Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the highly anticipated Tesla solar roof tiles will be available to order starting in April.
As global warming poses increasingly worrisome threats, the race is on to find cleaner energy solutions to reduce the carbon footprint and protect the environment.
Tesla is among the most avid clean energy supporters and it's been making notable efforts in the field, aiming to deliver environmentally friendly products ranging from cars to renewable energy solutions. The company even managed to power an entire island using solar energy.
Tesla Solar Roof Tiles: Details And Benefits
Tesla announced its exciting solar roof tiles project last year, touting it as a great alternative to traditional roofing. The Tesla solar roof tiles are designed to resemble regular shingles, but they serve double duty by also acting as solar power cells.
The special solar roof tiles are made of textured glass and look like ordinary roof tiles from most viewing angles, but they enable sunlight to pass through the roof and reach a standard flat solar cell to generate energy.
Not only will the Tesla solar roof tiles provide clean energy, but the roofing system will also last longer and be more affordable than a traditional roof, Musk previously touted. It's a win-win.
The ambitious tiled solar roofing system is an integral part of Tesla's wider vision to have a positive impact on the environment through its solar energy generation and storage business, as well as its electric vehicle business.
Making solar roof tiles more affordable and long-lasting than traditional roof tiles should go a long way toward making solar energy tech more popular and mainstream. If solar energy is currently appealing mostly to green energy enthusiasts and techies, the reliability and affordability of Tesla solar roof tiles should appeal to the masses as well, shaping up as a viable everyday solution to save money, increase a building's resale value, and satisfy household energy needs at the same time.
Tesla Solar Roof Tiles Up For Order In April
We knew the exciting solar roof tiles were set to hit the scene this year, but we didn't know when. In a Twitterstorm, Musk has now revealed that Tesla will start taking orders for the high-tech roofing system in April, and it shouldn't take too long before it's ready to start installing them.
@elonmusk How are the Solar Shingles coming along? Is there an ETA? Hoping my roof survives till then.
— Michael Hols (@HolsMichael) March 24, 2017
Tesla's solar roof tile designs cover four visual styles, aiming to mimic different types of regular roofing material. According to the company's website, these four styles are Tuscan Glass Tile, Slate Glass Tile, Textured Glass Tile, and Smooth Glass Tile.
"Solar tiles integrated into the roof are invisible when viewed from the street, yet are fully exposed to the sun from above," Tesla explains.
With orders kicking off in April, Tesla will likely wait a while to gather a queue and proceed with the installation later on. Nevertheless, the company should start volume production this year. For now, interested customers can join the waiting list to become among the first to get a solar roof when available.
