Home › Posts tagged BYD B-Box Australia

BYD B-Box Australia

BYD Battery-Box HV

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

The Battery-Box HV is the first real high voltage battery that comes with a flexible and modular design with no cables inside. One Battery-Box HV contains 5 to 9 battery modules B-Plus H 1.28 in series connection and it reaches up to 11.52 kWh usable capacity.

The HV is a modular system, so the parallel connection of up to 5 (the maximum supported) identical Battery-Box HV allows a theoretical maximum capacity of 57.6 kWh. Have a look at the graph below to see how rapidly the company is moving. Fantastic signs for domestic and commercial solar systems alike.

BYD Battery Production Capacity Timeline (source: BYD.com)

The BYD Battery-Box HV

These high voltage, modular battery boxes are able to carry from 5-9 battery modules inside them, depending on which model you pick. BYD offer a 10 year warranty – we’ve reached out to them for more details (as I understand it they expect 60% capacity after 10 years) so watch this space. The enclosures are IP55 rated and all boast an impressive round trip efficiency of >95%.

BYD Battery Box User Manual

Please click to download the BYD Battery-Box HV User Manual – Battery-Box H 5.1/6.4/7.7/9.0/10.2/11.5(AU)

 

BYD Battery Box Range Australia 2021 (source: BYD.com)

 

Buy BYD Battery-Box HV in Australia

The prices and landscape for these batteries have been quite up and down over the last few years so we recommend getting in touch with us to make sure you’re getting a good price on your solar investment. Please click here or email us on [email protected] and we’d be happy to help discuss BYD deals and installation in Australia.

BYD Inverters

Learn more about the BYD Battery-Box HV and how it can work with the Fronius Symo Hybrid inverter:

 

About BYD

BYD Company Ltd. is a leading high-tech multinational company based in Shenzhen, China. Since its establishment in 1995, BYD has developed solid expertise in rechargeable batteries, successfully expanding its renewable energy solutions globally with operations in over 50 countries and regions.

After 23 years’ development, BYD has created a Zero Emissions Energy Ecosystem – affordable solar power generation, reliable energy storage, cutting-edge electrified transportation and a state of the art monorail has made it an industry leader in the energy and transportation sector.

Full disclosure: I don’t currently own any positions with them but BYD is listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Also, I’d like to ride that monorail. Anyone fancy a trip to Shenzhen?

Read More Solar News:

BYD B-Box Australia in 2021 – Price, Review.

2021 Update: We’ve also written about the BYD Battery-Box HV – click to learn more!

BYD B-Box Australia – we wrote about the B-Box from Chinese manufacturer Build Your Dreams a few years ago and how the BYD B-Box compares to the Tesla Powerwall 2 – it has continued to see a lot of interest over the past three years so we have an article today with some more detailed information about the BYD’s product range, pricing, and some live data from the field to see how the B-Box performs in real-world settings. 

BYD B-Box Australia
BYD B-Box Australia (source: byd.com)

BYD B-Box Australia – Price

The B-Box comes in high voltage (HV) and low voltage (LV) – with the B-Box LV Residential the most popular energy storage device BYD sell. It has a higher IP rating than the Pro variant, and separate circuit breakers for each battery module. 

It comes in four different sizes – 2.56kWh (2.45kWh usable), 5.12kWh (4.9kWh usable), 7.68kWh (7.35kWh usable), and 10.24kWh (9.8kWh usable). All four variants are IP55 rated and modular – meaning depending on the case you purchase you will be able to start small and upgrade if need be. You can get a total capacity of 57.5kWh which would work for light commercial usage. 

We’ve got some pricing available from some sites below, but please feel free to contact us if you’d like a hand with quoting of getting access to a specific B-Box:

BYD B-Box Pro 5.0 – 5.12kWh – $5315.00 ex GST

BYD B-Box LV 5.12kWh battery module – $4512.48 inc GST (at Queensland Solar and Lighting)

BYD B-Box Pro 13.8kWh 48V battery – $9,000 delivered (excluding install)

You can learn more about the product range on the BYD website. 

Otherwise click here to have a look at BYD’s newest range in 2021, as per the Origin website.

BYD B-Box Australia – Review

Things we like about this battery – it has blackout protection, is suitable for single phase and three phase power. They have local Australian support and offer a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty. The batteries are modular and can be partnered with inverters such as GoodWe and SMA Sunny Island for on-the-go monitoring. You can use them on or off-grid. 

The B-Box HV received the “PV Magazine Top Innovation Award” in 2017 and BYD’s factory is currently producing a massive 8.6gigawatts, 8 times larger than Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory – so there’s plenty of room to grow.

