How Long Will A Tesla Powerwall 2 Last

Last Updated on July 11th, 2023

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With rising numbers of incidents causing thousands of households to lose power for days or even weeks, many people are looking into solar systems and backup power generation to keep the lights on.

On paper, Tesla claims that a single Powerwall 2 unit can easily last upwards of 20 years after the initial installation. This might sound great at first, but Tesla isn’t as confident in its products, only covering the first ten years of a Powerwall 2’s life under its warranty.

Keep reading to learn more about how to use a Tesla Powerwall 2, what you can do to extend its lifespan, and more.

How Can You Make Sure it Will Last Long?

The length of a Powerwall 2’s useful lifespan and the charge capacity it retains largely depend on how you use the product. How you use the Powerwall 2 mostly comes down to two factors:

How much charge do you use at a time
How often do you use the charge

If you’re using 100% of the Powerwall 2’s charge every day, you may have to say farewell to the unit earlier than someone who only partially discharges the home battery on rare occasions, like during a power outage.

Aside from monitoring how you use the Powerwall 2, keeping the unit clean (free of obstructions that might cause issues like overheating) can also help maintain charge capacity and its useful lifespan.

This is because overheating due to dust accumulation is the leading cause of premature deterioration of most electronics.

What Are the Things that You Should Avoid Doing?

Since the Powerwall 2’s lifespan largely comes down to how you use it, you can focus on changing your energy use habits so that you can enjoy your unit for as long as possible. With that in mind, things you should avoid doing may include:

Completely depleting the charge reserve of the Powerwall 2
Using the Powerwall 2’s charge during the day or for extended periods in general
Performing maintenance on the Powerwall 2 unit as an unqualified mechanic
Charging the Powerwall 2 with a generator that isn’t approved for compatibility by Tesla

For How Long Should You Use it Daily?

Because Powerwall 2 units aren’t available for individual sale through Tesla, you will need to install an entire solar panel system as part of the package. This means that you should be using almost exclusively solar power throughout the day if possible.

If you’re using your solar system properly and only using grid power to supplement your energy needs, you may never need to use Powerwall 2 unless there is an emergency where grid power becomes unavailable.

Otherwise, you should aim to use the Powerwall 2’s charge for a maximum of 12 hours a day when the sun has set, and no solar power is being generated.

Depending on your energy demands, the Powerwall 2 can last up to 15 hours on a single charge, but it can also be much shorter when major appliances like air conditioning are in use.

Does Tesla Powerwall 2 Lose its Capacity with Time?

Yes, as all batteries do, the Tesla Powerwall 2 will lose some of its charge capacity over time. However, Tesla fully expects the average Powerwall 2 owner to retain at least 70 percent of the battery’s charge over ten years from the date of initial installation.

Depending on your use, you may have more than 70 percent capacity after ten years. However, if you have less than 70 percent capacity before the ten years are up, Tesla’s warranty should cover a replacement or financial reimbursement of the unit.

Is Tesla Powerwall 2 Worth Buying if You Want it to Last?

Many people cite that they have no regrets about their Powerwall 2 installation and that they fully expect it to last at least 25 years. The upfront cost of a Powerwall 2 unit and full solar system can be hard to swallow, but each year you use the system lowers the cost overall.

After ten years, Powerwall 2 will continue to lose more and more of its capacity.

How useful the unit remains after ten years is entirely up to you, but chances are that battery technology will make significant progress over a decade, and a new unit may become well worth the cost.

Final Thoughts on Tesla’s Powerwall 2 Longevity

While Tesla’s warranty only covers the first ten years of a Powerwall 2’s operation, the company and its backers consider a 20 to 25 lifespan to be normal for a single unit.

The longer the system remains in proper use, the cheaper the investment becomes, which can make it well worth the cost.

Being able to keep the power on during outages is especially useful, but something like Powerwall two could be one of a select few solutions for completely independent energy systems.