One of the world's leading electric vehicle manufacturers has announced two major technological breakthroughs which could impact thousands of drivers.
Swedish automaker Polestar has launched its first bi-directional charging offer to motorists, allowing them to monetise their vehicles when parked.
In partnership with dcbel, the vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology will help support motorists in the event of a power outage, as seen recently in Portugal and Spain.
Bi-directional charging allows electric cars to charge and discharge energy from their batteries. Energy can then be sent to the driver's home or back to the grid.
The car can help motorists reduce their own energy costs, in addition to protecting homes in the event of a blackout as an additional source of power.
Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller said: "Bi-directional charging is a game changer, not only for the car industry, but the home energy ecosystem.
"As it lowers your total cost of ownership and makes your car work for you even when parked, this makes the choice of driving a Polestar even more attractive."
While the system is currently only available to owners of Polestar 3 models in the United States, starting in California, it is planning to launch in other markets in the future.
Polestar has announced two major technological breakthroughs for its electric vehicles
|POLESTAR
Residents in California will be able to make use of the offer, with estimates that they could save as much as $1,300 (£987) a year.
The Polestar 3 could also help in the event of a blackout for up to 10 days if the power is rationed during the event.
Motorists can also benefit from the California Energy Commission rebate, allowing them to offset large parts of the investment in the energy system and the installation.
Olivier Loedel, head of software product management at Polestar, added that the launch was "an important first step" as it aims to launch bi-directional charging features to more markets.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Local authorities tipped to tackle e-bike misuse as 'unsafe' vehicles pose major safety risks to Britons
- Elon Musk rages at Europe 'strangling itself' as Tesla's self-driving tech delayed by 'insane' rules
- Millions of drivers back new driving restrictions for SUVs as thousands of accidents prompt action
Polestar has outlined plans to expand bi-directional charging across its models
|POLESTAR
Polestar has already released a bi-directional-ready AC home charger with Zaptec in Germany, with plans for a wider rollout in the future.
The Gothenburg-based manufacturer is also introducing new features inside its vehicles, with the introduction of Google Gemini in all of its vehicles from the Polestar 2 onwards.
Drivers will be able to make use of the Gemini AI voice assistant, in addition to an upgrade to the Google Assistant feature.
The Gemini AI will allow motorists to speak directly with the vehicle, including "brainstorming" and "new learning opportunities".
Polestar will be introducing Google Gemini AI into its vehicles
|POLESTAR
Sid Odedra, Head of UI/UX at Polestar, explained: "Our collaboration with Google is a great example of how we continue to evolve the digital experience in our cars.
"Gemini brings the next generation of AI voice interaction into the car, and we're excited to give a first look at how it will enhance the driving experience."
Polestar stated that it would roll out the Gemini AI in its vehicles from 2026 onwards, starting with US English first.
"We have collaborated with Polestar for years on bringing innovative technology to connected cars. We're excited to bring Gemini to Polestar 5 and showcase it at the Slush conference," Haris Ramic, director of product management at Google, said.