Tesla Breaks Compatibility With Third-Party V2L Devices

If you use a third-party adapter to pull power out of your Tesla, you might want to hold off on the latest software update. Owners on the Tesla Motors Club forums report that recent releases starting with software update 2026.38.5.1 have broken compatibility with third-party vehicle-to-load (V2L) devices.

How the V2L Workaround Worked

V2L lets you use your car’s battery to power things like appliances, tools, or camping gear, and it can even keep a few essentials running during a power outage. Tesla’s official version is called Powershare, but it was limited to the Cybertruck and a few high-end Model Y trims for a long time.

Not a Tesla App

That led to a small industry of third-party V2L devices from brands like Elejoy. These adapters plug into the car’s CCS port and start what the firmware sees as a DC charging session, then reverse the flow to pull power from the battery. It even works on cars as old as a 2017 Model 3 with a CCS retrofit — or it did, at least.

Owners had to follow a routine to keep it running. Forum user FalconFour, who said they’d been using one almost daily for over a year and a half now, described turning off the AC, pausing music, opening the charge port, starting Theater mode, and partially closing the driver door before plugging in. That kept the car awake without triggering a fault, since closing the doors while discharging would normally shut it down.

Update 2026.38.5.1 Shuts It Down

After installing the update, FalconFour said the car now “throws a BMS_a076_SW_Dch_While_Charging fault and shuts down.” Discharging at 3 kW, it cuts out after about three minutes. Other owners said they get 15 to 20 minutes regardless of load, and the Camp Mode and Service Mode workarounds that previously used to work haven’t helped. They advised any owners who rely on these third-party V2L devices to avoid installing software version 2026.38.5.1 (or later) for as long as they can.”

Forum members suspect Tesla now checks for energy actually flowing into the battery during a charging session. One owner said Elejoy has sent out test firmware, but it hasn’t fixed the problem.

Deliberate or Not?

It’s unclear whether Tesla blocked these devices on purpose or changed something else that broke them. Either way, the timing fits. Tesla launched its own compact Powershare V2L adapter last fall and has since been bringing V2L to more of its lineup, including entry-level Model 3 and Model Y trims. Unauthorized devices that communicate with the car’s electronics can also be a security risk, which may be another reason Tesla disabled them.

Not a Tesla App

Third-party V2L device makers are already looking for a fix, but if Tesla is now checking real energy flow, it’ll be hard to work around. For owners of older vehicles without Powershare, this may mean the end of V2L for now.