Hyundai is building a temporary ‘staycation’ hotel in the middle of the Essex countryside which it claims is the world’s first car-powered hotel. But don’t worry, you won’t be expected to sleep in your car, as the farm has luxury log cabins. 

There is also a private restaurant, bar, coffee lounge and cinema. As the site is off grid, the amenities are powered by the cars’ batteries, using the IONIQ5’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology. 

The IONIQ 5 is able to power the hotel and its experiences using its V2L feature that supplies AC power (230V/50Hz) up to a maximum of 3.6kW (or 15 Amps) power consumption. An adapter from the car provides a socket which standard domestic appliances can be plugged into. From the hotel's lights and charging points to the kettle and shower, everything is powered by the IONIQ 5. 

The food and drinks are also sustainable, with ingredients sourced locally within Essex. As well as indoor-outdoor dining and cooking over fire, the bar and restaurant area will have an IONIQ 5 coffee lounge, with espressos powered by the car. 

To finish off the evening, 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. 

The bad news is that it is only a temporary concept which will be open for 14 nights from 19 October to 5 November. 

Grace Dent, curator of Hotel Hyundai, said: “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 his amazing hotel and the full experience it offers might be here again in 2023.” 

For any drivers who over do it on the espressos and popcorn, there is a rapid charger at the nearby Morrisons in Loughton.

Better than sleeping in the car - the guests get to stay in a log cabin