Tesla has added a vehicle-to-home (V2H) capability to the Model 3 and Model Y that allows them to be used as backup power sources during an electrical outage.
The Cybertruck could already do this, but Model 3/Ys ordered since October 1 have the capability along with “some, but not all” built before then.
Current owners can tap the vehicle icon at the bottom left corner of their vehicle’s touchscreen and choose Software then Additional Vehicle Information to see if the Powershare Support toggle is enabled.
There is one big difference between the V2H for the Model 3/Y and the Cybertruck, however. The Cybertruck only needs a Tesla Powershare Home Backup Bundle, which costs $1,970 and includes a home charger and Powershare gateway, while the Model 3/Y only works through a $585 Tesla Wall Connector combined with Tesla’s Powerwall 3 system, which includes its own 13.5 kWh battery pack and costs about $15,000 installed.
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So the cars are really more of a backup to the backup and can provide a typical home with about two days worth of power, according to Tesla. However, in some areas, the system can also be used to store off-peak electricity and sell it back to the grid during peak hours for profit.
One thing they can’t do is power anything else. The Cybertruck and Model 3s built in China also have vehicle-to-load capability and can be used to power electrical accessories through AC ports. A lot of EVs can do this, but the U.S.-built Model 3 and Y do not yet have the hardware required.
The vehicle-to-home launch follows a few recent updates to the U.S. Model 3 lineup, which includes new 16-inch touchscreens, quicker acceleration for the Model 3 Premium AWD and a range increase for the Model 3 Performance from 309 miles to 316 miles to go along with a power boost from 510 hp to 528 hp.
