Pod Point’s latest smart charger, the Solo 3, has a decent app and is available as a tethered or untethered unit. It’s also available as a 22kW 3-phase charger – ideal for car parks. It lets you schedule charging and monitor sessions. The Ohme chargers – ePod and Home Pro – have more smart features and the Home Pro has the advantage of an in-built display. Overall, the Pod Point is a decent charger, but the Ohme chargers are better. Hypervolt vs Zappi We didn’t test the solar charging but our electrician says the feature works perfectly and he would recommend it to anyone with solar panels.

When selecting an EV charger for solar panels, it is essential to consider eco modes and energy-saving options. These features enable you to maximise the use of solar energy and reduce your reliance on grid power while charging your electric vehicle. In this section, we will discuss key features and options that contribute to a more sustainable and efficient EV charging experience. Comparable with other fast chargers on the market, the EO Mini Pro 2 offers a reasonably speedy charging time- especially considering its compact size. The single-phase connection simply means that the power flows through a single conductor instead of three. While a three-phase charger can work faster, they are not compatible with various AC suppliers, and installing an appropriate cable comes with a price. If you don’t have the patience then dial up the charging capacity of the Mini Pro 3 to 22kW. Always connected. Charging schedule management is a crucial feature for users who want to maximise their solar energy usage and minimise costs associated with charging their electric vehicles. With charging schedule management features, users can set up customised charging schedules that prioritise solar energy in peak generation periods. For example, the Hypervolt Home 2.0 and Wallbox Pulsar Plus offer smart scheduling options that allow users to automate their charging, ensuring the highest possible use of solar energy. The Zappi v2.1 is the best EV charger for solar panels and renewables, with feeds for these and special charge modes for balancing. Charger Comparisons Zappi vs Ohme

Another plus with the EO Mini Pro 3 Smart Electric Vehicle Charger is its set of features. These are more quality than quantity in nature, but it’s another bonus with the British-made charger. For example, there’s built-in PME (Protective Multiple Earthings), which basically means there’s no requirement for earth rods helping to keep costs down and the installation is more straightforward as a result. If the EO Mini Pro is installed with a Garo earthing device then no rod is needed, but if you don’t use a Garo, you should still use an earth rod. You can install the EO Mini Pro inside a garage for example and that way it would use the house earthing and not need a separate device. But this would mean you could only charge indoors and would have to put the electric vehicle in the garage every time, doing it outside with this setup is dangerous.

The charging rate of the EO Mini Pro 2 flows at 7.2kW, and is compatible with the domestic charging requirements of every electric vehicle on the market. The unit can be set to lower power output, though it cannot be done through the EO app and will require an EO-approved installer to adjust it. Because it’s so small, the EO Mini Pro 2 can be installed inconspicuously on posts and even trees. You can also drill through the wall behind the charger, creating a cableless installation from the outside. So far, it’s been all good with the EO Mini Pro 3 Smart Electric Vehicle Charger, with successful charging sessions that don’t tend to take too long at all with our car’s smaller battery. A few hours for a 20 to 80 percent charge seems pretty good to me at a largely spot-on 7kW charging speed.Make sure someone over 18 is available to meet our engineer, answer any questions and stay with them throughout the appointment. A charge point with Smart Control enables your energy provider access to manage your car charge while simultaneously managing grid demand, so as to minimise network disruption and keep your costs low.