Tesla Solar Roofs
Tesla's electric car, Powerwall and solar roof are shown by Tesla Motors Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk, unveiling new energy products aimed at illustrating the benefits of combining his electric car and battery maker with solar installer SolarCity Corp, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. on October 28, 2016. Reuters/Nichola Groom

Latest reports suggest that Tesla solar roofs can now be pre-ordered in Australia. Installations will begin in 2018. But it is a good time to pre-order the panels now.

It has long been thought that Tesla’s roof tiles will be perfect for Australian homes. Many have been holding off renovations in the hope of installing these panels. Finally, the time has come to get ones hands on the panels. Tesla Australia in a blog post has stated why these panels are a must for every household. These panels will be one’s own source of power and energy self-sufficiency. The roof will also be significantly stronger. Moreover, in the long run, after cost savings are taken into account, these panels won’t be more expensive than normal roofs.

Australian experts are doing analysis of the costs and how these roofs will fit into the roofing market Down Under, Gizmodo Australia reports. A reserved slot for 2018 installation of the Tesla solar panels will cost approximately $1,310 in Australia. US Consumer Reports currently pegs the price of these panels at US$21.85 per square foot. The company says that without any solar subsidies and incentives, a roof with 35 percent solar panels will be more than cost competitive when compared to a regular roof over its lifespan.

Tesla is trying to be fully upfront with the costs involved with the help of a cost calculator. Buying roofs through dealership can be way more harrowing than buying a car. Moreover, if the Tesla solar panels are hooked to a Powerwall, one will be storing generated electricity and may reuse it when the sun goes down. People can literally charge an electric car directly from the roof. The excess is diverted into the battery energy storage, which can be used to power the rest of the house.

Both solar and non-solar panels will be available in the same design. The solar ones are way more expensive because of the circuitry involved. Users simply need to choose the number of solar panels that their house requires. The rest can be non-solar panels. If someone wants to have an entire roof of Tesla solar panels that would definitely cost a lot. However, the investment will pay off in the long run. Tesla has also assured that the solar panels are more durable than regular roofing tiles and at least three times stronger.

In fact, the Tesla solar shingles are the most durable roof available. They also are half the weight of regular roofs and without asphalt and concrete degradation. These Tesla solar panels will come with a lifetime warranty.