Tesla Powerwall 3 launched in South Africa — Price and specifications

Tesla’s latest premium all-in-one energy storage system — the Powerwall 3 — has launched in South Africa.

First rolled out in the US in September 2023, the latest model has sold over 850,000 units worldwide.

The Powerwall 3 features more than twice the continuous power output capacity of the Powerwall 2 — at 11kW versus 5kW.

That will enable households to save more on their electricity bills by powering a wider range of
appliances — including those with high startup power draws — without tapping into the grid.

A single Powerwall 3 unit is able to power most homes in South Africa and reduce electricity costs by storing excess solar energy produced during the day for use at night or during periods of inclement weather.

Using self-consumption mode, South African customers can reduce their reliance on the grid by up to 67%.

That estimate is based on a household with 6kWp of solar panels as well as typical regional consumption and solar production values of approximately 9,965kWh and 7,575kWh, respectively.

Households on time-of-use tariffs like Homeflex, which is compulsory for Eskom’s grid-tied customers, can save more using the Time-Based Control feature.

This allows for intelligently timed charging of the Powerwall 3 during off-peak periods with lower energy charges and battery discharge during peak periods with high grid charges.

The Tesla Powerwall 3 distributor in South Africa has estimated the average homeowner can save up to R29,351 annually by combining Powerwall 3 with solar energy.

The Powerwall 3’s other big upgrade over its predecessors is an integrated 12kW solar inverter.

The integration improves solar-to-home energy efficiency to 97.5% and reduces installation complexity by eliminating the need for extra wall boxes and a third-party inverter.

Powerwall 3 also boasts a Storm Watch feature that can prepare homes for outages based on severe weather predictions.

When a potential event is detected, the battery will charge up to prevent a home from being left without electricity if the grid supply gets cut off.

The Powerwall is one of the few backup energy storage systems for homes that can be installed both indoors and outdoors.

It can operate efficiently in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 50°C and withstand high humidity.

Testament to its weather-proof design is that it can continue operating in up to 60cm of floodwater.

It also boasts an advanced thermal management system designed on insights Tesla drew from its Model 3 electric vehicle (EV).

Where to buy

The Powerwall 3 is available to order online in South Africa from energy product distributor Rubicon at powerwall.rubicon.tech.

Rubicon was also the South African supplier of the original Powerwall and Powerwall 2, as well as the Tesla Wall Connector EV charger.

Homeowners seeking a professional installation can get a quote from a Tesla Powerwall-certified installer through Rubicon or the Tesla website.

The Powerwall 3’s recommended retail price is R160,195 including VAT, while the Tesla Gateway smart hub costs an additional R21,678. That puts the total price at R181,873, excluding installation.

The table below compares the specifications of the Tesla Powerwall 2 and Powerwall 3.