Home EV Smart Chargers with good Apps??

[Yazza54]

Hi All

Planning on getting my first EV soon

I want to get a 7kW smart charger installed at home, with a night tariff so I can schedule charging.

There are seemingly lots of chargers with good reviews that fit into this criteria, I've looked at Rolec, Evec and Ohme so far... my worry is when I look on play store on my phone they all have bad reviews for their app, which ultimately as I understand it controls all the functionality. So good chargers, with crap apps... worries me about whether it'll do what it says on the tin.

Any recommendations for me?

[uktrailmonster]

Depending on what EV and electricity supplier you choose, the charger app is likely to be redundant. For example we have a Zappi smart charger, but use the Octopus app to control the car (Tesla) charging directly. I’ve never even looked at the Zappi app.

[Fastlane]

The Andersen app is reliable and easy to use. My Andersen A2 has proven very reliable over the last 5.5 years and has powered nearly 150k of mileage across 2 Model 3s, a Kona and an Aryia.

[phil4]

uktrailmonster said:

Depending on what EV and electricity supplier you choose, the charger app is likely to be redundant. For example we have a Zappi smart charger, but use the Octopus app to control the car (Tesla) charging directly. I ve never even looked at the Zappi app.

You might want to try the integration with the zappi rather than the Tesla, it's a lot more robust, and doesn't need you to stop the charge when you plug in, or even work around that. YMMV

[clockworks]

Yazza54 said:

Hi All

Planning on getting my first EV soon

I want to get a 7kW smart charger installed at home, with a night tariff so I can schedule charging.

There are seemingly lots of chargers with good reviews that fit into this criteria, I've looked at Rolec, Evec and Ohme so far... my worry is when I look on play store on my phone they all have bad reviews for their app, which ultimately as I understand it controls all the functionality. So good chargers, with crap apps... worries me about whether it'll do what it says on the tin.

Any recommendations for me?

Decide what electricity supplier and tariff you want to use first, then pick a charger that's compatible with the supplier's app.

I'm with Octopus, on the Intelligent Go tariff. I picked a Zappi charger, because it uses WiFi or ethernet comms, not the mobile network (poor mobile signal here).

I've got the Octopus and Zappi apps, as well as the app for the car (Kia).
All my charging is handled by Octopus. I haven't used the Zappi app for months, and I only use the Kia app for remote climate, etc.

Now that I've got into a routine, I don't even have to touch the Octopus app. I've got it set to add 40%, the car set to stop when the battery gets to 90% (done via the car's app) and I just plug in when the car battery gets close to 50%. Completely automatic, no need to use any apps.
Simple.

[uktrailmonster]

phil4 said:

You might want to try the integration with the zappi rather than the Tesla, it's a lot more robust, and doesn't need you to stop the charge when you plug in, or even work around that. YMMV

I have never had any issues with Tesla/Octopus integration.

[chunkyjh]

I second what the others have said. Decided to go with Octopus, chose a Zappi as it integrated directly with IOG and was the best ecosystem when it came to solar panels in the future. Just plug the car in, leave IOG to deal with the charging schedule and don't look at the zappi app or the car app unless I want to pre-heat it.

The charger if used this way is just a passive switch that IOG tells to turn on and off. IOG controls the times and the amount delivered

[Yazza54]

I was actually planning on e.on next as I worked out that it may be cheaper given the extra hour or so of night tariff.. I suppose it depends if you actually need it though. Some days my cars don't even move now I WFH.

I don't think the e.on one has any control on their side, just cheap between 12-7am so you just schedule the charging in the smart charger or the car. Do octopus control the charging if you go with them?

Edited by Yazza54 on Thursday 17th July 18:45

[clockworks]

Yazza54 said:

I was actually planning on e.on next as I worked out that it may be cheaper given the hour or so of night tariff.. I suppose it depends if you actually need it though. Some days my cars don't even move now I WFH.

I don't think the e.on one has any control on their side, just cheap between 12-7am so you just schedule the charging in the smart charger or the car. Do octopus control the charging if you go with them?

Octopus Intelligent Go controls the charger, so it will often charge outside the guaranteed cheap period (11:30pm to 5:30am).
Whenever the car is charging, you get cheap rate for the whole house, as well as during the guaranteed hours. This can be very beneficial in the colder months if you've got electric heating.

I often get cheap rate for a couple of hours in the evening, and sometimes until 8am.

[Yazza54]

Oh so you just plug the car in and they let you charge whenever electricity is cheap, I didn't realise it was additional to the guaranteed night rate

[clockworks]

Yazza54 said:

Oh so you just plug the car in and they let you charge whenever electricity is cheap, I didn't realise it was additional to the guaranteed night rate

Octopus decide when the car charges, but only with their Intelligent tarrifs. On one occasion, all of a charge was done outside of the guaranteed hours.
Whatever extra hours they give you are at the 7p rate (for the whole house), same as the guaranteed hours.

