Do you remember the controversy surrounding Tesla’s support for V2L that arose four years ago? An electrical engineer disassembled a Model 3 and claimed that its OBC was bi-directional but restricted via software. However, another engineer quickly countered that this was a mistaken assessment, as some components on the circuit board were misidentified. After multiple technical discussions, the final conclusion was confirmed during an interview—Tesla's OBC is indeed unidirectional and does not support reverse discharging.
Four years later, Tesla's new vehicles have finally been equipped with a bidirectional OBC. Unfortunately, this feature is only available on the Cybertruck. The mainstream models—Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X—still do not support it. Many Tesla owners can only stare enviously at the Cybertruck’s V2L description on Tesla’s official website, wishing their own vehicles had the same capability. So, what can they do?
The professional V2L equipment manufacturer, WETOX, has the solution to this problem. The WETOX PowerShare D2 is specifically designed for Tesla owners in North America(NACS charging standard). Even if your Model 3, Model Y, Model S, or Model X lacks a bidirectional OBC, this adapter enables V2L. Moreover, it works not only with the latest models but also with vehicles up to 10 years old.
How does WETOX PowerShare D2 enable it?
Before answering, let’s first provide a brief explanation for EV owners and enthusiasts about the principles of V2L.
Electric vehicles are equipped with battery capacities ranging from tens to even hundreds of kWh, making them large, high-capacity energy storage systems. However, this energy cannot be directly used because the traction battery in EVs operates on DC (direct current), while most household appliances run on AC (alternating current). To enable V2L, the DC power must first be converted to AC through an inverter.
The Tesla Cybertruck features integrated bidirectional OBC hardware, which handles DC-to-AC conversion within the vehicle. This enables users to plug appliances directly into the outlets in the truck bed, offering plug-and-play functionality.
In contrast, the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X are not equipped with this hardware. To enable V2L technology, these models require a portable DC-to-AC power adapter like the WETOX PowerShare D2. This device draws power from the vehicle, converts it to AC, and features two 5-15 outlets, enabling direct appliance connection.
Vehicle charging operates in the opposite direction of V2L, transferring energy into the battery instead of drawing it out.Long-distance power transmission typically uses AC , which is converted to DC at the charging station. This is why you often see several large cabinets near charging stations. The electricity delivered to the vehicle at this stage is already DC, bypassing the need for onboard conversion. Power levels of 250kW, 400kW, or even higher can be directly fed into the vehicle.
However, when charging at home with a Mode 2 AC charger, commonly found in garages, the car relies on its OBC to rectify and regulate the AC power, converting it into DC for storage in the battery. Due to limitations in home electrical systems and the vehicle’s internal cooling capacity, extremely high charging power levels are not supported, so home charging is typically limited to a range of a few kilowatts to around 20kW.
Note: OBC (On-Board Charger) is typically built into electric vehicles. It draws power from an AC charging station and converts it into high-voltage DC to charge the battery. An OBC capable of both charging and reverse power conversion is known as a bi-directional OBC.
Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X all come with unidirectional OBCs, which support charging but not discharging. This also means these vehicles cannot enable V2L via a software OTA update. The WETOX PowerShare D2 provides the only solution to overcome this hardware limitation.
The demand for V2L among Tesla owners, as seen in heated discussions four years ago, remains strong. Today, WETOX delivers a high-quality solution with the PowerShare D2. Tesla owners eager to learn more can visit the official WETOX website for details.
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