Between increasingly extreme weather, rising electricity demand, and the rapid expansion of data centers, energy independence is starting to look less like a talking point for doomsday preppers and more like sensible planning. That mindset shift is driving more homeowners than ever toward solar-plus-battery solutions like the industry-leading Tesla Powerwall, but Powerwall is no longer the only game in town.
UPDATE 05OCT26– Added the EcoFlow DELTA Pro.
Maybe you’re avoiding Tesla products because of Elon Musk’s political antics, or maybe it’s the recent Tesla recalls that have given you pause, or maybe you just want to see what else is available. Whatever the reason, there are more attractive home battery options than ever, and they have enough high-tech features built in that keeping the lights on during a storm might be the least interesting thing you can do.
As I was putting this list together, I realized there were many ways to present it. “The best batteries…?” Too opinion based. “The cheapest batteries…?” Too much research and a quick descent into Temu-style nonsense. In the end, I went with the same solution I’ve been using on my 0% EV financing lists: alphabetical order, by brand.
SOLIX X1 anchor
The Anker SOLIX X1 is designed to be highly modular. Starting with a relatively modest 5 kWh of energy storage from a single, low-profile LiFePO4 battery, the X1 system allows owners to build up storage and expand it up to 180 kWh. That flexibility makes it a particularly interesting option for homeowners who are sold on the concept of a home battery but aren’t quite sure how far they want to go. With Anker SOLIX X1, they can meet their most critical needs from day one and develop a system that can meet their needs later.
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BLUETTI EP800
The portable power experts at BLUETTI have created another modular home battery system built around the company’s EP800 inverter and B500 modular battery packs. A basic two-battery configuration provides 9.92 kWh of storage, while additional packs can increase the total capacity to almost 40 kWh and 7.6 kW of power.
The EP800 can be powered by rooftop solar panels or microinverters, but BLUETTI designed it to also be able to charge from the grid during off-peak hours, storing that energy for when rates go up. That means you get backup power and uptime savings without the need for rooftop solar, making the EP800 a compelling case for renters or homeowners who aren’t yet ready to make the jump to a full solar and storage system.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra
Less permanent than a Powerwall, but still an important whole-home backup, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra battery is an interesting middle ground in the home battery space, combining a 7.2 kW 120/240 V inverter with 6,144 kWh LFP chemistry modular batteries that you can stack up to five for approximately 30 kWh of storage per stack. What’s more, the system can consume up to 4 kW of power through its high-voltage photovoltaic input, making it capable of being much more than an emergency backup and is very easy to integrate into an existing solar panel system.
Finally, DELTA Pro batteries are reported to retain at least 80% of their capacity after an impressive 3,500 cycles (about 10 years of daily cycles, give or take).
Enphase IQ 5P Battery
If you’re looking for a single-brand solution for EV charging and whole-home battery backup, but don’t want to be “tied down” to the GM or Tesla ecosystem, Enphase offers a full line of battery solutions that might be what you’re looking for.
Described as a completely off-grid system, Enphase batteries allow homeowners to power their homes without a utility connection, even for extended periods. It works by combining Enphase IQ Battery 5P with IQ8 series microinverters with Sunlight JumpStart and a third-party standby AC generator.
“Energy system developer Enphase Energy is providing an even more holistic approach to managing home energy use with the introduction of a new electric vehicle charger technology called the IQ line,” wrote Scooter Doll, when the brand first introduced its electric vehicle charging solutions in 2023. “Enphase IQ is Wi-Fi enabled and integrates seamlessly into the customer’s existing home system that can be controlled with their phone.”
FranklinWH aPower S
Fans of the Tesla Powerwall often point to its sleek, integrated design as one of the most attractive things. The FranklinWH aPower S takes a similarly clean and minimalist approach, packaging the battery and inverter into a single unit and simplifying installation. Each aPower S unit stores 15 kWh of usable energy and can deliver up to 10 kW of continuous power, while multiple aPower batteries can be combined for larger homes or greater energy needs.
The aPower S can also connect to existing solar installations and be controlled virtually as part of a larger VPP scheme, making it a particularly flexible option for homeowners who already have solar and can simply add storage to their existing solution.
We had the opportunity to speak with FranklinWH CEO Gary Lam about the scalability of their home battery solutions. You can watch that episode, above.
GM Home Power System
Possibly the most integrated EV + backup battery + solar option available, the GM Energy Home System promises to do everything a conventional home solar battery does, plus the ability to work seamlessly with your GM EV to provide even further flexibility and energy independence: Whether that means using the electric fuel stored in your electric vehicle to last much longer in an emergency, or using the energy stored in your home’s solar battery to power an exhaust in your electric Chevrolet, it’s up to you.
GM Energy and GM Auto Dealers include Qmerit as their installation partner. They’re great, but if you already “got a guy,” you can order the 10.6 kWh home system directly from GM Energy’s website for just $11,897 (as I write this).
Sigenerargia V2X
As some of the earliest and most enthusiastic adopters of electric vehicles, Tesla fans have also been among the strongest advocates of using the energy stored in their car batteries to support their homes, or even the grid itself. Unfortunately for them, the slow-selling Cybertruck is the only Tesla vehicle that officially supports two-way charging. If you’re one of the many Model 3 and Y owners frustrated by those delays, there’s good news: Those vehicles are now capable of V2H charging thanks to an “awesome” Powerwall competitor, Sigenergy.
However, the good news doesn’t end with Tesla cars. The Sigenergy V2X also works with several popular electric vehicle models using the DIN70121 protocol and with several VW/Audi/Porsche and Mercedes-Benz models using the ISO15118-2 protocol.
Our Editor-in-Chief, Fred Lambert, recently did a deep dive into Sigenergy with Sylvain Juteau, President of Roulez Electrique, and was deeply impressed with the system. I’ve included the video above and you can read more about the system at this link.
I am not an electrician, chemical engineer, or someone who has researched thousands of home battery installations. That’s why this isn’t a “best batteries” post after all, but rather our friends and solar industry experts at EnergySage. It’s all three things and they really like Villara VillaGrid+.
“The Villara VillaGrid+ stands out as the best battery on the market, scoring the highest in EnergySage’s rigorous equipment rating system, explains EnergySage’s Kristina Zagame. “That said, (the Villara VillaGrid+) is not necessarily the best alternative to the Tesla Powerwall. It is a very different (and much more expensive) battery.”
What makes VillaGrid+ worth the extra price? According to Zagame, it all comes down to the battery’s lithium titanium oxide, or LTO, chemistry. “Unlike more traditional lithium-ion batteries, LTO has better recharge capabilities for longer life cycles and is carbon-free, making it safer. The downside is that you’ll definitely have to shell out more money upfront for VillaGrid+.”
That extra money will also buy you some extra peace of mind, as Villara backs its LTO batteries with a 20-year warranty compared to Tesla Powerwall and its (and almost everyone else’s) 10-year deal. I couldn’t find a price, but Villara’s other products, like the 5.75 kWh VillaGrid battery, cost almost double the cost per kWh of the Powerwall.
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