Tesla has introduced its newest Powerwall, Powerwall 3
Not a Tesla App
Tesla continues its foray into home energy solutions with the highly anticipated launch of Powerwall 3, a product that pledges to redefine sustainable home energy systems. Official details emerged, painting a promising picture of the capabilities and features of the next-generation home battery.
What Sets It Apart
Building on the success of its predecessors, the Powerwall 3 retains the same 13.5 kWh energy capacity in Powerwall 2. However, the noteworthy upgrade comes in the amount of power it can provide — an increase to 11.5 kW continuous power, instead of 10 kW peak on the Powerwall 2.
The Powerwall 3 also had its on-grid power increase substantially from 5.8 kVA (4.64 kW) to 11.5 kW, both continuously.
Built-in Inverter
A major distinguishing feature is the fully integrated solar inverter with a capacity to handle up to six solar inputs, facilitating high-efficiency direct solar connections. This move showcases Tesla’s commitment to advancing clean energy solutions, setting a new benchmark in solar-to-grid energy conversion efficiency pegged at a staggering 97.5%.
Compatibility and Expansion Possibilities
While it’s built for the future, the Powerwall 3 seems to take a step back in terms of compatibility with existing setups. Tesla has clarified that this new release will not be compatible with Powerwall 2 units or other solar inverters, indicating a clear pathway Tesla envisions for its users — a one-brand ecosystem that promises seamless integration and efficiency.
Prospective buyers should note the enhanced scalability; a single unit can be easily expanded to meet growing energy demands, with a maximum additional capacity of 40.5 kWh per unit. However, it seems Tesla is looking to streamline its operations by directing new solar installations towards the Powerwall 3 while recommending Powerwall 2 for additions to existing solar setups.
Design and Installation
Tesla has slightly redesigned the Powerwall 3, making it compact yet heavier compared to its predecessor. With dimensions of 43.25 in x 24 in x 7.6 in and a weight of 287 lbs, it seeks to blend power with aesthetics. Installation includes the promise of seamless backup transition and resilience against flood and dust, adhering to North American safety and EMI standards.
Despite the buzz and some users reporting early installations, the wide-scale availability of Powerwall 3 is slated for 2024. Moreover, it will not be part of the $500 rebate offer that is currently applicable to Powerwall 2 and Powerwall+ installations happening between June 15, 2023, and October 31, 2023.
Comparing Powerwall 2 and Powerwall 3
Feature
Powerwall 2
Powerwall 3
Energy Capacity
13.5 kWh
13.5 kWh
On-Grid Power
5.8 kVA continuous
11.5 kW continuous
Backup Power
10 kW peak, 106A LRA motor start
11.5 kW continuous, 150 LRA motor start
Size (L x W x D)
45.30 in x 29.6 in x 5.75 in
43.25 in x 24.0 in x 7.60 in
Weight
251.3 lbs
287 lbs
Warranty
10 years
10 years
Scalability
Single size
Up to 40.5 kWh max addition per unit
Inverter
Not included
Included (6 solar inputs)
As Tesla prepares to roll out the Powerwall 3, prospective users are keen on the transformative features it brings to the home energy landscape. The inclusion of an integrated solar inverter and system controller stands out, promising an efficient and versatile home energy solution. However, it's not without its limitations, particularly concerning compatibility and financial incentives.
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Just over a week into the Robotaxi launch, Tesla began laying the groundwork for a more scalable remote supervision model, which will be key to achieving success with the Robotaxi Network.
About a week ago, Elon Musk posted on X that Tesla will likely reach the crucial safety threshold to enable this shift within a month or two. While that means at least another month of in-vehicle Safety Monitors, it does provide us with a timeline of what to expect.
As soon as we feel it is safe to do so.
Probably within a month or two. We continue to improve the Tesla AI with each mile driven.
This timeline came in response to a question about Tesla’s plans for the ratio of autonomous vehicles to remote supervisors. The more vehicles that a single human can supervise, the better, especially if that number can be reduced to something drastic, like a 100:1 ratio. A single human operator would be able to manage an entire city of Robotaxis, which will be critical to make the Robotaxi Network turn a profit.
