Elon Musk's new Tesla Solar Roof, which was announced in October, will apparently cost lesser than a regular roof. Cost of manufacturing and installation will be cheaper than traditional roof and that is without considering the savings in electricity bills.
At first, when Tesla and SolarCity announced the new Solar Roof, consumers wondered how expensive it would be. Of course, it would provide free electricity, but the installation and actual product cost could be way higher than normal asphalt roof. Now though, Elon Musk has a different story to tell.
Tesla Solar Roof
As Bloomberg reported, Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently told the media that the new Tesla Solar roof will cost less than regular roof. He also added that the electricity produced will be a bonus. The Solar roof tiles can power an entire house and a car. Musk stated;
So the basic proposition will be: Would you like a roof that looks better than a normal roof, lasts twice as long, costs less and-by the way-generates electricity?. Why would you get anything else?
This is really a big deal as consumers and businesses are looking into solar energy for electricity. The Solar roof tiles by Tesla look like high-end tiles and are made from textured tempered glass. These tiles will be engineered and manufactured in Tesla's own factories. It will also be stronger and much lighter than regular roof tiles. According to Mashable, this would be enough reason for consumers to buy the new roof.
How Will Tesla Keep Solar Roof Pricing Low?
So how is Tesla going to manufacture this premium product at a lower cost than regular asphalt tiles? Well, for starters, Elon Musk believes that all the cost savings will mainly come from shipping. The materials required for the Tesla Solar Roof are much easier to ship due to their weight and toughness.
The cost of shipping for regular roof tiles are high because the materials are heavy and can break during transport, which causes more loss. Also, since the customer with a solar roof is also getting free electricity, over a period of time, the Solar Roof will become even cheaper.
Tesla has still not given out any pricing details or the exact date of availability for the Solar Roof. However, it is believed that the product will be released in 2017. Whatever the case, if Elon Musk's claims are true, the Tesla Solar Roof tiles could very much change how people look at solar energy.
