Oh, I know a few things on the subject.
I built my own 100 KWH (storage capacity) solar system (infinitely expandable), and I also build small electric vehicles.
Have followed Tesla’s technology from since it was mere vapor ware.
And I’m looking forward with hope that the battery plant in Nevada will improve the technology and lower the price point of high capacity lithium cells.
But this is at best a small step forward, not a game changer.
I guess that’s the point of my original post. Yes, this battery moves in the right direction, but all the breathless reports I’ve seen today are heralding this as some seismic change. It isn’t from what I can tell.
And that’s my problem with Musk and Tesla. Like Apple, people seem to faint and worship upon hearing anything that emanates from them. I just don’t get it. And Musk, IMO, seems to be a guy who has a history of hyping everything to get government money and publicity.
Yeah, it’s great we may get to where we all would like to be with batteries, but this is just a garden variety lithium battery supersized for capacity, that’s it.
I understand.
The software that monitors usage and costs is really cool.
Theoretically, the batteries could store power from the grid during “Off-peak” rates and power the home during the higher cost periods.
When that is supplemented with solar etc, it could make a huge difference.
Net, net, it takes a burden away from the power companies and reduces costs for everyone.
I haven’t been following it that much, but to me it seems everything Musk does is for the eventual purpose of building his dream city on Mars. I think that is why in other things he is ignoring hydrogen fuel cells or using parachute retrieval for his rocket booster - Mars does not have abundant water and parachutes don’t work well there. Or maybe I am just a conspiracy theorist.