EverVolt not ForeverVolt: Panasonic discontinues solar and battery storage line
Another one bites the dust: Panasonic is discontinuing its EverVolt solar and battery storage product line. The company sent a letter to dealers on Monday, but noted they will continue to honor warranties. Re-read that warranty information here.
Panasonic explains closure
“We have made the decision to discontinue our solar and battery storage business line. This change allows us to focus on areas where we can have the greatest strategic impact. We remain confident in the technology and grateful to our partners and customers who have supported this journey.
“We are committed to a smooth transition and will continue to provide customer support to existing customers, as well as future customers who are undergoing installations and commissioning. Please rest assured that all warranties will be honored for both installed products and those not yet installed.
“Where third-party warranties apply, we will continue to support our customers by providing clear direction and points of contact. Support remains available via our website and our dedicated solar and battery storage email at panasonicsolar@us.panasonic.com.”
Panasonic EverVolt eulogy
Panasonic was once a top manufacturer of solar panels, focused on higher end heterojunction (HJT) modules. The company stopped manufacturing solar modules in-house in 2021, and went all-in on solar + storage, acquiring a hybrid solar inverter and launching a battery line, all rebranded as the EverVolt.
I didn’t see this one coming. The EverVolt rebrand and product line seemed solid. Michael Phelps was hyping it as a brand ambassador – his over-the-top home installation earned a Solar Builder Editors’ Choice Award last year. Heck, they just built an all-electric concept home to, in part, showcase the EverVolt solar + ESS alongside all of their new indoor air quality and HVAC systems.
Loyal Panasonic installers appreciated not just the technology, but the robust warranty backed by a legacy brand. And that felt like a great selling point in this wobbly market. But alas. Panasonic’s exit reminds of LG’s exit from the solar panel game in 2022 – a seemingly stable, reliable brand name, suddenly gone.
Reminder to diversify
The moral here for installers, as always, is product diversification. Here is BayWa r.e. director of business development Travis Walker advocating for solar installers to both be “loyal and diverse” when selecting product suppliers in a past episode of Power Forward!
