Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Can Now Serve as Home Backup Batteries
Tesla is expanding its Powershare Home Backup feature so some Model 3 and Model Y owners can use their car's battery to power a home during an outage. The feature was previously limited to the Cybertruck.
Some Tesla Model 3 and Model Y owners will now be able to use their vehicle's battery to keep lights and appliances running longer during a power outage. The capability comes through Tesla's Powershare Home Backup feature, which until now was offered only on the Cybertruck.
The feature also requires a Powerwall 3 home battery. Tesla says support for the Powerwall 2 and Powerwall Plus is coming soon.
How long the power lasts
According to Tesla, the Premium and Performance versions of the Model 3 and Model Y can extend home backup power to more than two days. The company says the Cybertruck's battery can provide more than three days.
Limitations
As Electrek points out, Tesla only guarantees that Home Backup will work on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles ordered from October 1 onward, because not all older cars include the PCS2 Lite inverter the system needs.
For now, the feature is listed as available only in the US and Puerto Rico, not in Canada, and it does not cover the larger Model S or Model X. Tesla's Powershare Grid Support feature, which sends power back to the grid, remains exclusive to the Cybertruck.
Competition
Tesla is not the first company with bidirectional charging. Kia and GM also offer vehicle-to-home power on some of their vehicles, while the Nissan Leaf offered power-to-grid charging years ago.
