FreeVolt
4.4
6.9
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
FreeVolt is a growing solar company with unique panel offerings. With its patented PV Graph solar panels, FreeVolt is the only company in the industry that manufactures panels made of graphene. FreeVolt was established in Poland in 2005, and opened up business in the United States in 2016. The company is continually expanding, but currently has offices in California and Nevada.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Unique Graphene Panels
- 30-Year Warranty
- Best Price Guarantee
- Virtual Project Gallery
- BBB Accredited, A+ Rating
Unique Graphene Panels
FreeVolt manufactures its own solar panels, which is unique for the industry. Most companies use panels manufactured by third-parties. FreeVolt claims that its distinctive graphene solar panels (or PV Graphs) are more efficient, durable, and affordable than other solar panel types.
With Traditional PV modules, silicon cells within the panels are connected in a series. This means that when one cell under functions, the whole panel loses productivity. With PV Graphs, 100 percent of the energy is usable electricity. If a PV Graph is partially shadowed or micro-damaged, it does not affect the activity of the rest of the panel cells — which saves you a lot more energy. Because of this, PV Graphs function well in scattered light or dimly lit areas.
30-Year Warranty
When it comes to solar warranties, FreeVolt is a strong competitor in the industry. The 30-year warranty applies to modules, mounting, and racking systems. The company claims to provide continued service and maintenance for its customers, but whether these services are covered by the 30-year warranty is undisclosed.
Best Price Guarantee
Unlike other companies in the industry, FreeVolt guarantees that customers will pay the best price for solar. According to its website, FreeVolt is willing to match--and beat--competitor prices for solar products of equivalent quality.
Virtual Project Gallery
On the FreeVolt website, potential customers can view videos and photos of recent solar installations. The company also has a strong social media presence on Facebook, continually posting educational content about solar energy and FreeVolt products. These online resources are valuable for potential customers to see FreeVolt’s quality of work.
BBB Accredited, A+ Rating
FreeVolt is a Better Business Bureau accredited business, and has been since 2017. BBB has given FreeVolt an A+ rating, which is the highest rating a company can get.
The Bad
- Vague Financing Options
- Missing Website Content
Vague Financing Options
The FreeVolt website says very little about financing options. Being a solar company in California, FreeVolt’s customers likely qualify for state funding programs. However, there is no information about financing options on the website.
The FAQs section included a question about leasing versus purchasing a solar system. The company provided information about the pros and cons of both options, but did not explicitly outline its financing options in the response.
Missing Website Content
As a growing company, FreeVolt is continuing to develop new products. It offers a variety of solar products from energy storage systems and solar panels to charging stations for electric vehicles. The only issue is, information about some of these products is missing from the FreeVolt website.
Many sections on the website read, “Content Coming Soon.” While this shows customers that the business is progressing, it is unknown when the website was last revised (or when it may be updated in the future).
The Bottom Line
FreeVolt is unlike other companies in the solar industry in many ways. Its patented graphene solar panels definitely set it apart. Because this type of panel is exclusive to FreeVolt, we recommend reading customer reviews to ensure the company’s compelling claims match the performance of its products.
