Tesla adds 2.4 kW vehicle-to-load to Model Y Premium with $80 adapter

Tesla has turned on a small power-export feature for the Model Y Premium: for $80, you can buy an adapter that clips onto the charging cable (the Gen 3 Mobile Connector) and turns your car into a source of household power, up to 2.4 kW at 120 volts. That's enough to run a space heater, a fridge, a saw, or basic camping gear. The adapter works with the cable that already comes with new Model Ys, and it's also available for the Model Y Performance and the Cybertruck. It does not work with the cheaper Model Y Standard or any Model 3.

This is not the same as home backup power during an outage. Tesla's own site still says its Powershare system, which lets a vehicle supply an entire house, is not available on Model Y, Model 3, Model S, or Model X. That capability remains limited to the Cybertruck, which can push much more power (11.5 kW) into a home for days and has already been approved in California to send power back to the grid through PG&E.

So if you own or are considering a Model Y Premium, the new adapter gives you a way to run a few devices off the car's battery, useful for outdoor projects or emergencies where you just need an outlet. But it won't keep your lights on in a blackout. For whole-home backup, that's still a Cybertruck feature, or would require a separate home battery system.