Mar 13, 2025 07:00:00

Former Tesla engineer develops 'Pila', a home storage battery that can automatically back up power supply during power outages and can be installed in rental properties

Cole Ashman , who previously worked as an engineer on Tesla's home battery ' Powerwall ,' has announced that he has developed ' Pila ,' a home battery that automatically backs up power to home appliances during a power outage and can be easily installed even in rental properties by simply plugging it into an outlet.

Pila Energy
https://pilaenergy.com/

Ashman said that as an engineer at Tesla, he was involved in the development of the Powerwall , a backup gateway that handles charging and discharging management and monitoring functions, and also led product development at SPAN , which deploys battery panels that adjust the electrical load of an entire home and provide backup during power outages.

Home batteries like the Powerwall are suitable for people who live in their own homes and can afford the high fees of over $10,000 (about 1.48 million yen), but they are difficult to get for people who live in rentals or apartments or who are not so financially well off. According to Ashman, more than 50% of the cost of installing the Powerwall is not the battery itself, but the associated costs such as labor and permit costs.

So Ashman developed a more convenient home battery called 'Pila' as a gateway to making energy security at home accessible to more people. You can see what kind of home battery Pila is in the video below.

Introducing Pila: The Simplest, Smartest Home Backup Battery - YouTube


In recent years, the frequency of extreme weather events has increased the risk of power outages caused by storms and other events.

When a power outage occurs, the power supply to various electrical appliances throughout the home stops, disrupting daily life and sometimes posing a risk of food spoiling or important data being lost.

In these cases, home batteries can be useful to back up your power supply during a power outage. Pila was developed with the aim of enabling everyone to maintain 'energy independence' during a power outage.

Pila is a compact, mesh-type home battery that can be installed in various places around the house. The main unit is compact, measuring 38cm x 67.5cm x 8.5cm, and weighs 20.4kg, so it can be easily carried around by hand, making it easy to install in rental properties.

Pila automatically provides backup power during a power outage.

Simply plug the Pila into a standard 120V outlet in the US and plug in the power cords of your various electrical appliances.

It can be placed not only horizontally but also vertically.

The Pila's battery capacity is 1.6kWH and it also supports high-speed charging via USB Type-C. The panel on the Pila itself displays how long it can power connected appliances.

The duration that one Pila can power a refrigerator varies depending on the product, but it can charge a refrigerator for 32 hours, a Wi-Fi router for 132 hours, a TV for 32 hours, a laptop for 23 times, and a smartphone for 113 times.

Battery status can be checked using the Android or iOS app.

Pila is a mesh-type home battery that stores electricity obtained from the power grid or solar panels to prepare for power outages.

In addition to providing backup during power outages, it also optimizes energy usage during normal times, helping to reduce electricity bills.

To start using Pila, simply plug it into a power outlet in your room.

You can start by installing just one unit for important electrical appliances such as a PC or refrigerator, and then increase the number according to your needs and financial situation.

The regular price of Pila is $ 1,299 (about 192,000 yen), but at the time of writing, it can be purchased at the advance price of $ 999 (about 148,000 yen) by paying a deposit of $ 99 (about 14,700 yen). Shipment is scheduled for 2025.