How much does EV charger installation cost?

A typical home EV charger installation costs between £800 and £1,200 depending on the charger model and cable run distance. This includes the charger unit, all cabling, installation and commissioning. The OZEV grant covers up to £350, bringing the net cost down to £450-£850. Longer cable runs or consumer unit upgrades (if required) may add to the cost.

What is the OZEV grant and how do I claim it?

The OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) grant provides up to £350 towards the cost of installing a home EV charger. To qualify, you need an eligible electric vehicle, off-street parking, and the charger must be installed by an OZEV-approved installer like ALPS Electrical. We handle the entire grant application process — you simply pay the reduced price.

Which EV charger is best for home use?

The best EV charger depends on your priorities. The MyEnergi Zappi is ideal if you have solar panels as it can divert excess solar energy to your car. The Ohme Home Pro offers the best smart tariff integration for cheap overnight charging. The Tesla Wall Connector is the premium choice for Tesla owners. The Wallbox Pulsar Max offers excellent build quality and smart features. We can advise on the best charger for your specific setup.

Can I charge my EV from solar panels?

Yes, and this is one of the most satisfying aspects of having both solar and an EV. A MyEnergi Zappi charger can automatically divert excess solar energy to your car, giving you genuinely free motoring. On a sunny day, a 4kW solar system can add 15-20 miles of range per hour of charging. Combined with battery storage, you can store daytime solar energy and charge your car overnight from the battery.

What is the difference between tethered and untethered EV chargers?

A tethered charger has the cable permanently attached (like a petrol pump), so you simply grab the cable and plug in. An untethered (socketed) charger requires you to use your own cable. Tethered is more convenient for home use. Most chargers are available in both options. The Zappi, Ohme Home Pro and Wallbox Pulsar Max are all available tethered.

How much does EV charger installation cost?

A typical home EV charger installation costs between £800 and £1,200 depending on the charger model and cable run distance. This includes the charger unit, all cabling, installation and commissioning. The OZEV grant covers up to £350, bringing the net cost down to £450-£850. Longer cable runs or consumer unit upgrades (if required) may add to the cost.

What is the OZEV grant and how do I claim it?

The OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) grant provides up to £350 towards the cost of installing a home EV charger. To qualify, you need an eligible electric vehicle, off-street parking, and the charger must be installed by an OZEV-approved installer like ALPS Electrical. We handle the entire grant application process — you simply pay the reduced price.

Which EV charger is best for home use?

The best EV charger depends on your priorities. The MyEnergi Zappi is ideal if you have solar panels as it can divert excess solar energy to your car. The Ohme Home Pro offers the best smart tariff integration for cheap overnight charging. The Tesla Wall Connector is the premium choice for Tesla owners. The Wallbox Pulsar Max offers excellent build quality and smart features. We can advise on the best charger for your specific setup.

Can I charge my EV from solar panels?

Yes, and this is one of the most satisfying aspects of having both solar and an EV. A MyEnergi Zappi charger can automatically divert excess solar energy to your car, giving you genuinely free motoring. On a sunny day, a 4kW solar system can add 15-20 miles of range per hour of charging. Combined with battery storage, you can store daytime solar energy and charge your car overnight from the battery.

What is the difference between tethered and untethered EV chargers?

A tethered charger has the cable permanently attached (like a petrol pump), so you simply grab the cable and plug in. An untethered (socketed) charger requires you to use your own cable. Tethered is more convenient for home use. Most chargers are available in both options. The Zappi, Ohme Home Pro and Wallbox Pulsar Max are all available tethered.

Ohme Home Pro EV Charger Review 2026: Is It Worth It?

Ohme Home Pro Review 2026

The Ohme Home Pro has established itself as one of the most intelligent EV chargers available in the UK market. Unlike standard chargers that simply push power to your car as fast as possible, the Ohme integrates directly with your energy tariff and adjusts charging dynamically to minimise cost — and, if you have solar panels, to maximise how much free solar electricity your car charges on.

