What makes a charger smart
A smart charger can be controlled and scheduled remotely, usually through an app, and can respond to information such as your energy tariff, your household demand or your solar generation. New domestic charge points sold in the UK are required to have smart functionality.
- Scheduled charging — set the hours the car is allowed to charge
- Tariff integration — automatically use your supplier's cheapest windows
- Load balancing — reduce charging current when the house is busy
- Solar modes — use surplus generation where supported
- Monitoring — see energy used and, on some units, costs
- Access control — stop anyone else using your charger
Off-peak tariffs are where the money is
The single biggest saving available to a home charger owner is charging during a cheap overnight window on an EV tariff. The difference between a standard unit rate and an off-peak EV rate is substantial, and over a year of typical mileage it adds up considerably.
A smart charger makes this automatic: you plug in when you get home, and the charger waits for the cheap window and does the rest. No alarms, no remembering.
Load balancing, in plain terms
Load balancing means the charger checks how much electricity the rest of the house is using and turns itself down if total demand gets close to your supply limit. It prevents nuisance tripping and, in many homes, avoids the need for an expensive supply upgrade.
What to look for in the app
- Simple scheduling that survives a broadband outage
- Reliable connection — Wi-Fi coverage at the charger position matters
- Clear energy reporting
- Whether an account and internet connection are required to charge at all
Check Wi-Fi before installation day
If your router struggles to reach the front of the house, mention it. It affects charger positioning and how you will use smart features.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use the app every time?
No. Most units let you set a repeating schedule once and simply plug in from then on.
What happens if the internet goes down?
Most chargers keep working to their last saved schedule or allow manual charging. Behaviour varies by model.
Is a smart tariff worth switching to?
For most EV households, yes — the off-peak rate typically saves considerably more than any difference in standing charge.