According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Tesla Motors is recalling Powerwall 2 home batteries in Australia after receiving multiple fire reports that have caused "minor property damage."
The recall involves an unspecified number of Powerwall 2 units manufactured in the United States and sold between November 2020 and June 2022. The battery cells were produced by an unnamed third-party supplier. The ACCC stated in its recall notice that despite the fires, no injuries have been reported to date.
The Powerwall 2 contains a 14 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery system, typically installed alongside solar panels to store excess energy generated during daylight hours.
Tesla Motors indicated that users can also connect their batteries to a virtual power plant to provide grid support during peak demand periods. When connected to virtual power plants, the battery warranty extends to 15 years, and users can benefit from time-of-use rates that help reduce electricity costs.
The ACCC stated that users whose Powerwall batteries fall within the recall scope will receive notifications through the Tesla app. Tesla Motors is currently working to discharge the affected batteries to reduce fire risk. Batteries within the recall range will be replaced free of charge, and Tesla Motors "will consider compensating users for lost energy savings on a case-by-case basis."