Tesla Discreetly Activates Power Export Feature on Its Top-Selling Electric Vehicle
Tesla has quietly introduced vehicle-to-load capability for the Model Y Premium in the US and Puerto Rico, available via an $80 adapter that offers two 120-volt outlets with a maximum output of 2.4kW. This feature is still not available for Model Ys in Europe and Canada, nor for any Model 3 vehicles.
Owners of the Model Y Premium can now draw power from their vehicles. The $80 Outlet Adapter connects to the mobile charger that comes with the car and provides two 120-volt sockets, supplying a total of 20 amps, or up to 2.4kW.
Despite this, Tesla has not officially announced the feature; it simply appeared on the American configurator for the US and Puerto Rico.
The capability is not available in any other regions—Model Ys in Europe and Canada still cannot export power.
In comparison, Hyundai has offered vehicle-to-load on the Ioniq 5 since 2021, supporting up to 3.6kW, and includes the adapter at no additional charge.
Tesla’s phased rollout is unusual for a company of its stature. The Cybertruck was the first to come out, followed by the Model Y Performance late last year, the Model Y L last month, and now the Premium version. The entry-level Model Y and all versions of the Model 3 still lack this feature.
The offering is modest. With a capacity of 2.4kW, it can power a refrigerator and some essentials during a blackout, but the lack of built-in sockets means using a long extension cord for most applications, and there's no vehicle-to-home functionality.
The necessary hardware has never been the bottleneck; engineers discovered years ago that the Model 3 was already capable of powering homes, yet Tesla has not activated that feature for this model.
Europe feels the absence the most. Utrecht has been utilizing a vehicle-to-grid system with a fleet of solar electric vehicles, trials have been conducted in the UK, and export tariffs in various markets compensate drivers for the electricity they return to the grid.
Competitors have filled this gap. Hyundai and Kia offer V2L as standard in much of their electric lineup in Europe, and Renault has introduced vehicle-to-grid capabilities on the R5 using a bidirectional wallbox.
In contrast, providing two outlets for $80 in just one market represents the most minimal implementation of a capability Tesla has been holding back for nearly a decade.
Published August 17, 2026 - 8:00 pm UTC
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Tesla Discreetly Activates Power Export Feature on Its Top-Selling Electric Vehicle
Tesla has discreetly activated vehicle-to-load functionality on the Model Y Premium in the US, using an $80 adapter limited to 2.4kW. However, vehicles in Europe and Canada still lack this feature.