Tesla’s Solar Roofs are popping up in California — even for non-employees and customers who don’t own a Tesla vehicle, CleanTechnica reported. They pointed to several Twitter posts that give us a closer look at Tesla’s much-anticipated new product and how it works in the real world.
@Tesla solar roof finished! Can’t wait to turn it on. Just waiting for my model 3 now! pic.twitter.com/JgiPNUOfCk
— tri huynh (@triduchuynh) March 28, 2018
Tesla is apparently installing their Solar Roofs in low volumes near their factory in Fremont, California, according to CleanTechnica. Twitter users who posted pictures of their roof installations listed their locations in places like nearby San Jose.
The Tesla Solar Roof is every bit as beautiful as I hoped. Hoping @PGE4Me allows us to turn it on very soon. I feel like we’re living in the future! @Tesla @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/PoAm14peFB
— Toblerone (@Toblerhaus) March 24, 2018
Related: Tesla is selling its solar products in Home Depot stores starting in July
Images from user @Toblerhaus reveal the tiles arrive in “blocks of a few tiles,” according to CleanTechnica. This could help streamline installation and wiring and lower points of failure from that wiring, which is tucked into the roof tile supports to keep it protected from sun or rain.
It’s not a great photo, but this shows an in process view. pic.twitter.com/6gm6j5Ojfw
— Toblerone (@Toblerhaus) April 2, 2018
@Toblerhaus’ images also reveal more details of the roofing process. There’s a water barrier and then a wood structure atop that serves a dual purpose: keeping that barrier down and offering a surface on which to mount the solar roof tiles. CleanTechnica said the underlayment is InterWrap‘s Titanium PSU 30, which boasts a limited lifetime warranty. Tesla’s solar roof tiles come with their own lifetime warranty, according to CleanTechnica.
— Toblerone (@Toblerhaus) April 2, 2018
Twitter user @triduchuynh shared images of an installed roof and three Powerwalls, and said they’re just awaiting their Model 3. Tesla says on their website their Solar Roof can power a whole home entirely with renewable energy when combined with a Powerwall.
Tesla Solar roof is up and running. Current output is 5.0kw on a cloudy late morning. pic.twitter.com/FMWhpIHgJ2
— Toblerone (@Toblerhaus) March 31, 2018
On March 31, @Toblerhaus said the roof was up and running, and while it was cloudy outside, the output was five kilowatts. @triduchuynh confirmed to Inhabitat on Twitter they’re still waiting for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to turn their Solar Roof on.
Via CleanTechnica
Image via Tesla