.
This data shows that Tesla’s Powerwall is one of the most popular residential energy storage options on the market today.
Powerwalls Now Only Available to Tesla Solar Customers
The market demand for Tesla’s home battery is quite high. It currently exceeds Tesla’s manufacturing capabilities by a solid margin.
Because of that, Tesla recently announced that it would only offer Powerwalls to customers who also purchase solar panels from Tesla. Note, the policy is currently only in effect in the United States.
Tesla Powerwall Cost Overview
One of the biggest complaints about Tesla’s Powerwall is how much it costs. Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has said that the price of Powerwall will drop by half within the next few years. However, Tesla has increased the price of its home battery twice over the past year.
The company doesn’t provide prices for its Powerwalls alone. Instead, it provides quotes that cover the entire cost of the Powerwall and the charges for installing it.
One thing to keep in mind is that you save money on each successive Powerwall that you purchase. For example, look at the following table to figure out how much you would pay for the number of Powerwalls that you want in your home:
| Number of Powerwalls | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $10,500 |
| 2 | $17,000 |
| 3 | $23,500 |
| 4 | $30,000 |
Tax Incentives for Installing a Tesla Powerwall
Many U.S. consumers will be able to save some money on their Tesla Powerwall by applying for tax credits after making their purchase. The most common incentive pursued by consumers who buy Tesla Powerwalls is the 26% Federal Tax Credit for adding solar power to your home.
You may also qualify for some state tax incentives after installing a Powerwall. For example, residents of California can qualify for the SGIP Incentive, which may cut the cost of your battery purchase by a third.
Tesla Powerwall Installation Process
Tesla splits the guidance that it provides for the Powerwall installation process into three parts: pre-installation, installation day, and post-installation. We will take a look at all three of those steps in this section.
Pre-Installation
After purchasing a Tesla Powerwall, you need to complete a site survey. This provides the installation team with the information they need to install your Powerwall optimally.
You have the option of completing a survey on your own with Tesla’s self-survey option or by having a site supervisor come out to your home to do the job for you.
Once the site survey is done, Tesla will analyze the information that you’ve provided and will come up with the best way to integrate the Powerwall into your home energy system.
Next, you will need to prepare the place where the Powerwall will be installed for the installation team. This is typically a simple process, which just involves making sure that the team will have access to all of the space that they need when they arrive.
Installation Day
Tesla asks that you be home on installation day. Typically, the process involves 2-3 installers arriving at your home in the morning.
The amount of time that it takes the workers to complete your installation will vary based on the complexity of your electrical system, the size of your home, and the number of Powerwalls that you have ordered.
That being said, Tesla says that most customers will want to play for the power being out for approximately 4-6 hours. But that number could go up to 8+ hours if your job is a complex one.
Post-Installation
After the installation is completed, you just need to connect the Powerwall to your Tesla app to begin using it. This is a very simple process, which just involves downloading the Tesla app on your smartphone, creating an account, and linking your Powerwall to the app.
Waiting Time for Tesla Powerwall
The wait time for a Tesla Powerwall can be as long as 3-4 months during peak installation months. But this number is constantly in flux. The length of time that you will need to wait will vary based on when you purchase the Powerwall, where you’re located, and how Tesla’s supply chain looks when you place your order.
As a general rule of thumb, you should expect to wait at least 1-2 months to get your Tesla Powerwall installed and possibly longer than that if the factors discussed above are not in your favor.
How the Tesla Home Battery Compares to Others
Tesla’s Powerwall is the most popular home battery option on the market today. However, it is not the only option. To make sure that you get the best deal and the right battery for your home’s energy needs, it is important to compare the Powerwall to some of your other options.
To make that easier for you, we’ve put together the following table. It compares the key technical specs of the Tesla Powerwall to other popular home battery options:
| Specification | Tesla Powerwall | PWRcell | LG Chem RESU | Sonnen Core | Enphase Encharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usable Capacity | 13.5 kWh | 8.6 kWh - 17.1 kWh | 9.3 kWh | 10 kWh | 3.6 kWh - 10.08 kWh |
| Continuous Power | 5.0 kW | 3.4 kW - 6.7 kW | 5.0 kW | 4.8 kW | 1.28 kW - 3.84 kW |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Starting Price | $10,500 | $9,999 | $5,000 (excluding installation) | $9,500 | $5,000 |
Tesla Powerwall FAQs
How much is a Tesla Powerwall battery?
The starting price for a Tesla home battery is $10,500. But your price per Powerwall will go down some for each successive battery that you choose to add to your home.
How long does the Tesla Powerwall last?
Tesla Powerwalls have a lifespan of approximately 10 years. When fully charged, they will keep the average home powered for about 24 hours.
Can a Tesla Powerwall power a home?
Yes, a Tesla Powerwall can power a home but only for a limited amount of time. The average household will be able to completely power their home with a fully charged Powerwall for about 24 hours.
Can a Tesla Powerwall be charged by a generator?
No, it’s not currently possible to charge a Tesla Powerwall with a generator because Powerwalls don’t connect directly to generators. However, you can charge a Powerwall with electricity that’s pulled from the grid instead of your solar panels.
Can I use a Tesla Powerwall without solar?
It is technically possible to use a Tesla Powerwall without solar panels. You would do so by charging the Powerwall with electricity from the grid instead of electricity from a solar system. However, Tesla no longer sells its Powerwalls to customers who aren’t also purchasing a solar system.
Is the Tesla Powerwall Really Worth it?
Tesla Powerwalls are generally thought to be a smart investment for several key reasons. The first is that Powerwalls enable you to utilize your excess solar energy to power your home at night. This saves you from having to pull electricity from the grid and has the potential to significantly reduce your monthly energy bill.
Tesla Powerwalls also help homeowners achieve energy independence. Using one in combination with solar panels will virtually end your reliance on utility providers and electrical companies in your area.
Finally, Tesla Powerwalls also help you minimize your carbon footprint even more than what would be possible with solar panels alone. Home batteries like the Powerwall make it possible to power your home without having to rely on fuel-generated electricity at all.
Is the Tesla Powerwall the Best Solar Battery Available?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The Tesla Powerwall offers a compelling blend of power and price, which puts it among the leading home battery options in the industry.
At the same time, there are both cheaper and more powerful energy batteries available. Buying a home battery from another company could also reduce your installation wait time significantly.
For some customers, the Tesla Powerwall will offer the best combination of price, technical specifications, and warranty. But others may find more value in either cheaper home batteries or options with more capacity.