Battery Test Centre have a live feed of a B-Box hooked up to a SMA Sunny Island Inverter and it’s performing very well so far – click here to view the feed and see what real-life application of the battery looks like. The B-Box 25 (2.45kWh usable) they’re using has a DOD (depth of discharge) of 95.7% and a BMS (battery management system) to ensure it remains safe when charging/discharging. The battery is showing 97%+ efficiency. 

The B-Box differs from ‘conventional’ lithium ion batteries (such as the Powerwall) as it uses LFP technology – lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4) battery  – a rechargable lithium-ion battery, which uses LiFePO 4 as a cathode material, and a graphitic carbon electrode with a metallic current collector grid as the anode. This is widely recognised as a safer technology than lithium-ion which was built for smaller devices like mobile phones or mp3 players.

BYD B-Box Australia Datasheet

BYD Australia|New Zealand Sales Rep

Joey Qiao

[email protected]

Office: +86-755-8988 8888-61581

Cellular: (+61)0420 457 601 (Australia)  (+86) 186 2033 2045 (China)

If you want to get a closer look at the batteries, please view an installation video for the BYD B-Box LV (Low Voltage) straight from the manufacturer below:

Here’s a product showcase for the B-Box:

BYD in 2021 – Electric Car BYD EA1

I know this isn’t technically related to the BYD B-Box, but I love this news so much I thought I’d share:

BYD has revealed a revolutionary new electric hatchback with a 1000 kilometre range and sub 3.0-second acceleration that will be sold in Australia.

Revealed at the 2021 Shanghai Motor Show, the BYD EA1 hatchback rides on the brand’s new e-Platform 3.0 and receives power from the new 800-volt “Blade” battery claimed to be capable of receiving 150km worth of charge every five minutes.

No word on price yet but I’m confident it’s going to be very competitively priced! Wonder what battery they’ll have in them? 🙂

Read More Solar News:

Solar Battery growth rises in 2017.

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

Solar battery growth continues to rise exponentially – the huge rises in the price of electricity over the past 36 months have led to a record uptake in the number of Australian households opting to install solar batteries for energy storage. Although still in its relative infancy, the technology is being adopted at a rapid rate and there’s no doubt it’s only a matter of time before every house with solar power has some sort of solar battery installed. 

Solar Battery Growth

According to a solar energy report quoted in the Herald Sun, around 7,000 solar battery system were sold and installed across Australia in the first six months of the year, compared to 6,500 last year. Queensland leads the charge, with New South Wales and Victoria close behind. In a market that has already doubled in two years, there is still a way to go before we see solar batteries as ubiquitous in Aussie households, but things are heading in the right direction, and a lot faster than you may think!

Tesla Powerwall 2 Solar Battery Growth
Tesla Powerwall 2 – a catalyst for solar battery growth.

Volkswagen just announced they will spend $50b on energy storage battery technology for its new line of EV cars – there are whispers about the Tesla Powerwall 3 – what’s next for solar battery growth?

Solar Battery Comparisons

There are a lot of different options on the market right now – a bunch of people are still waiting until the technology ‘catches up’ but solar storage can already be quite affordable – with average costs between $4,000 and $13,000, depending on the size/brand you choose. The Herald Sun estimates that it will take approximately eight years for a solar panel + storage system to pay for itself – i.e. it’s not economically viable for everybody right now but depending on your individual circumstances it’s far from a pipe dream. With that said, prices are expected to drop by up to 30% over the next few years as production ramps up and advances in the technology are factored in. 

If you’re interested in doing some research about energy storage, we have a page about the Tesla Powerwall 2 and its alternatives and competitors – there are many options to choose from such as Fronius, BYD B-Box, Redflow, LG Chem, sonnenBatterie, Enphase, Eaton Nissan xStorage, and so on. Make sure you figure out exactly what you need (e.g. grid or off grid? If you’re on-grid do you want power in a blackout? How much power do you need)   and do your due diligence before committing to a system – and if you already have solar panels make sure the storage system and inverter will pair correctly – not all solar systems are created equal! If you have any questions feel free to give us an email or sound off in the comments below – we’d be happy to help.  

 

Read More Solar News:

Tesla Powerwall 2 Australia Release Date, Price, Specs, and Competitors.

Posted on by — 1 Comment ↓

Tesla Powerwall 2 Australia Release Date

Tesla Powerwall 2 Australia 2018 update: you can get a Powerwall 2 in Australia from a number of different vendors. It depends on which state you’re in – they’re still in hot demand and there are a few states where they’re a bit difficult to come by. If you’re interested in the different energy storage options available to you, please check our solar battery comparison articles (or simply scroll down this article to learn more) – there’s plenty to read up on!

Also have a look at the case study on Gizmodo of a Melbourne man who says the Powerwall 2 will drop his power bill to $0.

