Tesla’s next innovation could take you off the electric grid. The tony car manufacturer is planning to unveil a new lithium-ion battery pack that homeowners could buy to store and supply their own energy, CEO Elon Musk said during an earnings call Wednesday.
“We have the design done, and it should start going into production in about six months or so,” Musk said.
Details on the batteries were sparse, but an obvious use case would be placing them in homes equipped with solar panels to store excess energy. Solar energy company SolarCity already offers Tesla battery packs in some markets that customers can use to store energy and use as a kind of emergency generator. Musk is the chairman of SolarCity and its largest shareholder.
In addition to selling to residential customers, Tesla could also sell batteries to utilities trying to increase energy efficiency. Tesla’s chief technology officer said the company was talking to “almost all” the utilities currently experimenting with battery storage technology.
Check Out the Coolest Cars From the 2015 Detroit Auto Show
Acura introduces the new NSX at the (NAIAS) on January 12, 2015 in Detroit.Scott Olson—Getty ImagesThe Mercedes-Benz F 015 Coupe is presented during the media preview at the Cobo Arena on Jan. 12, 2015 in Detroit.Uli Deck—dpa/CorbisSmart shows off their Electric Drive Coupe during the media preview on Jan. 13, 2015 in Detroit.Scott Olson—Getty ImagesChevrolet unveils a new concept car bolt during a press preview on Jan. 12, 2015 in Detroit.Bao Dandan—Xinhua Press/CorbisThe Infinity Q60 concept car is displayed during the press preview on Jan. 13, 2015 in Detroit.Jewel Samad—AFP/Getty ImagesFord Motor Co., Executive Chairman Bill Ford, left, and President and COO Mark Fields stand next to the new Ford GT on Jan. 12, 2015 in Detroit.Carlos Osorio—APThe Honda Motor Co. UNI-CUB B personal mobility device is demonstrated on Jan. 13, 2015 in Detroit.Bloomberg/Getty ImagesToyota shows off their FT-1 concept car during the media preview on Jan. 13, 2015 in Detroit.Scott Olson—Getty ImagesThe Bentley GT Speed Convertible is displayed at the Mercedes exhibit on Jan. 13, 2015 in Detroit.Bill Pugliano—Getty ImagesHarkening back to the Sixties, the Touring Carrozzeria explores the idea of an Italian Barchetta merged with a British sports car in the MINI Superleggera Vision. Jan. 12, 2015 in Detroit.Car Culture/CorbisLexus unveils its 2016 GS F during a press preview on Jan. 13, 2015 in Detroit.Bao Dandan—Xinhua Press/CorbisScheduled for release in 2016, the Infiniti Q60 Coupe will have a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 in a stunning aluminum body on Jan. 12, 2015 in Detroit.Car Culture/CorbisAcura introduces the new NSX on Jan. 12, 2015 in Detroit.Scott Olson—Getty Images
