When you hear Tesla, what do you think of first? Elon Musk, space travel or electric cars are likely top of mind.
But definitely not DIY home improvement. Tesla products are not typically associated with the roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-dirty class.
But Tesla wants to change that. The company known for electric cars, giant batteries and solar panels is ready to go mainstream. In their ideal world, all our roofs would be outfitted with solar panels that could power our homes and our cars.
They’ve partnered with more-saving-more-doing retailer Home Depot to make that happen. Home Depot is one of the world’s retailers in the world, with more than 2,200 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
According to a report released by Bloomberg, Tesla is rolling out in-store experiences at 800 Home Depot retail locations over the next few months. Tesla salespeople will staff showrooms within Home Depot stores, selling Tesla’s Powerwall battery and just-released Solar Roof system.
Bloomberg reports that the physical products won’t be available in Home Depot stores, but Tesla will have massive presence to showcase them. “They will be highlighted in high-profile displays, which are 12 feet tall and 7 feet wide,” the report says. “Some locations will be fitted with visual demonstrations that show how the products work.” Bloomberg reports that Lowe’s is also in conversations with Tesla.
Bloomberg says the solar roof is $52,000 for an average home. The Powerwall battery runs about $6,200, according to Tesla’s website. But if the up-front investment in solar energy and batteries can save homeowners in electricity costs and maintenance, Musk believes he can get more people on board.
“The goal is to make solar roofs that look better than a normal roof, generate electricity, outlast longer, have better insulation and actually have installed cost that is less than a normal roof plus the cost of electricity,” said Elon Musk when he unveiled the slick-looking solar shingles to shareholders last year. “So why would you buy anything else?”