Tesla has announced a recall of approximately 10,500 Powerwall 2 home battery units in the United States due to potential fire and burn hazards. The move follows 22 reports of overheating, though no injuries have been reported.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said the affected systems may fail and overheat, posing a risk of serious injury or death. The Powerwall 2 is a residential energy-storage device designed to work with solar panels, storing electricity for self-consumption, shifting usage to cheaper periods, and providing backup during power outages.
The issue stems from certain lithium-ion battery cells which can overheat under specific conditions, leading to smoke or ignition. In a few instances, the defect has caused property damage, according to the recall notice.
Tesla is addressing the problem by remotely limiting the charge on affected units to reduce risk while it arranges free replacements for customers. The recall highlights the company's reliance on battery-cell suppliers and comes as its energy-storage division becomes increasingly important to its expansion beyond electric vehicles.
