Integrating your electric vehicle (EV) with Homey unlocks a world of convenience and energy efficiency. You can monitor battery levels, view charging status, and track your vehicle’s location. Homey can also schedule charging, preheat your EV, or lock and unlock it remotely.
This Best Buy Guide explores how Homey integrates with various EV brands and their connected platforms. By combining it with EV chargers or PV systems, you can further optimize your EV’s energy usage.
What to Look for in an EV Ecosystem
EV ecosystems vary widely in features and capabilities, making it essential to prioritize what matters most to you. Whether it’s advanced monitoring, alerts, or EV control, focusing on the right aspects ensures an efficient and connected experience.
Monitoring
Look for an ecosystem with robust tools for monitoring various EV features, such as battery levels, charging status, range, and vehicle location, in real time.
Control
Evaluate the level of control the platform provides. Look for helpful features like managing charging schedules, adjusting climate settings, and locking or unlocking your vehicle remotely.
Alerts
Consider the importance of timely alerts for events such as low batteries, charging interruptions, vehicle movement, or maintenance reminders.
EV Charger Compatibility
Ensure the EV and ecosystem support a wide range of EV chargers, especially if you already own one.
Security and Privacy
Prioritize systems that include encrypted communication, strong authentication, and transparent options for managing your data privacy.
| Brand | Monitoring | Control | Alerts | Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 BMW ConnectedDrive |  | | | €48,000 |
 Hyundai Bluelink | | | | €40,000 |
 Kia Connect | | | | €35,000 |
 Polestar EVs | |  | | €49,000 |
 Tesla EVs | | | | €43,000 |
BMW ConnectedDrive
- Monitoring
- Alerts
- Remote Control
- Limited update interval
BMW’s ConnectedDrive platform enables smart connectivity for many vehicles, including electric models like the i4, iX, and i7. The app allows users to integrate their BMW EV with Homey Pro and remotely monitor and manage their vehicle.
Users can lock or unlock the car, adjust climate settings, and locate their vehicle by flashing its lights or sounding the horn. Alerts can notify them when charging starts or stops, the car locks or unlocks, or the A/C is running.
For EVs, Homey lets users track battery levels, monitor charging progress, and send custom messages to the vehicle’s dashboard. The geofencing feature provides live updates on their car’s location, enhancing security and convenience.
ConnectedDrive integrates smoothly with Homey, but the polling interval needs to be set to more than 5 minutes. BMW limits service calls to their API, which may affect the functionality of certain features.
Hyundai Bluelink
- Monitoring
- Alerts
- Remote Control
- Excessive use can drain car battery
Hyundai’s Bluelink platform offers advanced connectivity features for its EVs. It enables remote access and control for models like the IONIQ, KONA, and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid.
Once integrated into Homey, users can control features such as locking or unlocking the car, controlling the A/C, or using the defrosting mode. Users can also manage battery charging by setting limits or creating schedules.
Additionally, Homey users can monitor key vehicle data, including battery levels, charging status, tire pressure, odometer readings, range, speed, and overall vehicle status. They can set up alerts to notify them when the car locks or unlocks, the engine or A/C turns on or off, defrosting starts or stops, or the vehicle moves or parks. Another handy feature is the ability to view the estimated time to home (ETTH), letting users know when their spouse is expected to arrive home.
It’s worth noting that excessive use of the Hyundai app can drain the car’s battery if the vehicle is not running. Hyundai has set this limitation to prevent the overuse of its services.
Kia Connect
- Monitoring
- Alerts
- Remote Control
- Excessive use can drain car battery
Kia uses a platform similar to Hyundai’s Bluelink, called Kia Connect (or Kia UVO in older models), to deliver smart vehicle connectivity. Integration with EVs like the EV6, Kia Niro, and Soul EV enhances vehicle management through monitoring, alerts, and remote controls.
With Homey, users can track key metrics such as battery levels, tire pressure, odometer readings, range, speed, and overall vehicle status. Homey also alerts for important events, such as doors left open or unlocked, the vehicle starting to move, or a drained battery.
Like Hyundai, Kia allows users to start the car remotely, lock or unlock doors, adjust the target temperature, and fully manage the A/C. Additional features, such as preheating the cabin or activating defrosting when needed, are beneficial during winter.
However, Kia imposes platform limits similar to those of Hyundai. Excessive use of the app can drain the car’s battery or even block access to certain services, so careful use is required to avoid these issues.
Polestar EVs
- Monitoring
- Alerts
- Tibber integration
- No remote control
Polestar, a Swedish automotive brand established in 1996, initially focused on motorsports before evolving into a manufacturer of electric vehicles. Now, Polestar manufactures popular EV models like the Polestar 2, 3, and 4.
Integrating a Polestar EV with Homey allows users to monitor data such as battery levels, charging status, and current power usage. Homey Pro also lets them set up notifications for events like the car starting or stopping charging, connecting or disconnecting from a charger, and completing trips. However, it’s important to note that remote control of vehicle functions is currently unavailable, a limitation imposed by Polestar.
The Polestar app also allows users to link their Tibber account without any extra subscription, enabling efficient energy management for their Polestar vehicle. This integration lets users charge during low-price periods and automatically pause charging when prices are high.
Tesla EVs
- Monitoring
- Alerts
- Remote Control
- Limited Wake Functionality
Tesla, the company that revolutionized and popularized the widespread use of electric vehicles, offers a suite of advanced connectivity features through its Tesla App. Every Tesla vehicle has smart connectivity, allowing users to monitor and control various aspects of their car.
Integrating a Tesla EV with Homey Pro allows users to monitor, receive alerts, and control various aspects of their vehicle. Homey lets them track battery levels, vehicle speed, odometer readings, door lock status, tire pressure (TPMS), and even pending software updates.
Remote control features include locking or unlocking doors, flashing headlights, honking the horn, opening the trunk, and enabling Sentry Mode. This mode is a security feature in Tesla vehicles that is designed to monitor their surroundings when parked. Using the vehicle’s external cameras and sensors, Tesla cars can detect potential threats.
Since Tesla has transitioned to their new Fleet API, certain features have newly set limits. For example, waking the car remotely may sometimes be unreliable or unavailable.
