Latest news with #Powerwall
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bunnings quietly rolls out 'brilliant' new store feature for EV drivers
As more and more electric cars appear on Australia's roads, drivers will have another, and very familiar, place to recharge their battery-powered vehicles. Retail giant Bunnings Warehouse is rolling out a range of EV chargers in the carparks of selected stores, meaning EV owners can charge up while they shop. Yahoo understands that Bunnings has so far installed chargers at 14 of its store locations in NSW, Victoria and WA, as well as New Zealand. The company currently has two more stores to be equipped with chargers in the coming weeks. Given the retailer has more than 500 stores across Australia and New Zealand, the rollout is currently being hyper targeted to where the retailer believes demand is strongest. Sydney woman Sarah Aubrey who runs a social media business dedicated to developments in electric vehicles, battery technology and electric home appliances described the chargers as "brilliant" after happening upon a 120kW installment at the retail giant's Alexandria store in the city's inner west this week. "You're at Bunnings, you're spending some time here lollygagging, 120 kilowatts, that is very fast," she said in a video sharing the find with her followers. "So you'll be good to go. I am so stoked about that, that is awesome." Bunnings Director of Stores Rod Caust told Yahoo News Australia the early rollout was about "meeting the changing needs" of customers. "As electric vehicles become more common in Australia and New Zealand, we're installing EV charging stations in some of our store car parks so our customers with EVs can charge up while they shop," he said. The Bunnings chargers include a mix of 22kW, 50kW and the super fast 120kW chargers seen in the Alexandria store. Customers will be able to use their chosen EV charging station app to see if their local store has chargers installed with signage and instructions in relevant carparks to help customers. Late last year the mega hardware store began stocking a range of new EV-related products, including Tesla's Powerwall home batteries as the EV trend gained more and more momentum. "We're launching a range of electric vehicle chargers and accessories across selected stores to make it easier for our customers to own and maintain EVs," Bunnings director of merchandise Cam Rist told Yahoo News in November. "The range, which includes wall-mounted EV chargers that can be installed in customers' homes, is currently being rolled out to 40 pilot stores across Australia in a phased approach. We know the EV market is growing rapidly in Australia and we're pleased to be making these products more accessible to customers at an affordable price, which have been traditionally hard to find in retail stores." More than a third of Australians believe misinformation about electric vehicles, while almost half accept the myth battery-powered cars are more likely to catch fire, a study shows. Researchers from the University of Queensland and three German institutions released the findings late on Monday, following surveys of more than 6,300 people in Australia, the United States, Germany and Austria. Their results mirrored concerns in a recent NRMA study, which found misinformation about battery safety was preventing motorists from investing in low-emission cars. The UQ peer-reviewed research, published in the Springer Nature Energy journal, included the results of four surveys, the first of which asked non-electric vehicles drivers for their opinions about false information about the cars. Despite the untruthful claims, more than one in three Australians on average went along with the assertions (35 per cent) - slightly lower than the average across all four nations (36 per cent). Related: Astounding EV detail in Chinese city that's on 'another level' Incorrect statements that EVs were more likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel cars gained the highest acceptance from Australians surveyed (47 per cent), while 44 per cent also believed EV batteries were deliberately non-upgradeable. Other claims about manufacturing outweighing the lower emissions of electric cars (35 per cent) and EV accidents being under-reported (26 per cent) were also concerning, University of Queensland environmental psychologist and co-author Chris Bretter said. "We know this sort of false information is out there and circulating but the scale of acceptance is concerning and poses a significant challenge to the global transition to more sustainable transport," he added. The findings come days after NRMA released a report, prepared by Ipsos, that found two in three Australians remained concerned about electric vehicle battery fires and safety despite low incident reports. Eight electric vehicle fires have been reported in Australia to November 2024, according to EV Firesafe, including one with an unknown cause. with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The Verge
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Verge
since Elon Musk extended his
1 million Powerwalls. While sales of Tesla cars have suffered greatly arm and wallet to politics globally, his Starlink and Tesla Energy products have continued to do well. There's lots of EV competition, but zero alternatives for cheap and fast consumer internet that can be quickly deployed in data dead zones, or whole home battery backup systems with a proven track record and terrific user experience. Although the competitors are quickly gearing up to address the latter.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tesla-powered homes promise to keep the lights on in outage-prone Houston— but it comes with cons, too
