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Energy intelligence platform, Kaluza, has entered a global partnership with Hyundai Motor Group to integrate smart charging technology directly into the automaker’s consumer-facing mobile apps for Kia and Hyundai electric vehicles.
The co-development embeds Kaluza’s energy intelligence software natively into the Kia App and myHyundai App, allowing EV drivers to manage charging schedules without the need for third-party software or additional setup.
The integration will roll out first in the UK before launching in Australia, with plans for further global expansion.
How the integration works
Rather than requiring drivers to download and configure a separate smart charging application, the partnership places charging controls inside the OEM apps that Kia and Hyundai owners already use.
The system is designed to automatically shift vehicle charging to periods when electricity prices are at their lowest, offering what the companies describe as a set-and-forget experience. The software also factors in carbon intensity, directing charging toward times when renewable energy supply is more abundant.
Drivers can set the time they need their vehicle to be ready, and the app manages charging schedules around that requirement.
Vehicle-to-grid on the roadmap
The partnership also lays the technical groundwork for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, which both companies have flagged for rollout from 2027.
V2G technology would allow parked EVs to feed stored energy back into the electricity grid, potentially generating revenue for vehicle owners while helping to stabilise grid demand.
Vice President and Head of EV Energy Strategy Group at Hyundai Motor Group, Woong Tae Hwang, explained the rationale behind the partnership.
“We selected Kaluza because of their depth of expertise in energy intelligence and their ability to work with us at the frontier of what’s technically possible,” Mr Hwang stated.
“This is not just a product integration. We are co-developing the standard for how EVs participate in the energy system, and we expect the rest of the market to follow. That’s the kind of partner we needed.”
A software-first approach
CEO at Kaluza, Stephen Fitzpatrick, described the deal as a step toward defining how electric vehicles integrate with the energy system more broadly.
“Kaluza and Hyundai Motor Group are building the industry standard for how electric vehicles integrate with the energy system, starting in the UK and Australia. The market will follow,” Mr Fitzpatrick remarked.
“It’s also a critical first step in building the foundation for vehicle-to-grid services that can reduce energy costs and support the energy transition for years to come.”
UK energy retailer OVO first to market
In the UK, energy retailer, OVO, will be the first to offer smart charging through the Kia App. Kia drivers on OVO will be able to manage both their vehicle and charging schedule from a single app.
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Kia drivers currently using the OVO Charge app will transition to the Kia App, with Hyundai drivers expected to follow.
Director of EV at OVO, Alex Thwaites, pointed to the reliability of the direct integration as a differentiator.
“EV drivers shouldn’t have to think about when to charge, the app should do it for them,” Mr Thwaites noted.
“Working directly with Kaluza and Hyundai Motor Group means smart charging now sits where Kia drivers already are, on a connection that’s far more reliable than anything the market has offered so far. Our customers will charge at the cheapest, greenest times without lifting a finger.”
Australian launch to follow
The integration is expected to launch in Australia following the UK rollout. Kaluza already works with energy utilities across Europe, Australia and Asia as part of its broader platform for managing flexible and decentralised energy systems.
For the Australian market, the partnership is positioned to address friction points for EV owners around charging management, while also preparing local grid infrastructure for the eventual introduction of V2G services.
Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Nick Ross
