As gas prices continue to rise, electric vehicle (EV) options are looking more desirable to some. What often holds people back, however, is the price increase from gas-powered cars. EV home charging is a separate cost to consider. When any little bit helps, a silver lining for Tesla Cybertruck owners in California might be a $4,500 incentive to help cover home charging equipment.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced last month that Tesla’s Cybertruck and its accompanying Powershare Gateway and Universal Wall Connector were approved for PG&E’s Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) pilot program.
This marks the first time an alternating current (AC) vehicle-to-grid application has been approved in California. It’s designed to be more affordable and easier to install than the specialized direct current (DC) counterparts.
What Is the Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Program?
P&G initially launched the V2X program in December 2022. It kicked off the pilot program in collaboration with Ford’s F-150 Lightning electric truck. Since then, it has expanded to include others, such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and now Tesla’s Cybertruck.
Through the program, consumers can use the power in their car’s battery via bidirectional charger technology. In doing so, you can power your property during an electrical outage and charge your EV when electricity costs are lower. Additionally, you can earn money by sending electricity to the grid during periods of exceptionally high demand.
What This Means for Cybertruck Owners
As the newest addition to the lineup, Tesla Cybertruck owners can install Powershare Home Backup and Powershare Grid Support through the program. The former allows you to power your home for an estimated three days with a fully charged Cybertruck.
The latter allows you to send energy from your Cybertruck back to the grid during high-demand events. In return, you will earn money for contributing to the power grid during these periods.
The $4,500 incentive is an upfront payment to help cover the costs of installing the required program equipment. Participants can earn additional compensation by providing power through the Powershare Grid Support or by staying enrolled in the pilot program for the entire duration.
The program is opt-in and event-based. Customers maintain full control over which events to participate in and how much energy they share.
Read more: Texas Program Pays Cybertruck Owners to Power the Grid
Who’s Eligible?
In addition to owning a Cybertruck (or another eligible vehicle, if interested), eligible participants must 1) be residential customers in PG&E’s electric service territory and 2) have a split-phase 240-volt system in the home.
Enrollment is now open to qualifying participants. More details are available here, along with resources to help you determine whether this might be the best move for you.
