Samsung and Hyundai sign memorandum on joint development of services for smart homes and cars

Samsung Electronics has announced a collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group to expand its SmartThings platform to support "connected" (i.e. Internet-connected) vehicles, including electric vehicles. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop solutions for future lifestyles that fully integrate smart home and connected cars. At the very least, this will have implications in a few years when Hyundai cars will support SmartThings devices and scenarios, which can provide additional opportunities for owners of Samsung appliances and Hyundai cars. And provide a competitive advantage to these manufacturers.

The partnership plans to develop Home-to-Car and Car-to-Home services, as well as an integrated home energy management system. These services will allow the smart home to "communicate" with car entertainment systems, and users will be able to perform various car-related activities directly from their homes. For example, they will be able to start the car, control the climate control, open and close windows, and check the battery level of the electric vehicle. In turn, from the car, users will be able to control household appliances such as TVs, air conditioners and electric vehicle chargers.

The SmartThings platform will also allow users to adapt their environment by simultaneously controlling multiple devices, including cars, through routines such as "good morning mode" and "coming home". For example, when the morning alarm on the Galaxy smartphone goes off, the curtains will automatically open and the lights and TV will switch on. When the user is ready to go to work, the car will automatically set the optimum temperature. In addition, the smartphone and TV will display information such as the level of residual charge and the range of the electric vehicle.

It is also planned to develop an integrated home energy management system that will allow users to control energy consumption, including connected devices. Information on the energy used by the electric vehicle and its charger will also be available, allowing users to set the optimal time for charging the car. Connected electric vehicles can automatically set the optimal time to charge, taking into account price differences depending on the time of day, blackout response programme, solar panel or energy storage system data, and carbon emissions for a specific time.

Source: Samsung