A new development of 11 three-story detached townhomes in Houston holds the promise of energy self-sufficiency in a city where power can be unreliable. Each three-bedroom home is equipped with Tesla solar roofs and batteries. Don't miss It's the first of its kind in the U.S. — and the builder is promising that 'if the power ever goes out in Houston, for whatever reason, they've got you covered,' according to KHOU 11 reporter Ron Treviño. Texas is the only state that isn't part of the national power grid. Rather, it has its own power grid — but that means, if anything goes wrong, it can't draw on power from elsewhere. Couple this with an aging infrastructure and a propensity to be hit with severe weather events, and this leads to frequent blackouts that last days or longer. In fact, Texas experienced 210 weather-related outages between 2000 and 2023 — more than any other state, according to Climate Central. 'Because our power grid is so terrible and we lose power for days on end, we have people that have lost all their groceries,' Jaime Fallon, director of sales with NextGen Real Estate, told KHOU 11. How solar homes are tackling power outages The Oaks of Shady Acres offers energy self-sufficiency with Tesla solar shingles. These solar shingles work with Tesla's Powerwall home battery storage to make the homes self-sufficient. The homes also come with electric vehicle chargers. 'Residents benefit from free, clean energy while also profiting from surplus power sold back to the grid,' said a sponsored article about the project. As of late last month, five homes were still up for sale. Fallon claims that although the builder, Utopia Homes, is using Tesla technology, the backlash against Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not hurting demand. Utopia is a subsidiary of Goldman Investments, which calls Tesla a partner on its website. 'We have honestly had no issues with Trump and Musk backlash. In fact, I had over 150-plus people at my brokers' open. It was insane, people were very excited. Houston is an oil and gas place, so having the first Tesla-powered homes is unheard of,' Fallon told She said buyers are mostly interested in reliable power.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
TSLA vs. BYDDY: Which of These EV Giants is Better Positioned Now?
Tesla TSLA has long been the poster child of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. Since its IPO in 2010, this U.S.-based company has grown into a global icon, known for its sleek designs, bold innovation and a loyal fan following. But the landscape is shifting fast. With the future of transportation being electric, many automakers are quickly catching up to challenge Tesla's dominance. And leading this competition is China's BYD Co. Ltd. BYDDY, which started in 1995 as a battery maker and has rapidly transformed into a formidable EV juggernaut. With deep roots in battery technology and a growing global footprint, BYD has emerged as Tesla's most serious challenger yet. In the fourth quarter of 2023, BYD briefly took the EV sales crown from Tesla before ending the full year just behind. The same pattern repeated in 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, BYD delivered over 416,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs), outpacing Tesla's 336,000 and securing the top spot for a second straight quarter. Meanwhile, Tesla's deliveries declined both year over year and quarter over quarter. As the EV race heats up, both companies are pushing boundaries. However, with BYD's aggressive growth and Tesla's recent slowdown, the gap between the two is closing fast. So, in this high-stakes battle for EV supremacy, who should you place your bets on? Let's find out. Tesla is facing rising pressure in its core EV business. Sales are slipping across key markets like the United States, Europe and China, while the brand's once-unchallenged appeal is starting to fade. CEO Elon Musk's growing involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency has raised concerns about his ability to stay focused on Tesla, especially as the company wrestles with slowing demand and intense competition. Although Musk still anticipates some growth in vehicle sales this year, he has dialed back his earlier 20–30% growth forecast. Adding to the concern, Tesla's automotive margins are shrinking as the company continues to roll out discounts and incentives to drive sales. Moreover, talks of its much-awaited affordable model getting delayed are adding fuel to the fire. On the bright side, Tesla's Energy Generation and Storage segment is gaining traction. Products like the Megapack and Powerwall have been well-received, helping energy storage deployments jump 113% year over year in 2024. Musk expects at least 50% more growth in 2025. Tesla's charging infrastructure business is also performing well. Recently, TSLA claimed that its in-house 4680 battery production is now more cost-effective than external sourcing. That's a major milestone for the automaker. Looking ahead, Tesla's big bet is on its autonomous driving ambition. The company plans to roll out unsupervised FSD in Austin this June. Last month, it secured the first of several approvals required to eventually launch its long-awaited robotaxi service in California. Progress in FSD approvals and robotaxi development is critical with no further delays. Financially, Tesla remains on solid ground, with high liquidity and low debt. Its long-term debt-to-capitalization is just around 7%, and it has a strong interest coverage ratio of 27.7. BYD has become a dominant force in China's electric vehicle landscape, commanding about one-third of the country's new energy vehicle (NEV) market. It holds the largest EV market share in China, thanks to its highly efficient, vertically integrated business model. From batteries and semiconductors to complete vehicle assembly, BYD controls nearly every part of its supply chain. This tight integration helps keep costs low and operations efficient — an essential advantage in today's price-sensitive EV market. The company produces lithium-iron phosphate batteries under its Blade Battery brand. It recently introduced the "Super e-Platform," which promises major gains in range and charging speed. BYD claims its latest