TESLA POWER (in case of emergency)

February 21, 2021
by Sheryl Scarborough
Battery, General, She Said, Tesla Tips

When the power fails, even for a few hours, it’s annoying. But if the outage continues, combined with dangers such as bad weather, the situation can quickly become deadly. Your Tesla is more than just a pretty car in the garage. It can bridge power gaps like the total Boss that it is. I’m all for having survival options queued up and on deck. After watching disasters unfold in Texas and even Portland, Or, my research has dug up some ways to use your Tesla in a pinch.

The addition of some extra hardware means survival options could be right in your garage. Even if your version of survival simply means you’re able to maintain your WIFI connection.

YOU CAN SAFELY SLEEP IN YOUR TESLA, IN YOUR GARAGE AND STAY WARM:
“A Texas Tesla Model 3 owner shares the story of how his car saved his family, including a newborn baby, from freezing at night.”

Tesla-sized air mattress
Sleeping bag or blankets
Setting: Camp Mode

USE A TESLA TO CHARGE OR POWER SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:
With a simple, low-cost DC to AC inverter that plugs into the 12V slot, this innovative Tesla owner pressed his Model S into action during Hurricane Irma to keep his WIFI router running. Check out his experience.

He cites a $20 inverter similar to this one by Bestek.
Setting: Camp Mode.

POWER A FREEZER FROM A MODEL 3
This Tesla owner used a 1000 watt DC to AC inverter connected to the 12V battery terminals in his Model 3 to keep his 5 cu freezer running during a power outage. Check out his YouTube video. In the comments section he breaks down the math for how long and how much.

This inverter could be the one pictured in his video.
Setting: Camp Mode.

WHAT IF YOU NEED TO CHARGE YOUR TESLA? TRY SOLAR.
This guy uses a Jackery Explorer 1000 “Solar” Generator to add miles to his Tesla. NOTE: His trick to make it work is to manually adjust the charge rate setting to below the amperage limit of the charging station. Check out his video.

These are just a few ways your Tesla can come through in a pinch. However, please proceed with caution and use proper due diligence. We definitely do NOT recommend taking any action that could void the warranty on your car.

For other tips and tricks…