Roofing Law

Everything You Need To Know About the Tesla Solar Roof Part 3

The Tesla solar roof was introduced in October of 2016 as the first of its kind: a sleek and beautiful roof with integrated solar technology. In Part 1 of this four-part article, we discussed Tesla’s aesthetic goals and the unique printing process. In Part 2, we provided an overview of the solar tiles’ impressive materials and technology.

Today in Part 3, our roofing lawyers in Alabama will cover the role of the Powerwall battery and the overall cost of a solar roof. In Part 4, we will conclude the series with a discussion on what to expect in the future.

Powerwall Battery

Tesla’s new model of their Powerwall battery is an upgraded version of the original Powerwall, a home battery for electricity storage. The idea is to store excess solar energy storage collected during the day for use at night.

The new version of Powerwall has over twice the original capacity, packing in 14 kilowatt-hours compared to the first model’s 6.4 kilowatt-hours. Powerwall comes with a 10-year infinite cycle warranty and built-in Tesla brand inverter. Interested buyers can use the signup form on the company’s website and put down a $500 deposit to add themselves to the waitlist. Though the Tesla brand is generally associated with progressive luxury, the updated Powerwall may be the cheapest ever lithium-ion battery for the home.

According to Musk, “The future is going to overwhelmingly be solar plus battery. They go together like peanut butter and jelly.”

Solar Roof Costs

Tesla opened reservations for their solar roofs to the public in May of 2017. Interested roof buyers could—and still can—put down a deposit of $1,000 to reserve their place on the company’s waitlist.

In the same announcement, the company said that inactive tiles would cost approximately $11 each and active tiles would be about $42. Each roof will be made of a mixture of active and inactive tiles, which Tesla will optimize in order for homeowners to get maximum value from their new investment. The company has stated that the average solar roof will cost approximately $21.85 per square foot, an estimate based on a roof comprised of 35 percent active panels and 65 percent inactive glass tiles.

If you would like to speak with a roofing attorney in Alabama, please contact us today.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.