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Tesla’s plan for simple solar rentals could increase competition

The company has seen a drop in solar power installations. Is the new plan sustainable?

Tesla plans to rent solar panel systems to customers starting at $50 per month.
Tesla plans to rent solar panel systems to customers starting at $50 per month.
Tesla

Tesla bought solar installer Solar City in 2016 as part of Elon Musk’s plan to offer a full stack for sustainable energy, from generation to acceleration. Tesla customers are supposed to be able to order panels, a home storage battery and an electric car all in the same store.

In reality, over the past year, Tesla’s seen a big drop in the number of solar power installations it’s performing. Now the company is trying to re-kick-start its solar panel business by offering systems for a monthly rental payment instead of a large up-front cost.

Other companies already offer leases and “power purchase agreements,” which are designed to reduce up-front costs, but which often come with long contracts.

Experts say Tesla’s move into solar rentals could spur new competition, but is it sustainable for Tesla?

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