The South Korean multinational automaker Hyundai has unveiled plans to erect a “luxury pop-up” hotel entirely powered by its Ioniq 5 in Essex, England. It is reportedly scheduled to open for three weeks in 2023.
InsideEVs reported that vehicle-to-load (V2L) features of the Ioniq 5 are intended to be showcased by the pop-up hotel.
Interestingly, it will have a cabin, a restaurant, and a cinema. A kettle, an EV charger, and a shower are all included in the cabin suite. On the other hand, there will also be a projector, speakers, and a popcorn maker in the hotel’s cinema.
In addition, the restaurant will only serve food that is produced locally. While this is going on, the coffee shop will serve espressos.
It is also worth noting that the hotel seems to only have one cabin, which means it can only accommodate one group at a time.
According to The Driven, Hyundai describes the guest suite as “offering everything guests can expect from a luxury boutique hotel.” Meanwhile, the restaurant is regarded as “an indoor-outdoor dining with cooking over a fire and the bar and restaurant area offering a coffee lounge, with expertly prepared espresso … all powered by the car.” As for the cinema, “Guests are invited to enjoy a film from a car-powered projector and speakers, with a V2L powered popcorn machine for the true cinema experience.”
In an effort to attract customers and promote the project, there is also a contest to win a free trip for those interested in staying at the hotel.
Notably, the partnership between the South Korean company and broadcaster Grace Dent formed Hotel Hyundai.
Dent stated, “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.
“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 this amazing hotel and the full experience it offers might be here again in 2023.”
The concept emerged after a poll of more than 2,000 British tourists revealed that 55% are currently evaluating their future travel plans due to the rising cost of living. 44% of the 2,000 participants said they would like to have more staycations in 2023.
According to Shropshire Star, Hotel Hyundai is the world’s first hotel powered entirely by electric cars. It is reported to be a response to the rising cost of living that influences people’s travel plans.
Around 8,000 Hyundai Ioniq 5 deliveries are made each month throughout the world. The report indicated that the “5’s unique design, clever tech, and rapid charging speeds courtesy,” made possible by its 800-volt architecture, significantly contributed to its success.
Meanwhile, the anticipated Ioniq 6 sedan from Hyundai will enter dealerships at the start of next year.
This type of innovation is indeed very exceptional since it makes a huge contribution to the adoption of electric vehicles both locally and globally.