Articles & Analysis

Complete Guide: Building a 20kWh Home Battery for Under $3,000

Step-by-step guide covering cell sourcing, BMS selection, enclosure options, permitting, and real-world performance for a DIY LFP home battery system.

EU Battery Passport Regulation — What US Importers Need to Know

The EU Battery Passport takes effect February 2027. US exporters face two compliance deadlines, and the harder requirements are what most aren't ready for.

Tesla Megapack Prices Fall as Utility-Scale Storage Competition Intensifies

Tesla has cut Megapack pricing as CATL and BYD drive grid-scale costs lower — improving the economics for community solar pairing and merchant storage.

Configuring a JK BMS for Non-LFP Chemistries: Sodium-Ion, LTO, and NMC

The JK BMS supports profiles beyond LFP — but defaults are set for LFP and will cause problems with sodium-ion or LTO cells. Here's what to change and why.

Solid-State EV Batteries: Toyota and Samsung SDI Advance Programs Toward Production

Toyota and Samsung SDI are advancing solid-state batteries beyond pilot scale. Here's what the chemistry delivers and what near-term buyers should expect.

Sodium-Ion Cells Breach $40/kWh Threshold at Volume, Undercutting LFP

CATL and HiNa have pushed sodium-ion below $40/kWh at volume — the first chemistry at that level at scale. Here's what it means and who benefits first.

Sodium-Ion Is Ready for DIY: What the New Chemistry Means for Your Next Home Battery Build

CATL Naxtra cells hit 175 Wh/kg with 10,000+ cycles and 93% capacity at −30°C. Sodium-ion cells are available under $70/kWh. The honest case for switching.

BYD Blade Battery vs. LFP Pouches: Which Is Better for a DIY Build?

BYD Blade leads on nail-penetration safety via Cell-to-Pack. Can you source it for a DIY build, and does it outperform EVE LF280K where home storage counts?

CATL's 500Wh/kg Condensed Battery: What the Technology Actually Delivers

CATL's condensed matter battery claims 500 Wh/kg — nearly triple current LFP. Here's what the technology is, what the claims mean, and why it matters.

Inverter Shootout: Victron, Sol-Ark, EG4, and Growatt for DIY Home Battery Builds

I've installed all four. Here's which one I actually recommend — and why the right answer depends on whether this is your first build—or your fifth.

What the 2025–2026 Battery Degradation Studies Actually Show — And Where They Disagree

Three major datasets — Recurrent Auto, Geotab, and Stanford — converge on some findings and conflict on others. The disagreements are as useful as the consensus.