Many home battery companies are moving toward modular batteries with sizes that can be scaled up and customized, but not FranklinWH. The company's new battery is an even bigger block than its predecessor.
FranklinWH, which has been around since 2019, unveiled its aPower 2 battery this year at the trade show RE Plus. The aPower 2 includes upgrades in three big categories: energy storage capacity, power and warranty.
You'll get 15 kWh of capacity and 10 kW of power output. And it all comes packaged with an industry-leading 15-year warranty. The company said it also includes system software and gateway improvements. FranklinWH said the new battery should be available sometime during the first quarter of 2025. Pricing details have yet to be announced.
What do you get with the aPower 2?
The aPower 2 has made several improvements on the previous model, namely to its energy storage capacity, power output and warranty. Let's start with capacity. The aPower 2 is a big battery, offering 15 kWh. It's not a modular system, however, so if you need more than 15 kWh, you'll have to buy another giant battery. You can install up to 15 batteries per site for a total capacity of 225 kWh. The current aPower model has 13.6 kWh of capacity, which is about the same as a Tesla Powerwall.
Let's talk about power. The aPower 2 offers up to 10 kW of continuous power, twice that of its predecessor. Continuous power determines how many circuits (or areas of your home) your battery can power at any given moment. The higher your battery's power output, the more of your home you'll be able to keep up and running during an outage. While the aPower 2 isn't the most powerful battery on the market (it comes in a little below the Powerwall 3's 11.5 kW), what it does offer in the power department is still a huge upgrade.
FranklinWH also announced improvements to the aGate, which is where your battery system's grid connection, solar connection and energy management components live. The newest generation of the aGate is designed for easier wiring and installation. The FranklinWH app has had a glow-up as well, with a new visual design, smart controls, data analysis and AI-enabled instant answers.
The aPower 2 and other associated improvements are expected to roll out sometime in the first quarter of 2025.
A better warranty
The aPower 2 comes with a competitive warranty. You'll get a 15-year warranty with a guaranteed throughput of 60 MWh (or about 10,000 cycles, according to FranklinWH). Throughput is essentially the total amount of energy the manufacturer estimates the battery can deliver to your home throughout the course of its life, measured in megawatt-hours. The higher the throughput, the longer your battery should last. Keep in mind that once your battery hits the maximum throughput on the label, your warranty expires, no matter how many years you have left.
This new warranty is a big step up from the previous model's warranty of 12 years and a 43 MWh throughput. Considering the industry standard for home battery warranties is 10 years, this is extremely uncommon.
Are home batteries worth it?
They can be, but it depends on what you're looking to use them for. The main use for home batteries is for backup power during an outage, as they essentially act as an alternative to gas-powered generators. They can also help you save money on your electric bill, especially if your utility charges time-of-use rates that fluctuate throughout the day. You can avoid paying more for electricity during peak hours by using stored electricity from your battery to power your home, and then charge your battery back up when rates go back down.
Home batteries can also be useful if you have solar panels. When your solar panels generate more power than your home needs, you store the excess electricity in a battery, instead of letting it go to waste or selling it to the grid. The excess electricity can be saved for a time when you need it, like at night, during an outage or when time-of-use rates are in effect.