Pod Point’s Home EV Charger

Image Source: https://pod-point.com/electric-car-news

Pod Point EV Home Charger

Pod Point's home-charging unit boasts of a charging rate that is three times faster than a three-pin plug. Designed and produced in the UK, the home chargers are durable, weatherproof, built to last and are among the safest charge points available in the UK. They are lifetime Wi-fi enabled for lifetime over-the-air updates.

At Pod Point, you can choose between two connection types for your EV home chargers: universal socket and tethered unit.

The universal socket is tagged as the flexible option as it comes with a portable cable that is sold separately. The convenient option, meanwhile, is the tethered unit with its permanently attached cable for easy use.

Pricing of Pod Point chargers varies depending on power ratings, which can be at 3.6 kilowatts (kW), 7kW, or 22kW.

3.6kW

Full price (includes value-added and tax and installation) - £779

With the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) grant - £279

Charge rate: 1.6 times faster than a three-pin plug

At the 3.6kW rate, the Pod Point EV home charger can provide up to 15 miles of range per hour (RPH). This is available with a Universal Socket or Tethered Type 1 / Type 2 connector.

7kW

Full price - £859

With OLEV grant - £359

Charge rate: three times faster than a three-pin plug

At this rate, the Pod Point EV home charger can provide up to 30 miles of RPH. You can have this either with a Universal Socket or Tethered Type 1 / Type 2 connector.

22kW

Full price - £1499

With OLEV grant - £999

Charge rate: 10 times faster than a three-pin plug

Having a 22kW capable Pod POint charger means being able to charge ten times faster than a three-pin plug. It provides an EV with up to 50 miles of RPH. It is also available with a Universal Socket or Tethered Type 2 connector.

Essential reminders before purchasing a Pod Point home charger

Among the crucial things to remind yourself of is that plug-in hybrids will charge at a maximum of 3kW only. This, although some cables or vehicle may even restrict charging at the full 3.6kW charging rate.

Also, some vehicles' onboard chargers may be limited to charge at the 3.6kW capacity. Moreover, to take advantage of a 22kW speed, a three-phase electricity supply is required. Note that most residential houses in the UK only have single-phase.

However, purchasing a 7kW or a 22kW will ensure you charge at higher speeds should you buy a vehicle with this capability in the future.

If you're still unsure about your car's onboard charger capabilities, check with your dealership.

Smart system

Pod Point smart charging hardware is designed to operate in co-ordination with grid demands. In periods of a peak, local, regional, and national electrical demand charging rate may be limited for brief periods to facilitate the need to manage the energy grid. This is typically done to maintain the stability of the network and ensure the reliability of supply.

Where the end-user has signed up to Pod Point data services information about each specific event is provided. The interruptions and limits are managed such that there should be no significant impact on vehicle charging overall.

Array charging system

The Pod Point array charging system allows multiple points to manage their individual and total charging load within the limits of fixed supply. The array system allows many more chargers to be fitted than would generally be the case, as each charger will de-rate as necessary, never overloading the incoming supply.

The system consists of suitable cabinets into which the Pod Point Array controller electronics and RCDs are fitted. A limited number of Pod Point chargers can be wired to these cabinets--- for a single-phase system, up to nine Pod Point chargers can be wired, while a three-phase system allows a maximum of 27.

OLEV

All home EV chargers of Pod Point have been accredited by the OLEV. This means they are eligible for the home charge grant which is currently pegged at 75% of the value of the charger (including installation) with a maximum of £500. Scottish Residents are eligible to receive a further grant provided by Energy Saving Trust. This additional grant offers up to £300 towards the cost of installation on top of the current OLEV scheme.

Installation, warranty and customer support

Pod Point has a set of standard criteria to determine whether your proposed area is eligible for installation:

• They should be installed in brick, plaster wall, or other suitable permanent structure
• The cable should run up to 15 meters between the distribution board/electricity meter and the Pod Point.
• The cable runs through a single wall of up to a half a meter in thickness
• The cable should be clipped flush to the wall at a height of up to six feet and running above the ground.

If your proposed destination for the charger doesn't meet the criteria, still carry out the installation but an additional cost may be incurred. Once installed by their certified electrician, you are guaranteed a three-year warranty.

Once your order is placed, Pod Point will keep in touch with you to better understand your requirements and produce a no-obligation quote for the additional works. If you decide not to proceed, a full refund will be provided.

Company overview

Pod Point provides solutions for home, workplace and destination charging. Since its establishment in 2009, Pod Point has manufactured and sold over 40,000 charging points.

Across the UK alone, there are some 2,000 Pod Point charging points installed. Of this, a little more than a third are located at Tesco stores. The company, together with Volkswagen, is planning to roll out 2,400 EV charging bays across 600 Tesco stores within the next three years.

The company also developed one of the UK's largest public networks. The move connects EV drivers with hundreds of charging stations nationwide at locations such as Sainsbury and Southern Rail.

Pod Point has also served customers of many major automotive brands and countless high-profile companies such as Lloyds Banking Group, Britvic, and O2 Telefonica, among other workplace EV charging customers.