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Comment by Xt-6 | Hacker News Reader

You can find much cheaper batteries. But they will require additional components that are included in the Powerwall, will be less integrated, less pretty to look at, the mobile apps not as pretty, more complex to purchase, etc

Example 30kw for $8k. https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-ll-s-lithium-batteries-kit-30... or https://batteryhookup.com/products/new-24-56kwh-lifepo4-batt...

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I vaguely recall a youtube comparison of "Ford F-150 lightning vs 3x Tesla Powerwall" and that the lightning was a better deal for the same amount of backup, even if you left it parked. (Different spot on the curve, you can't buy a third of an F-150... but at the time, actually getting 3 powerwalls actually delivered was a challenge too.) So there are definitely opportunities to push the consumer price down quite a bit further...

I'm still surprised that there isn't a remotely affordable consumer friendly solution for "I want these batteries to take over when my power goes out". I don't need an app or something pretty to look at. I want to insert my credit card and a couple weeks later someone has installed it in my house and I rarely have to think about it again.

> there isn't a remotely affordable consumer friendly solution for "I want these batteries to take over when my power goes out".

That's called a UPS. You can buy them in stores. Closer fit for this purpose might be solar-charging portable power stations, which are also COTS hardware that similarly costs a few hundred dollars each.

Anything more elaborate than that needs to be wired into your breaker box, requiring licensed electricians and inspections. Not terribly expensive, though. Installing an automatic transfer switch in your home is pretty common in rural areas with frequent power outages, for generator installations.

The fancy app is just something extra you get for close to no cost. Vertical integration is where Tesla is really strong at. An app or something pretty to look at is almost guaranteed once you get the rest right, IMHO.

But the mobile apps and local administration might be far more functional than a Powerwall. “Pretty” apps are not necessarily useful apps.

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