batteries can deliver up to 400 kilometers (roughly 249 miles) of range with just five minutes of charging, potentially a game-changer in EV vehicle lineup caters to a wide spectrum of consumers, from affordable options like the Seagull to luxury models under the Yangwang brand. Popular hybrids and EVs such as the Song and Qin series continue to drive strong domestic sales. On the tech front, BYD is making strides with its new 'God's Eye' autonomous driving system, which offers advanced safety features at a competitive price. Internationally, BYD is expanding rapidly, setting up factories in Brazil, Thailand, Hungary, and Turkey while growing its retail presence in markets like Germany and Australia. It aims to double overseas sales to over 800,000 units in 2025. However, rising regulatory risks—especially in Europe, where the EU is investigating Chinese EV subsidies—pose potential hurdles. BYD's net profit jumped 34% in 2024 to RMB 40.25 billion, while revenues rose 29% to a record RMB 777.1 billion ($107 billion). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for both Tesla and BYD's 2025 earnings suggests year-over-year improvement. However, the consensus mark for TSLA has declined over the past 30 days, whereas the same for BYD has risen. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Tesla is trading at a forward sales multiple of 7.08X, above its median of 6.62X over the last two years. Tesla has a Value Score of F. Meanwhile, BYD has a Value Score of B, with its forward sales multiple at 0.95X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Given the current landscape, BYD appears better positioned than Tesla. BYD's strong domestic leadership, expanding international presence, cost advantages through vertical integration, charging efficiency and autonomous technology make it a better choice. Plus, BYD's more attractive valuation and positive earnings revisions offer additional upside potential. Meanwhile, Tesla is grappling with slowing sales, shrinking margins and leadership distractions. Tesla's non-automotive segments are doing well but they make up a relatively small portion of the company's total revenues. Tesla's high valuation and southbound estimate revisions further dim confidence. While BYD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), Tesla carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Byd Co., Ltd. (BYDDY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A New Community Of Homes Powered By Tesla Tech Is Selling Out Fast, Facing 'No Issues With Trump and Musk Backlash'
Amidst the controversy surrounding Elon Musk, it's sometimes easy to forget that Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has been at the forefront of clean energy adoption worldwide. It makes sense, then, that Tesla's tech is powering the company's first home community. Consisting of 11 homes in Houston, reports that the properties are attracting intense buyer interest, despite recent vandalism experienced by Tesla car owners and showrooms. 'We have honestly had no issues with Trump and Musk backlash. In fact, I had over 150-plus people at my brokers' open. It was insane, people were very excited,' Jamie Fallon, a Houston-based real estate broker handling the homes' sales, told Don't Miss: Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — . All homes in the community feature Tesla-made products, including solar roof shingles, EV chargers, and Powerwall home battery storage. The latter has become a coveted commodity in Texas, which is not part of the national power grid but operates its own separate electrical grid. Risks And Rewards Launching a new Tesla product, especially one as expensive as a home, could be seen as risky for the company, which has seen its stock price plummet due to Musk's close association with President Donald Trump. However, Fallon has said buyers are more interested in power than politics. 'Who cares who is in office when you don't have power? Houston has had a huge issue with electricity because we're not on the national grid. So when we lose power, we're out for five days,' she told 'While we are big on oil, gas, and generators, now people are seeing that they can have Tesla-powered homes at similar price points,' she added. 'We are not selling sunset; we are selling power.' Trending: It's no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — According to only four of the 11 homes remain available. While the essential components that power the homes are Tesla-made, the residences themselves, located in the Oaks of Shady Acres subdivision, have been built by Utopia Homes. Two of the remaining properties still remain—a larger model priced at $544,900 and a smaller one priced at $524,000. By Houston's standards, the houses are pricey—about $179,000 more than Houston's median list price of $365,000. Despite the White House's efforts to promote fossil fuels, Fallon believes that Tesla-type clean-energy homes are the dwellings of the future. 'What legislation we have in Washington is going to dictate it, but going toward clean energy is where I think the country is headed. I think there is a mindset shift happening,' Fallon says. Fallon feels that the homes' integration of style and tech, particularly with Tesla's solar singles, is part of their selling point. 'The next time I have to replace my roof, I'm putting Tesla shingles on it. You can't even tell [what they are]; they look so good,' she says. In addition to mainstream full-sized family homes, Tesla is exploring the tiny house market. The smaller homes, according to Tech Bullion, also feature Tesla solar panels and Powerwall battery storage units. However, the real selling point is the price, which starts at $7,000. Read Next:Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? . Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article A New Community Of Homes Powered By Tesla Tech Is Selling Out Fast, Facing 'No Issues With Trump and Musk Backlash' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
