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Yeah thanks I appreciate the questions. I'll do my best to answer them, but let me know if I can clarify anything here! On bidirectionality: Yep this would involve backfeeding an outlet - It's new here in the U.S. but not unprecedented. Plug-in "Balcony Solar" systems have taken Germany by storm in recent years, and Utah just passed the first bill in the US (HB340) to allow plug-in solar panels to export to the grid. Pretty cool to see new these options emerge for renters. There's still work to do to take this to mainstream and get all jurisdictions, utilities, and equipment manufacturers aligned on final standards but I'm optimistic. On solar: You've got 2 options -- Timed charging with a rooftop system just like how "AC-coupled" batteries like Powerwall work. Or, "DC-coupling" by connecting solar PV panels directly to Pila. If Pila is in your kitchen, running a DC-coupled panel wire may only be practical in a multi-day outage, but for a fridge in the garage it's a relatively easy option. On differentiation: We're up for the challenge :) - With Powerwall and SPAN (or other home devices like Nest) my take is it's the software and integration value that sets them out ahead. That's where we're really excited to create value and carve our niche. But zooming out, it's a big market, and our goal is to give folks more options to fit their needs, and it's totally going to be the case that simpler portable camping batteries are right for some, and big Powerwall-like batteries are right for others. Portable camping batteries, generally: More options come out every year, but on the hardware side they're not optimal since most use e-mobility battery chemistries, which are great for delivering high power on demand but wear out fast when cycled daily for home energy use. And since they’re meant to be manually deployed, they’re not always charged and ready when you actually need them—unlike a system that’s always on, managing power in the background without you having to think about it. |