During Tesla’s investor day presentation in March 2023, Drew Baglino, the Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Energy Engineering at Tesla, confirmed that future Tesla models will incorporate bi-directional charging. While the exact details remain undisclosed, the question now arises as to which model will be the first to feature this innovative charging capability.
A surprising clue has emerged from a rather unexpected sourceâthe Tesla coloring book available at the brand’s service center. The book contains a caption that reads, “Cybertruck has enough battery power to charge a Tesla.” Although this information may seem trivial to coloring enthusiasts, it has sparked speculation among Tesla fans.
New coloring book at Tesla service centers. states "has enough battery power to charge a Tesla"
bidirectional confirmed? @elonmust
kiddos saw it first ha! pic.twitter.com/fOvDrmpLSQ
— Greggertruck (@greggertruck) July 13, 2023
Considering Tesla’s commitment to accuracy, it is highly unlikely that false information would be printed in the book. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the production version of the Cybertruck will indeed come equipped with bi-directional charging capabilities. As suggested by the caption, it is plausible that Tesla may offer vehicle-to-vehicle charging, although the extent of additional features such as vehicle-to-load (V2L), vehicle-to-home (V2H), and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) remains uncertain.
Further intrigue surrounding the Cybertruck arose when Tesla’s Chief Designer, Franz von Holzhausen, arrived in a Cybertruck at the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA for a Cars and Coffee event in late June 2023. Enthusiasts had the opportunity to closely examine the truck’s bed, which featured a small opening, presumably designed to accommodate a socket, as depicted in a video shared on Twitter.
The production version of the Cybertruck might be equipped with a 120V or 240V socket, enabling users to charge external appliances or even another electric vehicle.
It is worth noting that rival electric trucks, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, already offer bi-directional charging capabilities. The Ford model comes with Pro Power Onboard, providing standard 120V outlets and an optional 240V socket capable of delivering a charging rate of up to 9.6 kilowatts. In a remarkable demonstration of its capabilities, a Ford F-150 Lightning owner shared a video last year showcasing the truck’s ability to fully charge a stranded Mini Cooper SE while still retaining over 200 miles of remaining range.
Another aspect that piques curiosity is the battery size of the Cybertruck. According to Tesla’s Master Plan Part 3, the Cybertruck could feature a battery capacity of 100 kilowatt-hours. However, this seems relatively low for a heavy-duty truck when compared to competitors like the Rivian R1T and F-150 Lightning, which boast battery packs of 130 kWh or more.
In response to a Twitter user’s inquiry in 2021, Tesla CEO Elon Musk affirmed that the Cybertruck’s battery would indeed have the capability to power a home, further fueling anticipation surrounding this feature.
Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 11, 2021
