What name would you like to appear in your review?
Chris
What is the make & model of your charging unit?
Pod Point Solo Smart Charger
What year did you have your charging unit installed?
2019
Which company installed it and would you recommend them?
Pod Point themselves installed it and yes, I would recommend them.
How much did you pay for your unit and installation?
£300.
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Why did you purchase this particular unit?
I purchased this particular unit as Hyundai had teamed up with Pod Point and negotiated a discounted price, which together with the OLEV grant, made this the best choice.
List 3 or more points that you like about the charging unit.
- I like the neat appearance of the unit
- I like that it’s smart and connected to my internet
- I like the charging schedule capabilities.
List 3 or more points that you don’t like about the charging unit.
- There’s nothing to dislike about the unit to be honest.
Outline any faults you have experienced with the unit.
In the early days after installation, there was a bit of a glitch, which was corrected by an over the air update. Other than that, the only other problems I’ve encountered were caused by me, confusing the charging schedule with a conflicting schedule set in the car.
Provide your overall rating for the charging unit.
Tell us about your home charging routine.
I use my EV most days, mostly for short local journeys. My average weekly mileage is 150 to 200 miles but a large proportion of that is irregular 250 mile round trips, mostly motorway based. I charge both at home and at a selection of rapid chargers when taking longer trips. At home, I probably charge about once a week, overnight, to 100%, ready for the longer trip and ‘on the road’ charges tend to be short top-ups to around 80%, enough time for a toilet break and snack/drink.
If you were buying a new charging unit now, what would you buy and why?
As I am more than happy with my current charger, I would still probably buy the same one again. If I had solar panels, then I would likely buy one that has full integration with solar charging and would divert surplus solar energy to the car.
Tell us about your electricity provider and tariff. Would you recommend them?
My energy provider was AVRO until they recently went bust and I was moved to Octopus. I am glad it was them I was moved to, as they supply 100% green energy, fitting in well with owning an EV and on that basis, I would recommend them. I am currently on their standard variable rate, which is approx. 20p per kWh.
I am planning to install battery storage in my home, to charge it during the cheap period at night, which I can then use during the more expensive daytime. Once I have done this, I will then be looking at changing to something like Octopus Go or Agile tariff or indeed any EV specific tariff they may offer, so the home batteries can be charged at the optimum cheapest time. I would estimate that on average I currently spend £40 per month charging the car.
Are you part of a charger-sharing scheme for those who don’t have their own charger?
No I don’t share my charger, it is in my private garage.
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