Tesla

Tesla is an American maker of electric cars and home energy products. For a UK household thinking about emergency preparedness, two of its products matter: the Model Y, an electric car, and the Powerwall 2, a rechargeable home battery that stores electricity, typically from solar panels, for use when you need it. This page sets out what each means for a household getting ready for, or getting through, a power cut, storm or other emergency, and how to keep both safe.

What Tesla makes for UK households

The Powerwall 2 is a lithium-ion home battery. Lithium-ion batteries of this kind are already common in UK homes in phones, laptops, vacuum cleaners, e-bikes and scooters¹, and a home battery is the same technology at a much larger scale: it stores electricity so a household can use it later, including during an outage. The Model Y is an electric car, which in an emergency is primarily a means of getting around, and a large battery on wheels that needs charging from the mains.

What a Powerwall can keep running in a power cut

A home battery only helps in an outage if it is set up to. Official guidance is clear that if you have solar panels and a battery storage system with power backup capability, some installations can continue to provide power during a power cut if they are designed and configured to operate independently of the electricity grid, which may help keep essential appliances running². Rooftop solar on its own normally cannot do this without costly supplemental equipment such as batteries³. If backup during outages matters to you, ask your installer to confirm the system is configured for it.

How long a battery lasts depends on how much you draw from it. Use your devices sparingly to conserve power until you can charge them again⁴, and run only what is essential. If someone in your home depends on mains-powered equipment such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, electric wheelchairs, hoists, communication devices or feeding pumps, plan for those specifically, as some may stop working in a power cut⁵; see our guide to extra help in an emergency.

Tesla cars in a power cut

An electric car is only as ready as its charge. If you know a power cut is planned, it is a good idea to charge your vehicle in advance, and during a cut use battery-operated lights or torches as an alternative light source⁶. Our guides on power cuts, backup power at home and staying informed cover the rest of what a household needs.

Safe installation and use

The Health and Safety Executive advises that electrical installations must be installed by someone with the necessary training, skills and experience to carry out the work safely⁷. Always install, operate and maintain a solar and battery system following the manufacturer's guidance, as incorrect installation or misuse can increase the risk of fire and electric shock, and never tamper with cables, plugs, inverters, batteries or any other part of the system⁸.

Keep any large battery and its charging equipment away from exits, hallways and sleeping areas, which must remain clear so you can evacuate quickly¹². Never put batteries in household bins: recycle them safely at your local tip or household recycling centre¹³.

Safety notices, recalls and support

Register your product with the manufacturer so warranties can be applied and the maker can contact you with safety information or a recall; batteries are usually included in warranties¹⁴. If you choose not to register, recalls can be checked via Electrical Safety First or the UK government website¹⁵, and the Office for Product Safety and Standards issues recall and alert notices on its own website¹⁶. Report any suspected defect to the manufacturer rather than continuing to use the product⁹.

For the wider picture of where a home battery fits a household plan, see getting started and the emergency kit guide.