Tesla Model Y Performance Gains Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) Support

Tesla has quietly introduced a new feature to its refreshed 2026 Model Y Performance: official support for vehicle-to-load (V2L). The update, confirmed by Tesla in a post on X, allows owners to power appliances, tools, and small devices directly from their EV's battery using a dedicated adapter.

This move finally brings the Model Y in line with rivals from BYD, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, and others that have offered V2L functionality for years.

The feature will be initially available for the US manufactured Model Y Performance, with availability in other market models likely to come soon.

MORE▶️ How to Power Your Home from an EV with V2L

What Tesla Confirmed: V2L Only, for Now

Tesla clarified that the refreshed Model Y Performance only supports V2L, not vehicle-to-home (V2H). Owners will need the Tesla Outlet Adapter (USD $80), which works with the latest Mobile Connector.

With this setup, the car can deliver:

• 120 volts at 20 amps
• 2.4 kW total output across two household outlets

That's enough to run appliances like a fridge, laptop, or power tools during outdoor activities or short outages.

How the Model Y's V2L Compares to Rivals

• Cybertruck: Tesla's first EV with both V2L and V2H support.
• Hyundai & Kia: Offer V2L across models like the IONIQ 5 and EV6, with higher output capacity (up to 3.6 kW).
• BYD, Geely, Xpeng, MG, Leapmotor: All Chinese OEM brands comes with V2L as standard .
• Ford F-150 Lightning: Supports full V2H backup, capable of powering a home during an outage.

MORE▶️ Which Electric Cars Have Bidirectional Charging (V2L, V2G, V2H)?

Why This Matters for Australia

• Energy resilience: Australia's rising electricity prices and frequent outages during storms and heatwaves make V2L a highly practical feature. Being able to power essentials like a fridge, Wi-Fi, or medical equipment could be a selling point for families.
• Outdoor lifestyle: With camping, road trips, and remote travel being popular in Australia, V2L adds real convenience for running cooking gear, lighting, or laptops away from the grid.
• Competitor pressure: V2L comes standard in most EVs in Australia, with Tesla being one of the brands that does not currently offer this functionality. Tesla's late arrival to the feature could push the brand to accelerate adoption of V2G which is making strong progress in Australia with several V2G chargers being released this year.
• Future energy shift: With the Federal Government and state programs encouraging V2G (vehicle-to-grid) trials, Tesla adding V2H support in the future would allow Model Y owners to monetise their car battery by sending energy back to the grid.

MORE▶️ Tesla Model Y Bidirectional Charging (V2H & V2G)

Bottom Line

Tesla has finally taken a step toward broader energy integration with the Model Y Performance's new vehicle-to-load capability. While it lags behind rivals in output and lacks V2H/V2G, it's a sign Tesla is preparing for a future where EVs double as mobile batteries, something that the Australian market has been gearing up for over the last several years.