Hyundai Ioniq 5 powers remote reindeer farm (V2L)

It is Ho-Ho-Ho for Hyundai (and the beginning of our holiday season) today as the Korean company took the Ioniq 5 high up north, near the alleged home of Santa Claus, to help him power his sledge. That is not exactly what they said, but certainly, the spirit.

To put it into news terms, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 served as a power bank for a remote reindeer farm outside Tromsø, Norway. In fact, Hyundai’s press bureau made a whole “Arctic Adventure” out of it to “showcase how the company’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology can create unique experiences”.

The Hyundai EV added power to the remote Tromsø Arctic Reindeer farm for three days and supplied energy to an off-grid cabin for a dinner, only using Ioniq 5’s V2L function, in which the energy stored in the car’s battery is transferred to an electric device.

All Hyundai models utilising the Group’s E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform) arrive with V2L capabilities as standard. The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) mounted on the platform can direct electricity to help operate and charge other electric machinery (110 / 220V), much like a power bank on four wheels. In the Ioniq 5, for example, a 220-volt V2L outlet is situated below the rear seats. An additional external recharging outlet, which requires a specific adapter from Hyundai Mobis, can supply up to 3.6 kW of power.

Returning to the reindeer farm, Hyundai says the mini-trial “proves that off-grid locations around the world can meet their energy requirements with this alternative solution to non-renewable energy sources”.

You’d still need to fully charge your electric car, of course, before taking off to the cabin for a few days – which is just what we will do.

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We wish you a merry and peaceful holiday if you observe it and look forward to another electrifying year!