Mercedes-Benz Energy and Vivint Solar have agreed to a partnership to bring Mercedes-Benz home energy storage systems to the US.
Both companies will introduce a joint package that will provide homeowners with the German engineering and performance of Mercedes-Benz batteries coupled with Vivint Solar's expertise in designing, installing and servicing solar energy systems.
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This partnership stands as Vivint Solar’s first collaboration to integrate batteries with another company, while it is also Mercedes-Benz Energy's first collaboration with a US solar provider.
Mercedes’ storage systems are based on the same automotive-grade battery technology used in its electric and hybrid vehicles.
Boris von Bormann, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Energy Americas, said: “As Mercedes-Benz electrifies its vehicle fleet, solar plus storage is essential to enable those vehicles to be powered by clean energy.
“With batteries featuring the best in automotive engineering from Mercedes-Benz, and high-quality solar energy systems from Vivint Solar, our solution allows customers to take the next step toward a sustainable energy future. The launch of our home battery system in Europe has been successful and we are thrilled to be working with Vivint Solar to bring a reliable and compelling solar plus storage offering to American homes.”
Each energy storage system will consist of modular 2.5kWh batteries that can be combined to create a system as large as 20kWh, making it easy to customise energy storage systems to each individual homeowner’s preference, the companies claimed.
Vivint Solar will tailor each system based on the customer's individual energy consumption needs, providing consumers with a way to help them manage their energy costs while using clean energy.
David Bywater, CEO of Vivint Solar, added: “The choice to work with Mercedes-Benz Energy, a world-class innovator in energy storage, was an easy one. We believe their energy storage system is going to delight our customers and are impressed with their ambitious plans for the future. We look forward to bringing this innovative solution to consumers, beginning in our California markets, and to empowering greater renewable energy usage.”
California will be the first US market where Vivint Solar will offer this new energy storage solution. Starting in Q2, California customers will be able to buy the offering outright or finance the purchase.
Rival solar installer SunRun partnered with LG Chem in the US in November 2016 while the largest residential US PV provider, SolarCity, was bought by Tesla in the same month.
