Tesla unveiled a hefty upgrade to their Powerpack batteries.
The new battery system “provides twice the energy density” over the original Powerpack, bringing the power capacity to a hefty 200 kilowatt hours. This power could cover the electricity consumption of an average American home for about six to seven days.
The Powerwall 2 can store 14 kWh of energy, with a 5 kW continuous power draw, and 7 kW peak. The battery is warranted for unlimited power cycles for up to 10 years. It can be floor or wall mounted, inside or outside. It can be used for load shifting or back-up power.
Musk says there are three parts to the solar energy solution: generation (solar panels), storage (batteries), and transportation (electric cars). Musk’s plan is to sell all three of those products through Tesla.
The Powerpack 2 comes with a new inverter, and the press release on Tesla’s blog claims that it is the lowest cost, highest efficiency, and highest power density utility-scale inverter on the market. The inverter greatly simplifies installation of the Powerpack system and makes it compatible to multiple levels of the grid. The design of the entire system is such that while the electricity capacity is doubled, the system footprint is kept at the original level.
The new battery system is a commercial arm of Tesla’s grand launch of what they envision to be the future of energy efficiency: Powerwall, a home-oriented version of the battery, solar roofs, at-home EV chargers—all in pursuit of the “SolarCity.”
With nearly 300 MWh of Tesla batteries deployed to over 18 countries, it’s a future that seems to be steadily ahead.
Keep goin Elon. Still a factor of 5 higher electric power density of this kind of batteries and the world and its climate may be saved. And Elon, if you can increase the efficiency of solar panels as well, go ahead as well. Your TEsla car is the just one of the many downstream apps for the PV panel and Powerpack battery tandem. Try to make history, you’re on the right track.
Roy
As well as solar (PV) roofs, don’t forget PV panels on walls, and windows that combine PV technology with shading. The greater the PV output, of course, the disproportionately greater need for energy storage. The economic value of all this is huge, as well as life-saving!
Indeed Tony , thank you for your input.