Tesla has taken another step in turning its vehicles into energy assets, with the Cybertruck now officially approved for a new residential grid program in California.
In a joint announcement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the automaker revealed that the Tesla Cybertruck, along with the Tesla Powershare Gateway and Universal Wall Connector, can now participate in PG&E’s Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) program.
For eligible PG&E customers, the setup enables Cybertruck owners to power their homes during outages while also earning money by sending electricity back to the grid during periods of high demand, with this functionality referred to by Tesla as “Powershare Grid Support.”
“Electric vehicles can do more than move people—they can help power homes and support the grid,” said Jason Glickman, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Growth at PG&E. “By welcoming Tesla into our residential V2X program, we’re expanding customer choice while making California’s grid more flexible, resilient, and affordable.”
Unlike earlier vehicle-to-grid systems that rely on complex direct current (DC) infrastructure, this program is the first approved alternating current (AC) vehicle-to-grid application in California. By using AC-based power flow, Tesla’s system can operate with simpler and more cost-effective equipment, reducing installation barriers for homeowners and potentially accelerating broader adoption.
The program is structured as an opt-in pilot, meaning participants retain control over when and how their vehicle contributes energy. During grid events—typically periods of peak electricity demand—Cybertrucks enrolled in the program can automatically export stored energy back to the grid in response to utility signals.
The program shares clear similarities with Tesla’s Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) in California, where homes equipped with Powerwall batteries can export stored energy back to the grid during peak demand events. In both cases, the goal is the same: aggregate distributed energy resources to improve grid stability while compensating participants.
However, the key difference lies in the hardware and flexibility. Powerwall-based VPPs rely on stationary home batteries, whereas this new V2X program uses a mobile energy source—the Cybertruck—effectively turning an EV into a backup power system and grid asset.
Always get the latest - make Drive Tesla your preferred source on Google
Are you buying a Tesla? If you enjoy our content and we helped in your decision, use our referral link to get three months of Full Self-Driving (FSD).Drive Tesla uses affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
