Electric car (EV) chargers
With so many car chargers on the market, it may seem difficult to choose the right one. They all do a similar job so it comes down to price, appearance, build quality and controllability.
Having a single app that controls and monitors power generation and usage is an important consideration.
The newest technology to consider is Vehicle to Grid (V2G) - enabling you to use your EV battery to power your home. Only a few chargers, and only certain EVs are currently compatible, but it is an important future technology to consider if future proofing is important to you.
You will see 7kW and 22kW chargers advertised. Most homes only have a single phase power supply so 7kW is the maximum. Offices and commercial premises more often have three phase making 22kW a possibility. Again doing the same job , just three times faster, if your EV is capable of charging at that rate.
Charging using a domestic socket is possible, but it's a lot more convenient to have an EV charger, you can add about 10% per hour to a 70kw battery, which is three times quicker than using a domestic socket.
You can charge much more quickly at a commercial charger but charging at home make sense using a night rate from your electricity supplier at a fraction of the cost. You could pay 7 pence per kWh instead of 56 pence or even 70 pence at some commercial charging sites.
Having driven some 50k EV miles in the UK and abroad over the last few years and having used virtually every type of charger, we have plenty of experience that we are happy to share.
Tesla Wall Connector
This is the obvious choice for Tesla owners as it is managed by the same app as the cars. It is also a cost effective and elegant choice for any EV driver.
See our Tesla section of more details
Andersen
Presenting a unique design and style aesthetic, the Andersen A2 and A3 chargers are a good choice.
These sleek looking units are available in several colour combinations and the cable can 'disappear' when you're not charging. It comes a price but wins on looks. The A2 is controlled from the excellent Kønnect app
Take a look at the options and specification
Simpson & Partners
Challenging the Andersen A2’s style and with a competitive price, the Simpson is definitely a worthwhile option.
The cable management equals other chargers on the market whilst not retracting quite as neatly as the A2. With an App that enables full control.
Colour options and specifications, here.
myenergi Zappi
Zappi is the charger from myenergi This is a UK company which uses some very clever technology.
If you've got solar panels and have their Libbi battery storage this charger is the choice for you. It works intelligently with your PV system and battery whilst optimises charging.
The myenergi app is your central control panel
Full details on their website
Podpoint, Evios & more