Tesla Update Limits Third-Party Vehicle-to-Home Discharge in Australia
Owners report power cuts after minutes, while the same software branch enabled Powershare backup in North America.
A recent Tesla software update is disrupting the ability of Australian owners to use their vehicles as home power sources via third-party bidirectional chargers, raising questions about vehicle interoperability and consumer control over battery resources.
What Happened
Owners in several countries report that Tesla software from the 2026.38 branch, which began rolling out in October, cuts third-party discharge within minutes. On forums, users describe power stopping after approximately three minutes with a battery management alert, or after 15 to 20 minutes regardless of load. Previous workarounds, such as Camp Mode and Service Mode, no longer function. The issue affects users of EleJoy, Tlyard, and Sigenergy bidirectional chargers, with Tlyard warning that the new software detects 'simulated charging' and may sever the power link. Tesla’s release notes for the update cited only 'security improvements' and minor fixes, with no mention of changes to discharge functionality.
Why It Matters
The same 2026.38 software branch delivered Powershare home backup capabilities to owners in the US and Canada, allowing Teslas to back up houses alongside competitors like Ford and GM. However, Tesla Australia has stated that Powershare cannot be retrofitted to existing vehicles and is limited to vehicle-to-load functions in that region. Consequently, for existing Teslas in Australia, third-party equipment is the only method for home power supply. If the software blocks this equipment, owners are left without any home backup option. This situation highlights a broader concern regarding interoperability: if automakers can disable third-party functionality through non-rollbackable over-the-air updates, bidirectional chargers become dependent on manufacturer goodwill. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has previously identified 'denying interoperability' as conduct that can distort competition in digital platform markets.
The Bottom Line
The incident serves as a test case for who controls the battery in a consumer's driveway. While some owners are deferring updates to maintain functionality, others are seeking regulatory intervention, arguing that statutory consumer guarantees under Australian law cannot be voided by manual warnings about third-party equipment. The outcome may influence future regulatory approaches to vehicle discharge interoperability globally.
