Everyday Electric, formerly Renew Home, has acquired connected-vehicle platform Smartcar to add electric vehicles and managed charging to its residential virtual power plant. The company announced the acquisition on 6 October 2026 whilst rebranding from its original focus on smart thermostats and HVAC systems. Everyday Electric says its VPP now coordinates more than 6 GW across smart thermostats, EVs, solar and energy storage. The company is targeting more than $5 billion in household savings over the next five years. Smartcar's platform connects vehicles with energy companies without requiring additional hardware. The acquisition brings direct partnerships with several automakers, which Everyday Electric plans to expand. The company was founded in 2024 by leaders from Google Nest energy and Google AI Labs teams in partnership with Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners.

Smartcar integrates with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG across Europe. Director of Product Smartcar has announced a new integration with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG. Through this integration, developers building with Smartcar will be able to support Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA and Audi models via a single connection across more than 30 European countries. Built directly with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG. This integration is the result of close collaboration between Smartcar and Volkswagen Group Info Services AG. It's part of how Smartcar is working directly with OEMs to make EV data and commands more accessible and durable for the teams building on top. For developers, the result is a more stable connection to six Volkswagen Group brands across Europe, with OEM-supported endpoints underpinning the experience. Supporting EV use cases across Europe. The initial focus is EV use cases where vehicle data and remote charging control matter most: * Monitoring state of charge (SoC) to support smart charging workflows * Accessing battery and charging data for energy management applications * Starting, stopping, and scheduling charging sessions remotely through driver-approved charging profiles * Enabling grid management use cases such as demand response and load balancing Smart energy providers, charging networks, and fleet platforms can integrate once and support the Volkswagen Group brands lineup. One integration, six brands, 30+ countries. Consent is the foundation. Every vehicle on the Smartcar platform is there because a driver authenticated and agreed to share specific data with a specific application. That has been true since day one, and the six Volkswagen Group brands work the same way. Drivers see what an application can access before they connect, and they can revoke access whenever they want. This matters in Europe, and not only for regulatory reasons. Smart charging, energy management, and fleet services only work if drivers stay connected, and drivers stay connected when they understand exactly how their data is being used. "European EV adoption is ramping quickly, and Volkswagen Group Info Services AG is central to that shift. This integration lets smart energy providers, charging networks, and fleet platforms reach Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA and Audi through a single Smartcar integration. It's a natural next step after our work with many other automakers, and it continues our mission to unlock the freedom of movement for everyone." - Sahas Katta, CEO of Smartcar "We are excited to partner with Smartcar to deliver enhanced energy solutions. By combining our original OEM data with Smartcars' expertise, developers gain the tools to optimize operations and energy use efficiently." - Lasse Schmidt van Hülst, Volkswagen Group Info Services AG. Availability. The new integration will roll out in the coming months. Existing Smartcar customers building with six Volkswagen Group brands will receive migration guidance from their account team. Developers and energy companies ready to build with Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, SEAT, CUPRA and Audi can get in touch at smartcar.com/contact. To see which models are supported as coverage rolls out, explore compatibility by brand, model and year at smartcar.com/product/compatible-vehicles.