Toyota Motor Corporation Japan has unveiled a home battery storage system that will compete with the popular Tesla Powerwall.
Called O-Uchi Kuden systemThis Toyota Home battery pack uses battery technology used in its hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen fuel-cell and battery-electric vehicles.
Japanese pre-orders for the Toyota Home Battery Storage System have already begun, with sales expected to begin in August 2022. At this stage the product is expected to be only for the Japanese market.
The O-Uchi Cuden system has power 8.7kWh And an output 5.5kWh. It is not clear what type of battery chemistry this system uses.
“It ensures safety and provides electricity to the whole house, not only under normal circumstances, but also during power outages due to natural disasters,” Toyota said.
The overall capacity of this Toyota Home battery pack is smaller than the 13.5kWh Tesla Powerwall, although its output rate is almost identical.
It’s unclear if you can link these Toyota Home battery packs to the way Tesla Powerwalls stack them. For context, you can stack up to 10 powerwalls to add battery power.
Owners can also connect a home solar panel system that “provides the right amount of electricity based on customer demand throughout the day and night”.
The Home Battery Pack also acts as a two-way charger, meaning an EV can power your home in an emergency during a power outage. It is rated at 100V AC.
This is not something that Tesla offers with its Powerwall system, but other home battery systems offer two-way charging.
Owners can monitor what the Toyota O-Uchi Kyuden system is doing in real-time with a dedicated app available on smartphones and tablets. Currently only available in Japanese.
The Toyota Home Battery Pack system must be installed outside and can operate at temperatures ranging from -20 ° C to 45 C.
Previously built the Mercedes-Benz home battery system, but in 2018 the influential Tesla left the market to think of a lesser competitor.
Using its EV battery technology for a second purpose in the world of automakers, Nissan recently revealed that it has launched a trial using a rebuilt Nissan Leaf battery at a rail crossing in Japan.
Like the Toyota Home battery pack, it is designed for use in emergency events such as power outages and maintenance tasks.