While Tesla works towards that ambitious future, it is also taking immediate steps to improve the current user experience during the Austin pilot program, where 15-minute wait times have become the norm.
Solving for Wait Times
According to Eric E, one of Tesla’s principal engineers on Robotaxi, the current 15-minute wait times are a classic logistics challenge. The supply of vehicles is lower than the current demand for rides. To solve this, there’s a two-pronged solution for Tesla.
First, Tesla is directly increasing supply by hiring more Safety Monitors/Vehicle Operators in Austin, even hosting an on-site hiring event.
We're looking to hire more Vehicle Operators in Austin, TX to accelerate Robotaxi deployment. We will be hosting an onsite hiring event next Thursday. Please consider applying to the official job posting and completing this hiring event form:
Second, Tesla is working to make FSD and the Robotaxi fleet management software faster and smarter. This means they are utilizing the data from the pilot to better orchestrate the fleet by predicting demand and pre-positioning vehicles in prime locations to reduce wait times. After dropping someone off, the vehicle can start traveling to areas of higher demand, even if someone hasn’t booked a ride yet.
Next Up: Remote Supervision
These immediate fixes are all in service of that much larger goal. Scaling the Robotaxi Network isn’t just about having more cars; it’s about increasing the number of vehicles a single human can safely supervise remotely, which is a requirement for Robotaxi to turn a profit.
Elon’s comments give us this timeline. A more flexible and favorable ratio of 3:1 (although still far from the ideal 100:1) is likely to be achieved within a few months.
Tesla is committed to safety, as evidenced by the safety monitors in the vehicle. A single incident could not only tarnish the public’s view of the Robotaxi Network but could also halt Tesla’s operations altogether.
The data gathered from more Robotaxis on the road is crucial to the whole project. Tesla is gathering more data and issuing newer FSD builds specific to the Robotaxi.
As FSD requires less remote oversight per mile driven autonomously, Tesla can safely increase the number of vehicles per remote supervisor, moving the service closer to its ultimate goal.
Tesla has laid out an aggressive roadmap for the Robotaxi Network and its next few phases. We’ll have to wait and see just how this goes over the next few months, and whether they feel comfortable enough to increase the geo-fence and remove safety monitors.
Following the recent news of Grok being almost ready for Tesla vehicles, Elon Musk confirmed on X that the next major step is with Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid Robot. xAI’s advanced Grok models will eventually serve as the voice and brain for Optimus. This will be a convergence of Musk’s two biggest AI ventures — Tesla and xAI.
This will combine a physically humanoid robot - the brawn - with the new brains, Grok. This integration is more than just giving Optimus a voice - it suggests that Tesla is thinking ahead and possibly intends to use Grok to understand the environment around Optimus, while FSD will handle the robot’s movements.
The combination of Optimus and Grok creates a relationship where each component plays to its strengths.
For years, Tesla’s robotics team has been focused on the immense challenge of physical autonomy. Optimus learns complex tasks by observing humans, basically training itself through video by watching humans. This helps Optimus develop the physical dexterity needed to work in the real world. This is the brawn - the ability to navigate, manipulate objects, and perform useful work.
Grok provides the conversational brain. It adds a layer of natural language understanding, reasoning, and interaction. Instead of needing a computer, a specialized app, or pre-programming commands to give Optimus instructions, a user will be able to simply talk to it in a natural way. This makes Optimus infinitely more approachable and useful, especially for tasks in a dynamic environment, such as work or at home.
xAI and Tesla
Viewed from a different perspective, this move isn’t just about upgrading one product. It is the clearest evidence that xAI and Tesla are collaborating together to build a single, unified AI platform. Musk’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, believes Tesla and xAI will merge. Seeing Tesla and xAI both play critical roles in creating Optimus makes us believe that it may very well be the case.
Transformation to a Humanoid Robot
The confirmation of Grok in Optimus is one of the most significant milestones for the project to date. While Optimus’s ability to walk and work (and dance) is already an incredible engineering feat, it has all been physical abilities so far. Adding the ability to interact with Optimus in a human-like way will transform Grok from a machine to a true, general-purpose humanoid robot.
The ability to understand nuanced requests, ask clarifying questions, and respond intelligently is what will ultimately make Optimus a daily fixture in our lives.
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