THE COASTAL PACKET: Tesla producing solar roof tiles

Thursday, May 11

Tesla producing solar roof tiles

Portland Press Herald - As of Wednesday, customers worldwide could order a solar roof on Tesla’s website. Installations will begin next month in the U.S., starting with California. Installations outside the U.S. will begin next year, the company said. Tesla's glass solar tiles replicate slate, left, or terracotta roofing and are designed to look like a traditional roof. The tiles are guaranteed for the life of a home, much longer than the 20-year lifespan of a typical roof. Tesla's glass solar tiles replicate slate, left, or terracotta roofing and are designed to look like a traditional roof. The tiles are guaranteed for the life of a home, much longer than the 20-year lifespan of a typical roof.

The glass tiles were unveiled by Tesla last fall just before the company merged with solar panel maker SolarCity Corp. They’re designed to look like a traditional roof, with options that replicate slate or terracotta tiles. The solar tiles contain photovoltaic cells that are invisible from the street.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said one of the drawbacks to home solar installations has been the solar panels themselves: They’re often awkward, shiny and ugly. Buyers will want Tesla’s roof, he said, because it looks as good or better than a normal roof.

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