The first electric cars were slow, ugly, and generally uninspiring machines, but thanks to companies like Tesla, they’re the hottest thing on the market in 2016. Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants to see a similar transformation happen to solar, and at a special event in Los Angeles, he explained how.
As part of a joint collaboration between Tesla and SolarCity, Tesla unveiled a new solar roof design that Musk claimed will be cheaper, more durable, and better insulating than a normal roof, while also looking better and transforming the home it sits atop.
“Why would you buy anything else?” Musk asked.
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Tesla is currently attempting to acquire SolarCity and shareholders of both companies will vote on the acquisition in November, so concrete pricing and availability info wasn’t discussed at the event. Musk did reveal that the tiles would be made from textured glass with integrated solar cells though, and while they are transparent to the sun, they appear opaque at an angle and look almost identical to a standard roof from the ground. A number of different versions are planned, including Textured Glass Tile, Slate Glass Tile, Tuscan Glass Tile, and Smooth Glass Tile.
Musk provided no details on pricing or availability, unfortunately.
Solar roofs are great, but the question remains — how will you store all this energy? Tesla has a solution for that too, because Musk also showcased the Powerwall 2.0 in Los Angeles. The new unit can store 14kWh of energy with a 5kW continuous power draw and a 7kW peak. Not only is this double the energy density of the first Powerwall, the system is scalable up to 9 units for larger homes and businesses.
The end goal is a three-tiered system where customers generate their own energy with a solar roof, store that energy with a Powerwall, and commute around town with an electric car. Tesla calls this the zero-emission lifestyle, and while we’re still a ways away from realizing it, we’re certainly getting closer.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.
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