An EV charger is an Electric Vehicle charger that will charge an electric or hybrid vehicle. As electric and hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular, there is a need for more EV chargers.
One company in particular that has created these chargers is My Energi. They are a popular company and their chargers are home-approved.
To help you decide whether or not their EV chargers are suitable for you, we have extensively researched and reviewed the Zappi charger.
In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the product, including all of its pros and cons to see if it is worth the hype.
My Energi Company Background
My Energi is a company that creates charging systems for electric and hybrid cars. They focus on creating environmentally friendly ways to charge your car, such as through solar energy. They aim to use as little energy from the grid as possible.
My Energi was founded in 2016 in Lincolnshire, U.K. They are always aiming to find innovative ways to improve their carbon footprint. Although they are a relatively small company, they are making a big impact in creating products that are better for the environment.
OUR REVIEW
Zappi Charger Review
We have split up our review of the Zappi charger into useful specification sections.
Cost and Design
The Zappi charger is very simple in its design. It is white and light grey and can be placed on a wall for easy use. There is also a black and gray version.
Although the Zappi charger may have a complicated system in how it was created, it is simple to use.
The overall dimensions of the charger are 439 x 282 x 122mm. It has a protection degree of IP65. The enclosure material is ASA. The circuit breaker is 32A Curve B.
When looking at the overall specifications, there are a few things that are important to keep in mind. For example, the supply frequency is 50Hz, and the rated current is 32A Max. The standby power consumption is only 3w which is low, and the length of the charging cable is 6.5 meters.
In terms of the cost, this will vary depending on the type of Zappi charger you choose. For example, 22kW Type 2 is more expensive in comparison to the 7kW untethered. The style you choose will depend on the power your car requires.
Overall these are not the cheapest car chargers to purchase. However, it is future-proof, environmentally friendly, and worth the investment.
Awards
The awards that this charger has won since its creation in 2017 speak for themselves. The Zappi is a multi-award-winning charger.
Charging Modes
What is great about the Zappi is that it has three different charging modes. Here is some more information about the different modes:
Eco Mode
Eco mode uses a mixture of both grid power and green energy. However, this mode can use 100% green energy if this is available. Eco mode reduces the amount of grid power used as much as possible.
The Zappi charger will adjust the power usage and power it uses in response to the power that is available while using. If your home is using a lot of power, it will adjust accordingly.
Eco mode works by using all green power until the power drops below 1.4kw. When the power reaches below this, it will use power from the grid to stop it from losing power completely, which is a great feature.
Eco+
Eco+ works similarly to the Eco mode, but it works at saving even more energy. The charging power adjusts according to the power consumption and what mode is generating the power created.
If your electric or hybrid car is receiving too much power at once, the Eco+ mode will change this accordingly. In addition to this, it will pause if too much power is imported and will only continue to charge when there is enough power left over to charge the car.
Fast
As to be expected, this mode will charge your electric car quickly in comparison to the Eco and Eco+ modes.
Unlike the Eco and Eco+, Fast mode will charge your vehicle at maximum power. Although this is not as environmentally friendly as the other two modes, it is quicker and great if you are on more of a time limit.
In addition to this, it will still draw power from green electricity wherever it can, rather than relying on power from the grid. However, the power can come from one of these sources if needed, or both.
While My Energi aims to create as environmentally friendly products as possible, they are aware that not everyone will have access to green power. Given this, the fast mode can be used if you do not have solar or wind power. It allows the Zappi to work in a similar way to a regular plug socket.
It is worth noting that even if you are using electricity from the grid, this is still a lot more environmentally friendly in comparison to gas or diesel.
Timer
The Zappi charger comes with a built-in timer. The timer is useful as energy costs more money at certain points in the day. The timer allows you to charge your car at the cheapest time of the day, which is useful.
Earth Rod
The Zappi charger does not come with an earth rod. While this may sound concerning to some, this is because the charger is particularly safe and does not require the need for an earth rod. It has built-in PEN fault technology which makes the plug particularly safe.
This means that the Zappi can cost less money to manufacture and therefore keeps the overall costs down. In addition to this, the chargers are also easy to install.
Remote Access
My Energi has created an app that works alongside your Zappi charger. The app allows you to access your Zappi charger remotely and keep all of the information and data you need safe on your phone.
Security
For security, the Zappi charger can be password protected. This will help to give you peace of mind that it will be safe and no one can use it who is unauthorized to do so.
The password protection also stops anyone else from being able to change the settings on your charger without your consent.
Installation And Ease Of Use
In comparison to similar products on the market, Zappi chargers are easy and quick to install. As you do not need to install an earth rod, this cuts out much of the installation time.
In addition to this, it is easy to use. You do not have to worry about complication settings or buttons that you are unsure of how to use. The LED screen and buttons are easy to operate and understand.
The Zappi charger can be used as soon as it has been taken out of the box, which sets it apart from its competitors. You can keep track of the energy and charging rates by using the LCD screen.
The Zappi charger is one of the first of its kind and thanks to the technology that it uses it is future-proof. You will not have to worry about upgrading this charger for many years.
Warranty
What is great about the Zappi chargers is that they come with a three-year warranty. This is great because it will cover you should anything go wrong with your Zappi charger in the first 3 years of purchasing it.
As these chargers are an investment, it is great that the warranty will give you peace of mind before purchase.
Other Useful Products
What is great about My Energi products is that they can all work in conjunction with each other.
For example, the Zappi charger can be used alongside the Eddi and Harvi devices to control your over house energy consumption as well as your electric or hybrid car.
List Of Pros And Cons
Here is a list of the Zappi charger’s pros and cons.
Pros:
- Focuses on using green energy where possible
- Good charging cable length
- 3 Different charging modes
- 3-year warranty
- Easy to use and install
- Good value for the money
- Security password protected
- No earth rod needed
- Remote access
- Money-saving timer
- Award-winning technology
- One of the first chargers of its kind
- Futureproof
- Works alongside My Energi’s other products
Cons:
- Only available in white and black
- Not the cheapest of products but it is worth the investment
- Some people may be concerned about the lack of earth rod
Summary And Where To Purchase
We hope that this review has helped to give you more insight into the Zappi charger. As you can see it is innovative and one of the best car chargers available to purchase at the moment.
It is environmentally friendly, futureproof, and certainly worth investing in. Although it may not be the cheapest charger available, it is one of the best on the market and comes with a three-year warranty.
If you would like to purchase the Zappi charger, you can do so on the My Energi website here.
With an easy-to-understand and no-nonsense style, Michael writes to educate readers who are considering their first EV purchase or those looking to get the most fun and value out of their Tesla, Leaf, Volt or other electric vehicle.
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