Range Extender = Super Cheap Powerwall?

[BayouCityBob]

The range extender = 130 extra miles / 340 or ~38% of the CT battery Capacity (probably closer to 40% given the weight penalty). If the CT has a 125KWH battery pack that means the extender = 48 - 50 kwh. When operating as a V2H backup power supply that is 4.5 powerwalls or $38k worth of power walls for only $16k (installed). Seems like an excellent deal if you do not mind losing the bed space!

 

[tmeyer3]

Yuuuup. The only down side is the draw limit, but it isn't small! 3x powerwalls will have a higher output, but lower capacity. It's an interesting value comparison

 

[BayouCityBob]

Having a 175 kwh hurricane backup system is pretty darn compelling.

 

[tmeyer3]

Having a 175 kwh hurricane backup system is pretty darn compelling.

Yeah! 11kW (ish, iirc) is damn good for emergency backup.

 

[Gurule92]

I wonder if we can double dip into the home battery tax credit now.

Lawyers?

 

[cvalue13]

I wonder if we can double dip into the home battery tax credit now.

Lawyers?

no. Must be affixed to structure

 

[Gurule92]

no. Must be affixed to structure

So if I affixed my CT to my house i could get it? Just theoretically

 

[cvalue13]

The range extender = 130 extra miles / 340 or ~38% of the CT battery Capacity (probably closer to 40% given the weight penalty). If the CT has a 125KWH battery pack that means the extender = 48 - 50 kwh. When operating as a V2H backup power supply that is 4.5 powerwalls or $38k worth of power walls for only $16k (installed). Seems like an excellent deal if you do not mind losing the bed space!

i might only add that, in these terms, the RE is a “good deal” only if the power wall itself is a good deal

otherwise, it could be the problem with the pricing is that the PW is overpriced

regardless, comes down in part to whether youmre already committed to buy the truck. If you are (like you), then the truck is a sunk cost. If you’re not committed to buy the truck, then buying the truck + powerwall is a pricy way to get home power.


as a lightning owner, I can say also that there is real value to a powerwall that is not present with a V2H solution for backup power, esp if you don’t have solar.

if the truck isn’t home during an outtage, it might matter (if others are home).

if the outtage is extended, every kWh off the truck is milage you can’t use to get somewhere.

also note that we don’t yet know the limitations on the V2H for Tesla. The draw on such systems is generally limited in max output compared to some alternatives for backup (and so your backup critical loads panel has fewer things it can run at once).

all that said, I too bought the lightning nominally for the option to V2H. So I get it.

but since you’ll already have the truck’s 115kWh, I’d think hard on the incremental hike backup offerings of a RE

I mean, viewed differently, if the outrage is long enough with low confidence of return timing, you’re possibly usingthe native pack for backup power, and reserving the RE for getting the hell out of dodge

for what it’s worth, from a Lightning owner who’s seen these plans play out with Lightning owners the past 18mo or so

 

[tmeyer3]

i might only add that, in these terms, the RE is a “good deal” only if the power wall itself is a good deal

otherwise, it could be the problem with the pricing is that the PW is overpriced

regardless, comes down in part to whether youmre already committed to buy the truck. If you are (like you), then the truck is a sunk cost. If you’re not committed to buy the truck, then buying the truck + powerwall is a pricy way to get home power.


as a lightning owner, I can say also that there is real value to a powerwall that is not present with a V2H solution for backup power, esp if you don’t have solar.

if the truck isn’t home during an outtage, it might matter (if others are home).

if the outtage is extended, every kWh off the truck is milage you can’t use to get somewhere.

also note that we don’t yet know the limitations on the V2H for Tesla. The draw on such systems is generally limited in max output compared to some alternatives for backup (and so your backup critical loads panel has fewer things it can run at once).

all that said, I too bought the lightning nominally for the option to V2H. So I get it.

but since you’ll already have the truck’s 115kWh, I’d think hard on the incremental hike backup offerings of a RE

I mean, viewed differently, if the outrage is long enough with low confidence of return timing, you’re possibly usingthe native pack for backup power, and reserving the RE for getting the hell out of dodge

for what it’s worth, from a Lightning owner who’s seen these plans play out with Lightning owners the past 18mo or so

Excellent food for thought. I personally have powerwalls and with how unbelievably unreliable our power company is in our rural area, I think they're worth every penny for my family. They run the well, the furnaces, AC, water heater, EVERYTHING. So I wouldn't replace them with a vehicle for any amount of savings. But that's just my use case and needs. Having extra backup in my truck is just a big plus, but I do want that to get around with when needed.

