Tesla is very busy improving energy density, and by so doing, reducing overall costs for batteries. I have approached this cost by recovering batteries from dead lap top battery packs, and building my own 24 volt battery banks.
Image from article:
https://cleantechnica.com/2018/06/09/100-kwh-tesla-battery-cells-this-year-100-kwh-tesla-battery-packs-in-2020/
Article on density and cost improvements:
https://cleantechnica.com/2018/06/09/100-kwh-tesla-battery-cells-this-year-100-kwh-tesla-battery-packs-in-2020/
Their focus, as it should be; is cost reduction of batteries for automotive use. The spin off benefit is that as batteries become a more effective fuel source, they also will be more cost effective for fixed location (off grid) power uses. Homesteaders need to watch Tesla, and replace lead acid batteries before they wear out; with long life high power batteries!
“We think at the cell level probably we can do better than $100/kWh maybe later this year … depending upon [stable] commodity prices…. [W]ith further improvements to the cell chemistry, the production process, and more vertical integration on the cell side, for example, integrating the production of cathode and anode materials at the Gigafactory, and improved design of the module and pack, we think long-term we can get below $100/kWh at the pack level. Which is really the key figure of merit for a car. But long-term meaning definitely less than 2 years.”
This will rock the fixed power world too, so be ready!
Given that Elon Musk said that in 2 years time (2020) the battery pack cost per kWh will likely achieve the cost point that the cell cost will achieve later this year (2018) — and estimating that the pack adds around 30% to the cost — we can see that Tesla remains on an approximate 15% per year cost reduction curve. Going forward, if it can maintain this trajectory (and there is every indication that it can and is determined to), Tesla will pass pack-level costs of $90/kWh in 2021, and $60/kWh in 2023.
I have a good Friend in Florida running his house off of a 5kw Tesla Car battery. He wants to add another to add AC to his Off grid house. This might be his next battery upgrade.
We need to watch, especially those who have lead acid batteries; for cost effective replacements as the old battery types as they sulfide and begin to fail. The biggest advantage is that you will not have to have any special expertise with battery management systems to use a factory battery pack. You will still gain the long life expectancy of the LiIon battery technology.
Technology keeps giving us more options, and we need to keep our eyes open, to make use of them to our best advantage.
Awesome news. I've been looking into options for a little while now...Seems like things might be progressing in the right direction.
I have been recovering good cells from exhausted laptop batteries for a couple of years. Each cell is about 10 watts at a sustainable rate of discharge, and I will stack six initially to make a 24 volt 60 watt battery. I will parallel eight of these in an assembly for a 480 watt battery. I have enough salvaged for 19 of these assemblies so far with a couple of more assemblies worth. still untested.
That said, I would LOVE to get my hands on some of these to add to my current battery bank! I want 24kw of battery storage for my off grid system to start with.
If I don't have enough battery storage by the time to move, I will buy some lead acid to fill in while I salvage more LiIon cells. Then I can slowly change them out, and move the lead acid into my greenhouse to use them up there. Life is NOT boring, keep on homesteading, LOL!
:)>Sounds like you've got it worked out pretty well. I'm nowhere near as advanced, or skilled, in this area. I have a solar array but no storage just yet. My wife't uncle and aunt live completely off-grid though and they have a huge battery bank, lead acid.
They live on the beach so harvest from the sea and grow a few things in pots but barter and trade seafood for other things. They supplement from the store of course, but overall manage to be reasonably self-sufficent depending on the season. We go up there (4.5 hours away) a few times a year and it's pretty cool to see the set up.
I am probably moving in a few years and will set up a storage system for power at that property for sure...So, I hope the tech gets cheaper and better! 😊
I have a small advantage, I am a EE, and studied alternate energy at school. I have always been fascinated by making my own power.
Adding a wind generator in parallel with your panels will give you a more robust system since the wind will pick up when the panels reduce.
The property we bought already is on grid, but I want to fire them, LOL! I plan to put in several RV parking spots on the south end of the property for sustained income, since we are very close to a Large lake.
I plan to dig a wallipini greenhouse with an earth battery for climate control. I will drill a well for water, with the proximity of the lake, I will hit at about 60 feet.
Best of luck on the homestead! Let me know if you have questions on the power system setup.
:)>I'm an EE too, would you believe! No, actually that's a lie damn it! 😂
My bro is an EE and graduates as a nautical engineer this weekend too so I have some expertise around I suppose, he lives 4,500km away though - That's the issue.
It sounds like you have some great plans and a great spot! I'm not jealous at all...OK, that's another lie, I am. Seriously though, I'd love to do something like that but without the technical expertise it means paying people and that means money. I'm a millionaire though...Yep, lying again...I'm not a millionaire and so only have so much available. I have got some skills though and we do what we can, when we can.
Who knows, maybe one day my brother will come back and together we'll get something happening on this front.
Find the dirt, and I will help walk you through it. I will be posting as I build, it is not too hard. Building the battery might be a little extreme, but the rest is just wiring up modules.
You will need panels, charge controllers, battery, and output inverters. I plan to use 24 volts to reduce the DC current required to run the inverters. But 12 volts is the most common voltage, and it works fine. I plan to run AC from my system, so voltage efficiency is more important to me.
Get it close, then invite the brother to come visit....
:)>We have talked about it, my brother and I and have some loose plans...I've been keen for a long time. Thanks for the offer of expertise...Much appreciated!
That's great news I'd they get that cost way down.
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I plan to start wirh 24,000 watts of 24 volt batteries to power my house.
This would be a livable cost to buy all new....
:)>That would be fantastic if you can do that :)
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I am close to 10,000 watts of recovered batteries today, so I am getting closer now. Working on the mechanical stackup, and already have the BMS (battery management system) here to control them.
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:)>It would be nice if they could reduce the weight too.
That is part of the cost savings, less material needed. This is a good upgrade!
:)>So these new ones are alot lighter too?
Yes, costs are improved by better power to weight ratios, which reduces the amount of material required.
:)>Just think where they'll be in 10 or 15 years, do you have any idea or is that above your paygrade?
At this rate, they should push it under $50, but they will be at the limit of this technology. It will slowly be taken over by solid Sodium Ion solid electrolyte batteries that I posted on about six months ago. Less energy density, but the cost should be much lower, maybe in the $20 range.
The right course would be the Vanadium Redox flow battery, if they get smart.
:)>What in the world is the Vanadium Redox flow battery?