What’s the best way to choose a home EV chargepoint?
Kim Adams
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AS the demand for electric and plug-in hybrid cars increases, the number of home chargepoint suppliers is growing too. This means there is a huge choice, ranging from a basic socket that will get power into your battery with the minimum of fuss, to designer units packed with technology.
Even the cheapest is likely to cost around £700 once fitted, so before choosing one, you will need to think carefully about the features you want now and might need in the future.
For example, will you want to use it to take power from your solar panels? If so, then you will want to choose a chargepoint that is compatible with them and can divert the home-generated power into the car’s battery.
If you have an energy supplier with a smart tariff, you may want to find a charger that is compatible with, and can talk to, the company’s servers. This feature is being added by more brands all of the time, but currently it is limited to certain chargers such as Ohme and Zappi. Check with your energy company for the latest list.
Next, you will need to consider whether you want to go tethered or untethered. In the former case, the cha