 

[wanders]

The range extender = 130 extra miles / 340 or ~38% of the CT battery Capacity (probably closer to 40% given the weight penalty). If the CT has a 125KWH battery pack that means the extender = 48 - 50 kwh. When operating as a V2H backup power supply that is 4.5 powerwalls or $38k worth of power walls for only $16k (installed). Seems like an excellent deal if you do not mind losing the bed space!

Considering how much room the CT has, I'm not put off by losing the bed space. The only real downside is how short is makes the bed length-wide, think I would have preferred a thinner flat pack that covered the whole bed.

 

[wanders]

no. Must be affixed to structure

I mean, the battery pack is structural

 

[HaulingAss]

The range extender = 130 extra miles / 340 or ~38% of the CT battery Capacity (probably closer to 40% given the weight penalty). If the CT has a 125KWH battery pack that means the extender = 48 - 50 kwh. When operating as a V2H backup power supply that is 4.5 powerwalls or $38k worth of power walls for only $16k (installed). Seems like an excellent deal if you do not mind losing the bed space!

While I would seriously miss the big, flat bed, the bigger issue is the weight. The Cybertruck, by all accounts, drives very nicely. The additional weight of the battery, coupled with that of passengers and gear, would just ruin it for me. Tires and suspension wears faster, less capable on rugged roads and off-road, higher chances of getting flat tires, less floatation in sand, mud and wet grass, etc.

I don't want the truck's handling and off-road capability handicapped just for another 100 real-world miles that I don't even need with the ever expanding and super-fast Supercharger Network.

Additionally, it reduces towing and hauling limits.

 

[kimgu]

When there is a power outage, you can use your truck not only as a power wall, when power runs out, you can go make a quick stop at a local super charger can bring more power back!
If your home has power wall, maybe even be able to have continuous power for a long time.
(assuming outage didn’t impact super charger in your area)

 

[Coolbreeze704]

i might only add that, in these terms, the RE is a “good deal” only if the power wall itself is a good deal

otherwise, it could be the problem with the pricing is that the PW is overpriced

regardless, comes down in part to whether youmre already committed to buy the truck. If you are (like you), then the truck is a sunk cost. If you’re not committed to buy the truck, then buying the truck + powerwall is a pricy way to get home power.


as a lightning owner, I can say also that there is real value to a powerwall that is not present with a V2H solution for backup power, esp if you don’t have solar.

if the truck isn’t home during an outtage, it might matter (if others are home).

if the outtage is extended, every kWh off the truck is milage you can’t use to get somewhere.

also note that we don’t yet know the limitations on the V2H for Tesla. The draw on such systems is generally limited in max output compared to some alternatives for backup (and so your backup critical loads panel has fewer things it can run at once).

all that said, I too bought the lightning nominally for the option to V2H. So I get it.

but since you’ll already have the truck’s 115kWh, I’d think hard on the incremental hike backup offerings of a RE

I mean, viewed differently, if the outrage is long enough with low confidence of return timing, you’re possibly usingthe native pack for backup power, and reserving the RE for getting the hell out of dodge

for what it’s worth, from a Lightning owner who’s seen these plans play out with Lightning owners the past 18mo or so

The way I am looking at is that i can minimize the Powerwall count I needed for the new home I am building.

Where as I was planning on 3 Powerwalls to provide up to 7 days backup I can now do one to provide backup while I am away or going to Supercharger.

If this will work it seems like a 16k savings for my solar/backup system.

 

[cvalue13]

The way I am looking at is that i can minimize the Powerwall count I needed for the new home I am building.

Where as I was planning on 3 Powerwalls to provide up to 7 days backup I can now do one to provide backup while I am away or going to Supercharger.

If this will work it seems like a 16k savings for my solar/backup system.

3 gives you 7 days? In winter (little daylight, high draw)?

Is that Tesla’s calc, or your own that adds a realist buffer over Tesla’s calc?