Finn's Zappi EV Chargers Review & Verdict
Finn Peacock has been a Chartered Electrical Engineer since 1998, and is ex-CSIRO
The Zappi is the EV charger of MyEnergi, a longstanding manufacturer out of the UK. They pioneered the ‘smart-solar’ charger many years ago. Their early models were pretty crap IMO, but the latest model – finally with Wi-Fi and OCPP – is worth considering.
Zappi EV Chargers: Pros & Cons
- Australian Office
- Able to solar smart charge without expensive additional hardware
- 6.5 metre charging cable is longer than average
- Reasonably priced for a smart EV charger
- Maximum operating temperature is only 40°C
About Zappi
The Zappi EV charger is built in Britain by the myenergi company and has all the reliability Australians have come to expect from UK products.
Its stand-out feature is it can solar smart charge and supply an EV with only surplus power from rooftop solar. Unlike some EV chargers that require extensive additional hardware to smart charge, purchasing a Zappi with all the hardware required is easy and relatively cheap.
A drawback is the Zappi only has a maximum operating temperature of 40°C, which isn't ideal for Australian conditions. Also, an earlier version of the Zappi had some units fail in Australia. Hopefully, myenergi has learned from this and the current version won’t have reliability issues.
An Australian Office
The myenergi company has an Australian office in Melbourne. This makes them responsible for both their warranty and their obligations under Australian consumer law.
Their phone number is: 1300 743 443
Single-Phase Zappi
Homes with single-phase power can only install single-phase EV chargers. According to its datasheet the single-phase version of the Zappi can supply 7kW of power.
3-Phase Zappi
Households with 3-phase power can install single-phase or 3-phase EV chargers. The 3-phase Zappi can provide up to 22kW of power, but few EVs can accept that much. Most can only charge at 11kW or less. For this reason, and because single-phase EV chargers are usually cheaper to buy and install, homeowners with 3-phase power may decide to use a single-phase charger.
Smart Charging
If desired, the Zappi can smart charge an EV using only surplus power from rooftop solar. Because this power would normally only receive a low feed-in tariff, it’s usually the cheapest way to charge a car. Exactly how much you’ll save depends on your electricity plan and solar system size and how much you drive. While it could save over $1,000 per year per vehicle, it will usually be considerably less than that. Note that if electricity plans are available in your area with low daytime rates or special low rates for EV charging, it reduces solar smart charging's financial benefit.
The Zappi comes with a CT clamp sensor and the Zappi Hub which is a device that lets it connect to the internet and makes smart charging possible. While the older version of the Zappi didn’t require the Hub to smart charge, current ones do. You can save a little money by not getting the Zappi Hub, but that may not be smart as it won’t smart charge without it. So long as you get the Hub and have it all installed correctly, the Zappi is able to smart charge without potentially expensive additional equipment.
You can read about a homeowner’s experience with using an older version of the Zappi for smart charging here.
OCPP Compatible
Current versions of the Zappi are able to use Open Charge Point Protocol or OCPP for short. This is a standardized method for EVs and chargers to communicate and is useful because it makes it more likely it will be able to integrate with other energy management equipment you may wish to install in the future.
Charging Cable
You can get a Zappi with a 6.5m hardwired charging cable, which is longer than the 5m many EV chargers have. You can also pay around $50 less and get one without a cable that comes with a socket to plug your own into. This can be useful if you need an even longer cable.
Operating Temperature
Its operating temperature is from -25°C to 40°C. This temperature range is fine for the UK, where it has only exceeded 40°C once - so far - but it’s not ideal for Australia, where the temperature can go over 40°C in almost any location. The good news is - at the moment - its maximum operating temperature will only rarely be exceeded in most towns and cities.
EV chargers normally derate and provide less power as they approach their maximum operating temperature and this could be an issue in Australian summers.
A Choice Of Boring Colours
Unlike the majority of EV chargers that only have one colour on their plastic case, Zappi EV chargers have two-tone cases. You can choose between black and grey or white and grey.
3 Year Warranty
The Zappi warranty is only for three years, which isn’t very long. However, many EV chargers only have two-year warranties, so it’s not as bad as it could be.
My recommendation is to buy an EV charger from an installer. This makes them responsible for both the installation and the functioning of the device. If there are any problems they will have an obligation to fix them. If your installer is no longer around then you can contact myenergie to make a warranty claim.
Price
At the time of writing in June 2024, a single-phase Zappi costs around $1,600 before installation. A 3-phase one is around $1,900. Getting one without a charging cable cuts the cost by around $50.
Installation adds a lot to the total cost. Three-phase chargers require more work and so are generally more to install. Setting up smart charging capability also requires additional labour. For these reasons, installation can easily cost $800 to $1,000 or more.
Recommendation
If you’re not interested in solar smart charging then the Zappi won’t be a cost-effective choice. But if you want an EV charger that can smart charge without requiring additional hardware, then the current versions of the Zappi EV charger may be worth considering. But you should only purchase one if you're happy with it not working when the temperature goes above 40°C.
Zappi has no EV chargers in our database
Filter by:
Zappi Reviews (63)
Show Most Relevant reviews from All time
- 5 star 35
- 4 star 26
- 3 star 2
- 2 star 0
- 1 star 0
View Timeline
10 October 2024
29 September 2024
An incentive was offered by Chief Electricians Pty Ltd for this review. Learn more here.
20 July 2024
01 June 2024
19 October 2024
05 July 2024
11 June 2024
16 May 2024
App and device are easy on the eye and easy to use.
11 March 2024
12 March 2024
Thought he was good.
08 April 2024
28 April 2024
28 April 2024
07 May 2024
08 May 2024
Like the ability to change modes, especially liked the two different Eco modes
10 May 2024
22 July 2024
31 May 2024
31 August 2024
16 August 2024
09 August 2024
28 February 2024
05 August 2024
30 July 2023
25 July 2022
08 December 2022
15 February 2023
06 March 2023
16 March 2023
So far am very impressed with the Zappi and the installation - it works as advertised, providing Fast, Eco and Eco+ modes of EV charging. In Eco+ mode, it charges from the solar panels and not the Tesla Powerwall2 battery.
16 March 2023
22 March 2023
27 March 2023
09 April 2023
I rarely have issues with either of the preceding.
If I do, I just restart the hub connected to my router or Zappi via the isolator.
It is then reset and works perfectly.
My EV charger system was customised to my needs, primarily with a Zappi Type 2 untethered, myenergi hub, extra CT Clamp, longer charging cable 7m 7kW, circuit breaker at Switchboard and industrial isolator.
15 May 2023
02 June 2023
14 June 2023
24 July 2023
29 July 2023
30 July 2023
04 July 2022
05 September 2023