For a few weeks in the Essex countryside about an hour from London, a select group of guests will have the opportunity to stay at a pop-up Hyundai hotel, powered entirely by EVs. With a cabin, restaurant, and private cinema, this concept hotel represents a future of off-grid luxury potential, while simultaneously showcasing the capabilities of the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s vehicle-to-load technology.
Unlike several of its competitors, Hyundai Motor Group has been rather quick in embracing electrification of its vehicles and has taken the process leaps farther by exploring adjacent technologies to support the process.
This includes development in autonomous technologies, advanced EV charging, and even the “world’s first bi-directional city.” Furthermore, the South Korean automaker has put heavy funds into R&D and often holds innovation contests for younger generations.
The automaker’s leap into EV innovation has truly gained momentum from the driver’s seat of the IONIQ 5 – its first BEV to debut on its dedicated E-GMP platform and the kickstart to its new IONIQ brand of all-electric vehicles.
The IONIQ 5’s 800V platform offers some of the fastest charge speeds in the industry, in addition to vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities – meaning the EV itself can be used as an energy storage system to power other devices, charge a separate EV, or perhaps help power an entire Hyundai hotel?
You can win a chance to stay at the Hyundai Hotel in the UK
Hyundai shared details of its upcoming pop-up hotel, which was curated alongside broadcaster and critic Grace Dent, in a press release today. It will operate for three weeks and give a select group of winners the chance to experience it firsthand.
The decision for the hotel experience not only showcases sustainability by being powered entirely by EVs off the grid, but can also help UK residents rethinking their vacation plans due to current cost-of-living woes.
To help provide some time away without breaking the bank (or the grid), Hyundai Hotel is accepting entries to win a stay in the English countryside. The guest suite consists of a high-end luxury cabin that offers charging points, shower, and an absolutely vital tea kettle – all powered by the IONIQ 5 and its V2L tech.
The restaurant menu and mixology were curated by Dent and include sustainable, locally sourced ingredients from Essex. The restaurant includes indoor-outdoor dining, cooking over fire, and an IONIQ 5 coffee lounge that delivers espresso brewed using energy from the EV.
In the evening, lucky winners will be able to watch their favorite movie in a private cinema area that includes a projector, speaker, and popcorn machine all powered by the IONIQ 5. Dent spoke about the intent behind Hyundai Hotel and hints at more opportunities to come:
We’re looking for unique, memorable stays more now than ever and this is a delicious blend of innovation, luxury and comfort that gets you thinking. With power coming from the car, where could Hotel Hyundai pop-up next? I’m excited for those staying with us to sample the sustainable, locally sourced menu as well as the equally fabulous cocktails, and of course to enjoy a good night’s sleep. I hope this three-week pop-up hotel is just the start for this concept of a car plugging in and powering a luxury experience like this. I’m predicting that guests will be hoping that his amazing hotel and the full experience it offers might be here again in 2023.
You can sign up for a chance to win a stay at the Hyundai Hotel, which includes welcome cocktails, a three-course meal, evening film, and breakfast basket. Click here for a chance to win a stay.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Click here to learn more.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news!
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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