Tesla Expands Powershare Home Backup to Model 3 and Model Y
Tesla says some Model 3 and Model Y owners can use their EV battery to keep home power on during outages if they also have a Powerwall 3, though only newer vehicles are guaranteed to work.
Tesla says the Model 3 and Model Y can extend home backup power to more than two days for Premium and Performance models. That is shorter than the “over three days” Tesla claims the Cybertruck’s battery can provide. Support for the Powerwall 2 and Powerwall Plus is listed as “coming soon.”
The feature is not guaranteed on all Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. As Electrek points out, Tesla is only guaranteeing Home Backup will work on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles ordered from October 1st onward because not all older models include the PCS2 Lite inverter required to make the system work. So far, the feature is only mentioned as available in the US and Puerto Rico, not Canada, and not for the larger Model S or Model X. Tesla’s Powershare Grid Support feature remains exclusive to the Cybertruck.
Tesla’s EVs are not the first or only vehicles with bidirectional charging. Kia and GM also offer vehicle-to-home power on their vehicles, while Nissan’s Leaf offered power-to-grid charging years ago.