The ex-Pretoria resident behind the always-amazing Tesla Motor Company, Elon Musk, has unveiled plans for a new type of battery, but aimed at homes instead of cars.

The battery, which is specifically targeted at consumers was mentioned briefly in an earnings call with investors yesterday, according to The Verge.

While Musk didn’t provide a great deal of detail, what he did say sounds rather intriguing:  “We are trying to figure out what would be a cool stationary (battery) pack. Some will be like the Model S pack: something flat, five inches off the wall, wall mounted, with a beautiful cover, an integrated bi-directional inverter, and plug and play.”

The Verge says Toyota’s Mirai – a competing electric car –  lets owners remove the battery altogether in order to power other things, like homes, and apparently is able to keep homes going for up to a week, so clearly existing battery power is advanced enough to be useful at home.

Tesla’s actual execution on the concept, though, is not yet clear. Musk said that while the battery’s design is complete, the company is not yet ready to unveil anything in detail, and is still deciding on a date for a proper reveal.

Tesla, known for genuine technological innovations like electric engines powerful enough for sports cars, has built up a lot of goodwill within the tech community, and it’s a safe bet Musk and co. will present a unique – and hopefully effective, affordable and attractive – take on the whole “battery for the home” concept when they’re ready to.

South Africans, I’m sure, will be only too ready to snap up any inventions that will make surviving when the power is off an easier, quieter and less smelly affair than it currently is with diesel-powered generators.

[Source – The Verge, Image-  CC BY 2.0 Wikimedia Commans]