Tesla is issuing a recall for its Powerwall 2 home batteries in Australia after receiving reports of incidents involving fires that resulted in “minor property damage,” according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
This recall covers an unspecified number of Powerwall 2 devices manufactured in the United States and distributed from November 2020 to June 2022. The battery cells were provided by a third-party supplier whose name was not disclosed. While the fires occurred, there have been no injuries linked to the incidents, the ACCC stated in their recall announcement.
Each Powerwall 2 is equipped with 14 kWh of lithium-ion battery capacity and is typically used alongside solar panels to store surplus solar energy produced during the day.
According to Tesla, customers can participate in a virtual power plant program, which allows their batteries to help stabilize the grid during periods of high demand. Taking part in this program can extend the warranty for up to 15 years and gives access to time-of-use electricity pricing to help lower energy costs.
Homeowners whose units are affected will receive a notification through the Tesla app, and the company is currently discharging affected batteries to minimize fire hazards. Tesla will replace recalled batteries at no cost, and, as the ACCC noted, the company “will evaluate compensation for lost energy savings on an individual basis.”