According to the Tesla website, there is a ‘May 2017’ install date for Australia. Please note that this has changed a few times already and Tesla have moved the goalposts in other ways, such as removing the DC version of the Powerwall 2, so don’t bet the house on it. But we think Q2 2017 will see some Powerwalls in Australian houses! Watch this space and we’ll be reporting as soon as the first Powerwall 2’s start appearing in Australian homes.

Tesla Powerwall 2 Australia
The Tesla Powerwall 2 in action.

You can use the search function on the Tesla website to locate Australian stores, galleries, and service centers – just click here!

Tesla Powerwall 2 Australia Price

One 14kWh Powerwall battery is priced at $8,000 AUD. Two will cost you $16,000 AUD, and so on. According to the official Tesla site the ‘supporting hardware’ comes to $750 – and if you buy multiple Powerwalls you will only have to pay this $750 once. Please note this price excludes retailer/distributor connection charges which apply in some parts of Australia (more detailed information about this soon). It also excludes installation, which ranges from $1,150 to $2,900 plus permit fees, as per Tesla’s site.

Tesla Powerwall 2 Specs

The Powerwall 2 is substantially upgraded in almost every way from its predecessor, featuring:

  • 1150mm long, 755mm wide, 155mm diameter. (45″ x 30″ x 6″)
  • 14kWh battery (13.5kWh ‘Usable Capacity’)
  • 7kW peak power, 5kW continuous power.
  • Wall or floor mountable, indoor or outdoor.
  • 10 year manufacturer’s warranty
  • Scalable (up to 10 Powerwall 2’s)
  • Integrated Inverter (converts the DC energy into AC energy you need to use in your house)
  • Liquid Cooling
  • Control and view your energy usage/storage with the Tesla app (iOS and Android)
  • Weighs 125kg (276 pounds)
  • Degradation – it will hold around 70% of the 13.5kWh after 10 years.
  • 90% ’round’ trip efficiency.

Earlier this year Tesla were taking orders for a DC (i.e. without an included inverter) version of the Powerwall 2 but this has since been discontinued. The only available version of the Powerwall 2 is the AC version with inverter already built. If you’ve already got panels and an inverter it might be worth looking at alternatives to the Powerwall 2. LG Chem produces the RES7H and RESU10H (follow this link to SolarQuotes who have other great information) with 6.6 and 9.3 kilowatt-hours of usable storage respectively.

Is The Tesla Powerwall Worth It?

Let’s crunch the numbers. Obviously costs and prices will differ from household to household so plug in your own costs to see if a Tesla Powerwall is right for you. Let’s assume you can store the maximum of 13.5kwh each day, and you’ve changed your power plan to peak/offpeak (read more here). Let’s also assume an installation cost of $10,000 AUD ($8,750 to Tesla and $1,250 to cover installation and connection charges / permit fees).

The current off-peak price is around 10c/kWh and the peak price 30c/kWh (in comparison to the ‘standard’ everyday price of ~25c/kWh).

If you were to use all 13.5kWh in peak times, this would save you $2.70 a day, or $985.50 p.a.  (30c – 10c = 20c) (20 c x 13.5) (2.70 x 365).

By the 10th year, assuming the stated 30% degradation, you would have 9.45kWh which represents a saving of $1.89 a day, or $689.85 p.a.

You can use NREL’s PVWatts calculator to find out exactly how much sun you can expect at your residence. It’s a bit complicated but an amazing tool for those who want to get granular about the postential for solar savings.

Tesla Powerwall 2 Australia is only useful for some people at this point in time – solar panel and energy storage technology is coming along in leaps and bounds so this will only get more economical. There are also other options that may suit your individual circumstances.

Tesla Powerwall Competitors and Alternatives

There are a number of Tesla Powerwall alternatives – some would argue that you’re paying for the ‘prestige’ of the name. Always do your research before you buy something based on advertising or what your friends say – solar and solar storage come down to your individual requirements. It’s definitely worthwhile to carefully measure the numbers before you commit to anything!

And without further ado, have a look at some of your other choices – they may not be as sleek, but utilitarian can be sexy too:

Redflow Zinc Bromide ZBM2 – 10kWh ‘flow’ battery (click to view)

Redflow ZBM2 Flow
Redflow ZBM2 Zinc Bromide 10kWh Flow Battery
  • 10 kWh capacity.
  • 100% usable capacity
  • Warranty for 36,500 kWh or 10 years.
  • Flat voltage curve (charge 100% capacity with constant power – unlike lithium ion)
  • Web based management system with MODBUS communication software.
  • 240kg with electrolyte.

LG Chem RESU (Residential Energy Storage Unit)

LG Chem RESU
LG Chem RESU Energy Storage
  • 3 48volt DC models (RESU3.3, RESU6.5, RESU10).
  • 2 400v models (RESU7H, RESU10H).
  • Lithium Ion technology with 90-95% usable capacity.
  • On grid / Off grid installation options.
  • AC/DC coupling available, depending on your solar panels.
  • Much smaller than the Powerwall.
  • Easy installation.

