Tesla will build and sell its own line of solar tiles and updated battery storage system, the billionaire entrepreneur announced at a press event at Universal Studios in Los Angeles.
In his presentation, Musk showed off Tesla’s glass solar roof panels that eliminate the need for traditional tiles. They would look far better than any similar product, according to Musk. The new tiles can be manufactured in a range of styles: Textured Glass Tile, Tuscan Glass Tile and Slate Glass Tile. Musk says that Tesla’s tiles are much more durable than conventional roof ones.
Residential homeowners would replace their entire roof with solar tiles connected to an updated long-lasting home battery, called Powerwall 2, which allows homes to be entirely powered by solar energy. The Powerwall 2 battery pack is an improved version of the original Powerwall, which has only about half of the storage capacity of the new product. The Powerwall 2 is a home battery unit that is able to store enough electricity to power a four-bedroom home for a whole day. The Powerwall 2 will produce unlimited power cycles for up to 10 years. The generator can be floor or wall mounted, inside or outside.
The products are developed in conjunction with SolarCity. Electric car maker Tesla is currently attempting to acquire SolarCity for $2.6 billion and its shareholder vote for a SolarCity merger is scheduled for November 17. Musk calls it “a fundamental part of achieving differentiated product strategy.”
