Tesla’s Cybertruck’s Powershare vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature has been taken up in a big way by owners in the US, with the company and drivers of the electric ute showing what can be done using the 11.5 kW power available from the truck’s 123 kWh battery pack.
In a new video on Tesla’s Cybertruck X account, the company showcased the tech at a recent event, with the caption of the video saying: “Powershare lets you plug in tools, gear or even another EV via 120V & 240V outlets in the bed. Bringing you backup power & off-grid freedom anywhere you go and can even power your after work party on site”.
At the event in Texas, Powershare demonstrations were offered to people interested in EVs and this technology by showcasing the different equipment that can be powered by the powerpoints in truck’s bed.
Tesla showed how Cybertrucks at that event were powering the food trucks, restroom trailers, refrigerators and AV (audio visual) equipment. Even welding demonstrations were being undertaken to showcase the type of power the Cybertruck is able to deliver.
This allows for up to 9.6 kW of continuous power draw directly from the Cybertruck’s 123 kWh battery pack. This could be used to power another EV, along with the home.
That’s nearly 10 Tesla Powerwall 2 home batteries worth of energy storage in the truck itself, and with powershare, many can use to to power things on the go or at home.
It does this by using a universal wall connector, the company’s home charger, to power the home in case of an emergency or when required due to an unstable grid.
As Wes, a Tesla Lead Cybertruck engineer explains: “The truck has bi-directional AC grid generation, can generate up to 9.6 kW of power, you can plug in a UMC, you can charge a fellow’s EV vehicle, you can power your house, you can power your party.”
Along with that, test drives of the Cybertruck, including off-road experiences were offered to highlight the steer-by-wire drive and rear-wheel steering capabilities, found in very few vehicles on the market.
On the back of this post, multiple owners posted what they have been using the Powershare for with powering campsites to industrial equipment in places where you are unlikely to find power.
This highlights the versatility of having large power output from a bi-directional battery. Other V2L systems can deliver up to 3.3 kW from vehicles available in Australia, so seeing a system power much more off a vehicle showcases the possibilities.
It’s still unclear whether the Tesla Cybertruck will make onto Australian roads with recent reports suggesting that there could be something in the works. And it’s unclear when, or if, V2L capabilities will feature on existing or future Model Y or Model 3 electric cars.
Until then, we hope Tesla can incorporate this technology into its future products, helping more people use the car’s battery for more than just getting from A to B.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
