Toyota unveils battery energy storage system for the residential market

Japanese automaker, Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), has unveiled the “O-Uchi Kyuden System”, a 5.5 kWh home battery energy storage system which is expected to compete with Tesla’s powerwall. 

According to Toyota, the battery energy storage system is based on the concept of “safe, long service life, high-quality, good value for price, and high performance”.

“This technology, utilising many years of electrified vehicle development as well as on-board parts and units have been used to create the O-Uchi Kyuden System, a home storage battery system. Pre-orders for the system start today (June 2), and sales in Japan will begin in August through home builders and general construction companies,” Toyota wrote in a statement.

The O-Uchi Kyuden System uses electrified vehicle battery technology such as Toyota’s battery control to provide a rated capacity of 8.7 kWh and a rated output of 5.5 kWh. “This ensures safety and provides a supply of electricity to the entire home not just in normal situations, but even during power outages caused by natural disasters,” the automaker says. 

Additionally, Toyota says linking the system with a solar photovoltaic system can ensure it supplies the appropriate amount of electricity based on customer needs throughout the day and night. Toyota believes that using this system will encourage the use of solar power.

Toyota also revealed that its battery energy storage system supports supplying power from electrified vehicles (HEV, PHEV, BEV, FCEV) at 100V AC, and can use electricity stored in electrified vehicles as a backup power source during power outages. The system will also allow users to monitor and control it via a dedicated app on a smartphone.