Hyundai announces pop-up hotel powered by electric cars

LONDON: South Korean carmaker Hyundai has announced the first hotel in the world to be powered by cars – naturally a fleet of all-electric models from its own range.

Power comes from Hyundai Ioniq 5 models, which feature a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, a bi-directional charging ability that allows the EV to power domestic appliances and in this case, an entire hotel.

The feature is becoming increasingly common on electric vehicles which, like all EVs, feature big batteries which are not doing anything useful when the vehicle is parked or sitting idle.

Hyundai is among several EV manufacturers who have begun to think about how these batteries could be useful in such situations.

The Hyundai Hotel is located near Epping Forest in the Essex countryside north of here.

Hyundai hopes it will appeal to people who prefer to go on holiday closer to home as the cost of living in Europe soars. The firm said research in Britain bears out the trend.

The hotel is a pop-up clearly designed to garner publicity and will only open for business for 14 nights from Oct 19 to Nov 5 with an option to return in 2023.

The "pop-up" Hyundai Hotel includes a luxury cabin, restaurant and private cinema – all of which are off-grid.

The project follows last year's Hyundai Ioniq 5-powered wooden cabin cum home office in the Swedish woods, part of company plans to offer "electrified experiences integral to an eco-friendly lifestyle."