SonnenBatterie Eco 8.2 battery system (click to view)

SonnenBatterie Eco Australia
SonnenBatterie Eco 8.2
  • 4-16kWh capacity (modular design which increases in 2kWh increments).
  • Easy to retrofit to your existing panels.
  • Compatible with all panels.
  • 10year / 10,000 cycle warranty.
  • 2.5 cycles per day (2.5x ‘value’ and faster payback).
  • Inverter included.
  • Online management with ‘self learning algorithm’ (automatically decides the best times to charge and supply).
  • Proper UPS and automatic blackout protection with SonnenBatterie Protect 1300.
  • Reliable supplier who has been making these batteries since 2008.

Fronius Energy Package (click to view)

Fronius Energy Package Solarwall.
Fronius Energy Package Solarwall
  • Six products configured in blocks of 1.5kWh (Fronius Solar Battery 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, 12.0 with 3.6, 4.8, 6.0, 7.2,8.4 and 9.6 kWh respectively)
  • Lithium Iron Phosphate technology.
  • Indoor installation required.
  • LiFePO4 battery technology.
  • AC integrated (hybrid) inverter – store the power as DC until you need it: extra efficiency – all the benefits of both AC and DC coupling!
  • 2 cycles per day.
  • They have a current rebate offer for purchase orders placed before July 31, 2017.

Enphase AC battery / storage system (click to view)

Enphase AC Storage System
Enphase AC Storage System
  • 1.2kWh capacity (modular – so install as many as you need – 1.2kWh won’t get you far).
  • Roundtrip cell efficiency: 96%.
  • Online monitoring software.
  • 2 cycles per day (double ‘value’ and faster payback).
  • Lithium-iron phosphate material and prismatic cells from Eliiy Power.
  • AC only – no high voltage DC involved in system (microinverters under the solar panels convert DC to AC – click here to read more).
  • Over 17,000 Enphase systems installed in Australia.

Global NRG silicone rechargeable battery (click to view)

Global NRG Silicone Rechargeable Battery
Global NRG Silicone Rechargeable Battery
  • Touted as the ‘first green battery in the world’.
  • Silicate Compound electrolyte.
  • Rapid charging time.
  • Their website is extremely poor but we’re following this one with interest too.

BYD B-Box (click to view)

BYD B-Box Australia
BYD B-Box Australia
  • BYD are the biggest supplier of lithium ion batteries in the world (market cap of ~$22b)
  • Modular design
  • 2.4KwH – 10KwH (B-Box 2.5, B-Box 5.0, B-Box 7.5, B-Box 10.0)
  • Safe lithium Iron Phosphate material
  • Needs a hybrid inverter (purchase separately from SMA, GoodWe, SolaX, and Victron)
  • AC/DC Coupling.
  • B-Box 10 can supply 10.24kilowatts of power continuously (much higher than almost every other battery if this is important to you – but please note this depends on inverter choice as well)
  • Peak power 20kilowatts for 3 minutes (also depends on inverter choice).
  • Indoor or outdoor installation.

Eaton Nissan xStorage

Eaton Nissan xStorage
Eaton Nissan xStorage
  • 4.2kWh, 6kWh, and 9.6kWh options available.
  • Single Phase / Three Phase Compatible
  • 10 Year Warranty
  • Inverter Included
  • 97% system efficiency
  • Smartphone connectivity
  • Price includes installation (in UK/EU)
  • Not currently available in Australia

Tesla Powerwall 2 Australia Installation

Tesla Powerwall 2’s are being installed in Australia right now. Read our Tesla Powerwall 2 Installation overview!

 Tesla Powerwall 3 Release Date

No word yet about the Powerwall 3, but as soon as there are any whispers, we’ll have them here. Compared to Powerwall 1, the Powerwall 2 has 40% more peak power, 50% more continuous power, double the storage capacity, an included inverter, and all for the same price. For some people it’s a viable cost-saving option – so if the Powerwall 3 can come even close to some of these improvements from the previous models, we’ll be well on our way for it to be a no brainer to have a solar PV system + energy storage on every roof in the country.

 Tesla Powerwall 2 New Zealand Installation and Price

According to FutureFive, the first New Zealand installation of a Tesla Powerwall 2 occured on August 24, 2017, in a Queenstown home. It was installed by Vector subsidiary PowerSmart Solar and they expect to install many more over the coming months. PowerSmart will also be installing New Zealand’s second Powerwall 2, but after that there are a number of other suppliers who are Tesla Certified and will be offering the product to Kiwis.

The RRP for a Tesla Powerwall 2 (including a Tesla Gateway) is $18,000 NZD for a single 14kWh (13.5 usable kWh) device.

Read More Solar News: