Samsung Electronics announced a collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group to expand its SmartThings platform to support connected cars, including electric vehicles (EVs). The announcement came after the companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 3. They aim to develop solutions for future lifestyles that fully integrate the smart home and connected cars.
The two companies will collaborate on the next-generation smart home, connecting Samsung’s SmartThings with Hyundai and Kia’s connected cars, including EVs. They aim to develop “Home-to-Car” and “Car-to-Home” services, along with an integrated home energy management service.
The Home-to-Car and Car-to-Home services connect the smart home with in-vehicle infotainment systems, allowing for remote control in both directions. Through the SmartThings platform, users will be able to perform a variety of actions pertaining to their cars while at home. These actions include starting the car, controlling smart air conditioning, opening and closing windows, and checking their charging status. And from cars, the control of home appliances such as TVs, air conditioners and EV chargers will also be possible.
“This collaboration will enable communication from Home-to-Car. It will also integrate home energy management services that are optimized for future lifestyles,” said Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics. “By connecting the SmartThings platform with vehicles, we’ll be able to significantly enhance the customer experience in both the home and the car.”
Users will be able to adjust their environments with SmartThings by simultaneously operating multiple devices, including vehicles, through routines. Examples of these routines include “good morning routine” and “arriving home routine.” For example, when a Galaxy smartphone’s morning alarm goes off, the curtains will automatically open. The lights and television will also turn on. When users are ready to go out for work, the user’s car will adjust itself to an ideal temperature. Also, the smartphone and TV screens will display information such as the EV’s remaining battery and driving range.
“This is an opportunity to make the connected car’s Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services more convenient. This can be implemented in various fields,” said Haeyoung Kwon, Vice President of Hyundai and Kia’s Infotainment Development Center. “We plan to accelerate our technology development to continuously make global Hyundai and Kia customers’ journeys meaningful.”
Users can monitor energy consumption with the integrated home energy management service. This monitoring extends to the connected devices in their homes. Energy information of their EVs and chargers will also be available, enabling users to adjust the optimal time for charging their vehicles. EVs connected to the integrated home energy management service offer the possibility of automatically setting the optimal time for charging by factoring in different pricing by time of day, the power demand response (DR) program, photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage system (ESS) data, and time-specific carbon emissions.
To further strengthen Car-to-Home services, Samsung is working closely with HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. HARMAN’s “Ready Upgrade” is a digital cockpit package product that allows hardware and software upgrades. With Ready Upgrade, users will be able to install SmartThings functions to utilize various Car-to-Home services.
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