If you drive a Tesla, the biggest battery at your house might be the one parked in your driveway. And as of October 2026, it can finally help keep your lights on when the grid goes down.
Tesla turned the feature on for the Cybertruck on September 10, 2026, then expanded it to the Model 3 and Model Y, its two best-selling cars, on October 6, 2026 (2)(3).
The short answer: Tesla’s Powershare Home Backup lets a Cybertruck, Model 3 or Model Y send power to your home during an outage. It works alongside a Tesla Powerwall 3, which is required for the Model 3 and Model Y, and it can add up to two days or more of backup, depending on your vehicle. Here’s how it works, who qualifies and what Capital Region and Hudson Valley homeowners should know:
How Does Tesla Powershare Home Backup Work?
Your Powerwall 3 runs your home during an outage, the same way it always has. Your car simply extends how long it can keep going.
It’s completely automatic. When the grid goes down and your car is plugged into your Tesla Wall Connector, it starts sharing its stored energy with your home — no extension cords, no flipping switches. According to Tesla, the system can deliver up to 11.5 kW of continuous power, which is enough for most everyday household needs (1).
Worried about being stranded with an empty car? Don’t be. You set a limit on how much of your car’s battery can be used, so you’ll always have the range you need to get where you’re going.
How Much Backup Can Your Car Add?
More than you might expect. Tesla estimates a Cybertruck can add over three days of backup, while a Model 3 or Model Y can add up to two days — or over two days for Premium and Performance trims (1). Those figures assume a home using 30 kWh a day and a car charged to 90%, so your results can vary.
Do You Qualify?
You’ll need three things: a Tesla Powerwall 3, a Tesla Wall Connector 3 or Universal Wall Connector and a compatible vehicle. The Powerwall 3 is required for the Model 3 and Model Y, and support for the Powerwall 2 and Powerwall+ is listed as “coming soon” (4). On the vehicle side, every Cybertruck qualifies, and so does every Model 3 and Model Y ordered in the U.S. on or after October 1, 2026 (1). The Model S and Model X aren’t eligible at this time.
Already have a Powerwall 3 and a Wall Connector?
Great news, Tesla says no extra hardware is needed. Your Powerwall and Wall Connector just need to be on the same Wi-Fi network and paired together, and then Tesla turns Powershare on for you (1).
How does Powershare Work with Solar?
With solar panels, a Powerwall 3 and a Powershare-capable Tesla working together, your panels can recharge both your battery and your car during a long outage, so your backup keeps refilling instead of running down. That’s exactly what we mean when we say Solar is Smart. Solar + Battery is Genius.
Don’t have a Powerwall 3 yet?
Get a Free Estimate and we’ll walk you through your options.
What Powershare Doesn't Do (Yet)
It’s worth knowing up front that your car can be used for backup, not grid payments. In New York, your Powerwall 3 can earn money through utility programs like National Grid’s ConnectedSolutions and equivalent at many utilities. That doesn’t change. Tesla notes that when you have both, grid-program credits come from your Powerwall only, not your car (1).
Your car also doesn’t replace a home battery. It extends your backup, but the Powerwall 3 runs the show. The good news? New York’s upfront battery incentive applies to your Powerwall, which can significantly lower its cost.
Ready to Put Your Tesla to Work?
As a Powerwall Certified Installer, we can install your Powerwall 3 and Wall Connector, so your home is ready before the next ice storm or nor’easter rolls in.
Get a Free Solar Estimate or get in touch to see what solar and a Powerwall 3 could do for you. With over a decade of experience, a fully in-house team and a reputation built on trust, transparency and results, we’re ready to help you get more out of every battery you own — including the one in your driveway.
Kasselman Solar is a NYSERDA Platinum Quality Solar Installer, Powerwall Certified Installer and Enphase Platinum Installer, with 4,000+ installations across New York. Kasselman Solar is an affiliate of Kasselman Electric, serving New York since 1948.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, if you have a Powershare-capable Cybertruck, Model 3 or Model Y, plus a Tesla Powerwall 3 and a Tesla Wall Connector.
For the Model 3 and Model Y, yes a Powerwall is currently required. According to Tesla, Cybertruck owners without a Powerwall can use a separate Tesla Powershare Gateway instead.
It’s Tesla’s home EV charger, typically mounted in your garage or driveway, that charges your car much faster than a standard outlet. With Powershare, it also works in reverse, letting your car send power to your home during an outage. Powershare works with the Tesla Wall Connector 3 or the Universal Wall Connector.
Tesla estimates up to two days for a Model 3 or Model Y Standard, over two days for Premium and Performance trims and over three days for a Cybertruck, for a home using 30 kWh a day.
Not at this time. Your Powerwall 3 can earn money through utility programs like National Grid’s ConnectedSolutions.
Published: 10/12/2026