We install Ohme chargers regularly across Teesside and the North East as part of our OZEV-approved EV charger installation service. This review reflects genuine installer experience rather than a manufacturer brief.

Key Specifications

Output: 7.4kW (single phase) or 11kW (three phase with compatible vehicle)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, with optional 4G SIM
Cable: Tethered 6.5m Type 2 cable (no need for separate cable)
App: iOS and Android, with real-time charging data and scheduling
Smart tariff integration: Direct API connection to Octopus Energy, Intelligent Go, EDF and others

Octopus Energy Integration

This is where Ohme genuinely stands apart. With Octopus Intelligent Go, the Ohme app connects directly to Octopus via API and automatically charges your car at the cheapest possible times — often achieving sub-2p/kWh rates during overnight smart charging slots. You simply tell the app when you need the car ready and how much charge you want, and Ohme handles the rest. The integration is seamless and requires no technical configuration once set up during installation.

Solar Panel Compatibility

Ohme offers CT clamp-based solar diversion for properties with solar panels. When your solar system is generating surplus electricity, Ohme increases charging speed to use that free energy rather than exporting it at lower SEG rates. The integration is not as sophisticated as Zappi's dedicated solar-divert mode, but works reliably for most setups. If solar optimisation is your primary concern, Zappi remains the specialist choice; if tariff intelligence and Octopus integration matter most, Ohme wins.

Installation Experience

The Ohme Home Pro installs cleanly and quickly. The unit itself is compact and well-designed. Commissioning involves pairing the unit to your home Wi-Fi and configuring the app — the process takes around 20 minutes and is guided by Ohme's app setup wizard. Connectivity is reliable in our experience, with no significant firmware or connectivity issues across units we've installed.

Value and OZEV Grant

The Ohme Home Pro retails at approximately £750–£850 hardware cost. With the OZEV grant of up to £350, your net cost is typically £400–£500 on hardware before installation. Our fully installed price (including all electrical work and OZEV grant deduction) typically falls in the £700–£1,100 range depending on the complexity of your installation.

Our Verdict

For Octopus Energy customers with an EV, the Ohme Home Pro is the standout choice in 2026. The Octopus integration alone saves £200–£400 per year compared to unmanaged charging, making it arguably the most financially impactful single smart home device available. For solar-only households without Octopus, Zappi is a stronger fit. For everyone else, Ohme is our most-recommended EV charger. Contact us for a free installation quote in the North East.

How Does Ohme Compare to Zappi in 2026?

This is the most common question we hear from homeowners choosing between the two. Here is the honest comparison from an installer who regularly fits both:

Tariff intelligence: Ohme wins outright. The direct Octopus API connection means the charger knows exactly when cheap slots are available and acts on them automatically. Zappi's Agile Octopus compatibility is solid but requires more manual configuration.
Solar divert: Zappi wins. Its Eco and Eco+ modes are more sophisticated, operating from as low as 1.4kW surplus. Ohme's CT clamp solar divert works, but Zappi was designed around this use case from day one.
App quality: Broadly comparable. Both have reliable iOS and Android apps with real-time charging data, scheduling and usage history.
Hardware reliability: Both are good. We have installed dozens of each and have had minimal warranty issues with either product.

Our typical recommendation: if you have Octopus Energy and want the smartest tariff integration, choose Ohme. If your primary goal is charging from your own solar generation, choose Zappi. If you have both priorities, either works — but Ohme's Octopus integration tends to deliver more annual savings for the typical household who charges primarily overnight.

Ohme Installation in the North East

ALPS Electrical is an OZEV-authorised installer covering Teesside, County Durham, North Yorkshire and the wider North East. We install Ohme Home Pro chargers as part of our full EV charger installation service — including all OZEV grant paperwork, electrical circuit installation, commissioning and app setup. We can also install Ohme alongside a new solar panel installation or battery storage system for the complete home energy package. Request a free quote — most EV charger surveys can be completed remotely in 15 minutes.