Tesla expands bidirectional charging to Model 3 and Model Y for home backup power

Tesla has widened the use of its bidirectional charging system by bringing its Powershare home backup feature to the Model 3 and Model Y, extending a capability that was previously limited to the Cybertruck. The company said the feature will be available only on newly ordered vehicles placed on or after Oct. 1, 2026, in the United States and Puerto Rico. During a grid outage, a connected vehicle can send stored battery power back into a home electrical distribution system through compatible hardware. To enable the setup, users must install Tesla’s third-generation home energy storage unit, Powerwall 3, together with either the Universal Wall Connector or the Wall Connector Gen 3. Tesla said the system can deliver up to 11.52 kW of continuous output. Based on the company’s figures, if a vehicle starts at 90% charge and a household uses 30 kWh per day, higher-end versions of the Model 3 and Model Y can provide backup electricity for more than two days. The report also noted that the offering still comes with cost and regional limitations, including equipment and installation expenses and the fact that Powerwall 3 is not available for sale in Taiwan.