All you have to do is tell the Octopus app how much charge you want to add, and what time you need it done by.
It remembers the settings, so you can set it once, never have to change it again if you don't want to.

I haven't changed anything, in any app, for a few months now. Just plug in as required, and it works.

Note that this only works if you use an approved charger, or an approved car. One or the other, don't need both.
Zappi charger just seems like the best bet all round with Octopus, as it will work with any car (and, as others have said, work well with solar and batteries if set up correctly). You can even charge several different cars - just set the Octopus app up for the car with the biggest battery.

[Sydney Aqueduct]

I have an Ohme Home Pro and am on Intelligent Octopus Go.
Car set up in the Ohme app and all charging controlled via the Ohme app, just tell it how much to add by what time. Works a treat.
Have been getting lots of extra charging slots lately due to the weather.
As said above, get a charger to suit the tariff you decide on

[andy43]

If you have a 13a socket in a useful place try a granny charger first just to see how you get on with the EV thing.
Depends on mileage/usage and battery size I suppose but that’s what we’ve mostly used for ten years with no problems and minimal outlay.
I should look at cheap rate EV deals again really but as we wfh and cook on electric last time I looked at it it didn’t make financial sense.

[Evanivitch]

Indra works fine. Decent price, decent app, UK made, not just a rebadged Chinese box.

Also chosen because works off WiFi and not poor phone signal reception on my driveway.

[Paul Drawmer]

I've had my EV and Zappi for a couple of years now. Can't remember the last time I looked at the Zappi app.

If I need to change the charging mode, I just use the buttons on the charger, as I'm in front of it when I plug it in. When choosing a charger, you're best off getting one that isn't dependent on having connectivity to do anything. Buttons on the charger are a good thing.

Actually I'd widen that to any home appliance/gadget. Don't choose one that must be connected fir it to work.

[Yazza54]

Paul Drawmer said:

I've had my EV and Zappi for a couple of years now. Can't remember the last time I looked at the Zappi app.

If I need to change the charging mode, I just use the buttons on the charger, as I'm in front of it when I plug it in. When choosing a charger, you're best off getting one that isn't dependent on having connectivity to do anything. Buttons on the charger are a good thing.

Actually I'd widen that to any home appliance/gadget. Don't choose one that must be connected fir it to work.

Thanks Paul

Btw - blast from the past from the old GTM days!!

[Yazza54]

Thanks all, I'll let you know what I end up doing. Sounds like an ohme or zappi

Probably untethered, I don't mind getting the cable out to plug it in as opposed to having a roll of cable hanging off my wall all the time... Unless anyone suggests differently?

[clockworks]

Yazza54 said:

Thanks all, I'll let you know what I end up doing. Sounds like an ohme or zappi

Probably untethered, I don't mind getting the cable out to plug it in as opposed to having a roll of cable hanging off my wall all the time... Unless anyone suggests differently?

Untethered, and just leave the cable plugged in if you want.

Untethered means you can replace the cable yourself if it gets damaged, or if you need a longer cable for a second or different car.

I leave mine plugged in all the time. I bought a plug holder from Amazon, basically a "blank" socket and hook that screws to the wall.

[uktrailmonster]

Paul Drawmer said:

I've had my EV and Zappi for a couple of years now. Can't remember the last time I looked at the Zappi app.

If I need to change the charging mode, I just use the buttons on the charger, as I'm in front of it when I plug it in. When choosing a charger, you're best off getting one that isn't dependent on having connectivity to do anything. Buttons on the charger are a good thing.

+1
Note that Zappi do now offer a charger without the buttons and screen ie you have to set it up with the App. So if you go with Zappi I would choose the model with the screen/buttons.

That’s not to say the App isn’t reliable. I just never have to use it. To be fair I’ve never had to change the charger settings since the day it was installed. But I’m not currently using any of its Smart functionality since my car (Tesla) is controlling the Smart charging via Octopus. So the Zappi is simply set to charge at full speed whenever plugged in. The car then charges as scheduled by Octopus. All works reliably for me.

[uktrailmonster]

Yazza54 said:

Thanks all, I'll let you know what I end up doing. Sounds like an ohme or zappi

Probably untethered, I don't mind getting the cable out to plug it in as opposed to having a roll of cable hanging off my wall all the time... Unless anyone suggests differently?

I think you will soon get fed up of getting the cable out every time. So I would go tethered or untethered with a second cable permanently plugged in. My Zappi is tethered and the cable management is pretty good.