Tesla now taking deposits on new solar roof

FREMONT, Calif. (KGO) -- Tesla took a big step on Wednesday in its move from being a car company to an energy company. It began taking deposits on a new kind of solar roof tiles.

If you have $1,000 you can put down a deposit on the shingles that look like traditional roof tiles but derive energy from the sun using solar cells hidden beneath a glass surface.

CEO Elon Musk introduced their solar roof in October, installed on the homes of Wisteria Lane on the old "Desperate Housewives" set.

"Look better than normal roof, generate electricity, last longer, have better insulation, and actually have an installed cost that is less than a normal roof plus the cost of electricity," Musk said.

For example, if you have 2,000 square feet and two stories in your San Jose home, your Tesla solar roof would generate $54,000 of energy over 30 years. Installation cost would be $34,000, so you'd save over $20,000 in the long run.

Production will begin at Tesla's Fremont plant and eventually shift to a new factory in New York.

Click here for more information about the solar roof.