Tiny Houses

Tesla takes solar-powered Tiny House on tour

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The Tesla Tiny House in Melbourne, Australia
Tesla
The interior of the Tesla Tiny House 
Scott Collie/New Atlas
A (slightly glary) television on the wall of the Tesla Tiny House 
Scott Collie/New Atlas
Tesla is using the tiny house to promote its in-home storage and power generation technologies 
Scott Collie/New Atlas
The pared-back interior of the Tesla Tiny House 
Scott Collie/New Atlas
The exterior of the Tesla Tiny House is clad in locally-sourced wood 
Scott Collie/New Atlas
The Tesla Tiny House will be touring around Australia's east coast 
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The tiny house will be towed by a Tesla Model X
Scott Collie/New Atlas
A fold-out balcony lets a bit of light into the Tesla Tiny House 
Scott Collie/New Atlas
A charger for the Model X is attached to the side of the Tesla Tiny House  
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The slimline Powerwall has 14 kWh of energy storage 
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The tiny house, along with its all-electric tow car 
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The Tesla name is being displayed loud'n'proud on the side of the touring tiny home 
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Tesla is trying to spread the word about its in-home energy generation and storage technology
Scott Collie/New Atlas
A closer look at the app accompanying the Tesla Powerwall and solar panels
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The balcony on the Tesla Tiny House 
Scott Collie/New Atlas
The Tesla Tiny House will be towed by a Model X
Tesla
Tesla is trying to spread the word about its Powerwall and solar power 
Tesla
The Tesla Tiny House in Melbourne, Australia
Tesla
View gallery - 18 images

Tesla has packed a number of its smart energy products into the one tiny mobile package. The Telsa Tiny House is being towed behind a Model X on a tour of Australia in an attempt to spread the word about the benefits of Tesla's products for generating, storing and using your own electricity.

Measuring up at 6 x 2.2 x 4 m (19.7 x 7.2 x 13.1 ft) and weighing in at 2 tonnes (2.2 tons), the Tesla Tiny House really is, well, tiny. Built around a steel frame, the exterior of the home is clad in locally-sourced sustainable timber, while the interior is finished with simple timber walls. Although there are a few plants and small seats scattered around, the home's role as a public display means it isn't outfitted for actual living.

The rooftop is home to a 2-kW solar setup, hooked up to a Powerwall 2 home battery with 14 kWh of storage. It's mounted on the front wall of the house, along with a charger for the Model X tow car to which it's attached. All this in-home energy storage and usage can be tracked through the Tesla smartphone app.

A fold-out balcony lets a bit of light into the Tesla Tiny House 
Scott Collie/New Atlas

Along with its movable furniture and plants, the interior of the Tesla Tiny Home is outfitted with a configurator that allows visitors to see how solar panels and energy storage would fit on their houses. The house was getting plenty of attention from passers-by at Federation Square in central Melbourne, Australia – the first stop on a tour that will see it travel to Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney.

For anyone wondering why Tesla chose Australia to show its tiny house, we'd suggest it has something to do with the gigantic energy storage system Tesla is building in South Australia.

Source: Tesla

View gallery - 18 images
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4 comments
DavidRogerBrown
Somebody forget the windows?
michaelblock
The reason Tesla chose Australia has more to do with the gigantic power prices that we pay here
Leonard Foster Jr
Used the tiny home for extended range ;-)
SteveMc
Considering the Model X will only manage to tow it an average of 40 to 50 miles on a full charge of the car battery, I'd imagine they are relying on the Powerwall(s) they have installed in the 'Tinyhouse' for extended mileage and the very reliable sunshine of Australia to keep those charged. I'll guarantee you that they have the car wired in to the house for this very reason. If it's still doing it's tour, could someone ask them please? :)