Japanese automaker Toyota has become the latest car company to repurpose its electric vehicle batteries for home energy storage.
The O-Uchi Kyuden System, which is on presale now and will roll out in August in Japan only, mainly consists of a trunk-sized battery and two-way vehicle charger. O-Uchi Kyuden is also able to store power generated by solar panels.
Toyota said the system uses proprietary technology from its vehicle batteries, and can scale electricity based on need, including using Toyota EVs to supply backup power in the event of an outage or other emergency.
Toyota’s new product puts it alongside other manufacturers, like Tesla, Ford, and Hyundai, who have built their own home energy batteries out of tech used in their vehicles.
Tesla’s Powerwall…