Tesla has expanded its Powershare Home Backup function to the Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV in the United States, allowing compatible vehicles to supply electricity to homes during power outages. The feature was previously available only on the Cybertruck.
Tesla says the system can use energy stored in a vehicle’s traction battery to provide household backup power for extended periods. However, availability depends on vehicle configuration, purchase date and compatible home energy equipment.
Backup Power for Up to Two Days or More
According to Tesla, Premium and Performance versions of the Model 3 and Model Y can provide more than two days of household backup power for a home consuming 30 kWh of electricity per day.
Standard versions can supply up to two days of power under the company’s estimates. Actual backup duration will vary according to the vehicle’s state of charge, household electricity consumption and other operating conditions.
The system is intended to supply a home during a grid outage rather than provide electricity directly to individual appliances through a standard vehicle outlet.
Vehicle Compatibility and Equipment Requirements
The feature is not guaranteed to work with every existing Model 3 or Model Y. Tesla guarantees compatibility for vehicles ordered in the United States and Puerto Rico from October 1, 2026, onward. Some vehicles ordered earlier may also be compatible, depending on their hardware, but Tesla has not confirmed support for all previous versions.
Powershare Home Backup currently requires a Tesla Powerwall 3 home battery and a compatible Tesla Wall Connector. The system can provide up to 11.5 kW of continuous power.
Owners who already have the required equipment do not need additional hardware, but must contact Tesla support to activate the function.
Tesla has also indicated that support for older Powerwall 2 and Powerwall+ systems is planned. The company has not announced a timetable for that expansion or confirmed when Powershare Home Backup might become available outside the United States.
Home Backup Is Not Vehicle-to-Grid
The addition of home backup functionality does not mean the Model 3 and Model Y can feed electricity back into the public grid. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operation remains separate from Powershare Home Backup and is not currently available for these two models.
Tesla introduced a vehicle-to-load (V2L) adapter for the Model Y Premium in the United States in August 2026. The accessory allows the vehicle to power external electrical devices through a standard socket, with output limited to 2.4 kW.
Home backup serves a different purpose: it uses a compatible residential energy system to supply electricity to a building during an outage.
Cybertruck and Grid-Support Programs
The expansion follows Tesla’s earlier development of Powershare functions for the Cybertruck. In April 2026, utility company PG&E integrated the electric pickup into its vehicle-to-everything program in California, allowing eligible customers to use Powershare Home Backup to participate in grid-support schemes.
For the Model 3 and Model Y, the latest update extends backup-power capabilities to Tesla’s passenger vehicles, although hardware requirements and compatibility restrictions limit which owners can use the feature.