Ukrainians are turning to Tesla electric cars to power their homes and mitigate the effects of Russian strikes on their energy infrastructure, according to a report in the Financial Times.
One Ukrainian businessman, Oleksandr Bentsa, who has been importing and reconditioning crashed Teslas from the US for years, has found a novel solution to the energy crisis. He has repurposed Tesla batteries to create energy storage systems for homes. Bentsa told the FT that a single Tesla can be used to create up to 12 battery systems.
"An old Tesla, including the cost of delivery, will be nearly $10,000. And you can turn that into 12 batteries, and also sell the parts," Bentsa said.
The five kilowatt-hour (kWh) systems that Bentsa's company produces are capable of powering the lights and electrical appliances in a standard apartment for up to 10 hours. However, his father has taken this ingenuity a step further, plugging his entire house into a Tesla parked in his yard. The 100 kWh battery in the Tesla can provide enough energy to power the house for a week, according to Bentsa.
With winter approaching, Bentsa anticipates a surge in demand for his battery systems. Ukraine is facing rolling blackouts, with concerns mounting about the severity of the situation during the colder months. Serhiy Kovalenko, the CEO of Ukrainian energy supplier Yasno, warned in June that Ukrainians could face just six to seven hours of electricity per day if the electricity deficit reaches 35%.
International support is being sought to alleviate the energy crisis in Ukraine. Moldova and Poland are exploring ways to increase Ukraine's power supply. Poland has proposed a plan to burn fuel in Poland and send it to Ukraine, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
"At least it will partially help Ukraine survive the winter," Tusk said.
The energy crisis in Ukraine is a direct consequence of Russia's ongoing bombardment of the Ukrainian energy grid. Since spring, Russia has intensified its efforts to disrupt Ukraine's energy network, aiming to break the country's will to resist. The focus of the attacks has been on energy generation infrastructure.
Neil Holland, head of the UK's Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), reported earlier this month that Russian attacks since spring have resulted in a total electricity loss of over 9 GW.
In June, Russia launched a "massive" attack on Ukraine's power grid, marking the eighth major attack on the country's energy infrastructure since March.
"We urgently need to close our skies or Ukraine faces a serious crisis this winter," Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, a Ukrainian energy company, warned after the attack. "My plea to allies is to help us defend our energy system and rebuild in time."
Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have repeatedly urged their allies to provide increased air defense systems to counter Russian attacks.
While facing these challenges, Ukraine has also launched counter-attacks against Russian energy infrastructure, particularly targeting Russian oil refineries. Earlier this year, the US urged Ukraine to cease these attacks, citing concerns about potential oil price spikes and potential escalation from Russia.
However, Ukraine has maintained that these attacks are legitimate military targets and will continue.
