The announcement came at an event that was designed to persuade shareholders to back Tesla’s $2.2 billion purchase of Solar City, the largest producer of rooftop solar panels in the US. The move will help Tesla to produce the high quality, incredibly durable roof tiles in an effort to make sustainability a priority in the housing world. What else do you need to know about the Tesla Solar Roof? Check it out below!
Serious Sustainability
As everyone knows at this point, Elon Musk’s goal has been to provide sustainability to everyone. While Tesla’s electric cars are helping, they don’t provide the full on, 100 percent sustainability that is needed to save the planet. The Tesla Solar Roof takes a huge step in that direction by providing a source of renewable energy that will last longer than an afternoon. From sun to roof to car, this cycle of sustainability creates the perfect solution to energy consumption.
Four Unique Materials
While you might be worried about the style and integrity of your roof, the Tesla Solar roof comes in four tiles that look exactly like a typical roof. With everything from smooth and textured to Tuscan and slate, you’ll be able to keep decor in mind when you’re taking your energy consumption seriously. Are they durable? Of course they are! With a texture glass that is “strong as steel,” these solar tiles can withstand a lifetime of snow, sleet, and hail. And when the weather outside is frightful, these tiles even have heating capabilities that will keep your home safe from the elements.
Affordability
Tesla has been all about affordability since exploding onto the market. They wanted to make electric cars affordable for everyday consumers. Now, with the advent of the Tesla Solar Roof, affordability is becoming even more of a sincere possibility. According to Musk, the price of these tiles is more affordable than a regular roof combined with the cost of utilities. While this is merely a claim right now, Musk has been pretty good about keeping his promises when it comes to price.
The Powerwall 2
The announcement was not only focused on the Tesla Solar Roof. In order to make the solar roof more practical, Tesla also announced the second iteration of the Powerwall, a more affordable, larger version of the first. It’s capacity (14 kilowatt per hour) is double the former model and costs $500 less to install ($6,500).
The End of 2017
While estimates are not precise, Musk insisted that this kind of technology would be available for consumer purchasing by the end of 2017. Yes, you’ll see quite a few Marvel movies in that time, but the timeline is still fairly impressive when you consider the long term implications of sustainability on this scale.
