If you can’t decide whether to choose Zappi or Hypervolt charger, I got you covered.
In this article, I’ll compare both EV chargers, and help you decide which one is a better option for you.
Ease of Installation
Zappi v2
The Zappi electric car charger is a great choice for anyone looking for an easy-to-install and efficient charging solution.
Unlike other chargers, the Zappi doesn’t require an earth rod or external earthing device, thanks to its built-in protection against the loss of the protective neutral and earth (PEN) conductor.
With a 230V/240V nominal AC supply from a 32A circuit breaker, the Zappi can be installed in most homes with minimal electrical work.
One of the best things about the Zappi is its compatibility with renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
The charger has special smart settings for these sources, making it an excellent choice for environmentally-conscious car owners.
Wiring up the Zappi is also incredibly easy – it’s similar to wiring up a light switch, with only three cables (earth, neutral, live) required for a single-phase supply into the unit to provide power.
In addition to its straightforward installation process, the Zappi also features a CT terminal for CT installations and an eSense input that senses the availability of economy tariffs and boosts the charge when in ECO or ECO+ charging modes, making it an ideal option for those looking to save money on their charging costs.
Overall, the Zappi is a great investment for anyone looking for a reliable, easy-to-install, and eco-friendly electric car charger.
With Curve B circuit breakers recommended, and no external RCD usually required, installation takes around 3 hours, including drilling and cleaning up, making it a breeze for competent electricians to install.
Hypervolt Home 2.0
The Hypervolt Home 2.0 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a hassle-free installation of an electric vehicle charger.
With its built-in PEN protection and 6MA DC RCD protection, the charger requires only a type A RCD and 32A MCB or equivalent protection at the source, without the need for an earth rod.
The charger comes with Hypervolt’s HyperConnect cable, available as a 4mm CSA 3 core cable in both SWA and non-SWA formats, and an installation kit complete with a drilling template and integrated spirit level.
It’s no wonder why electricians love installing the Hypervolt, with its sleek design and top-notch support from Hypervolt.
After installation, the charger enters “party mode,” where LED lights add a special touch to the Hypervolt’s overall aesthetic. The unit is well-made and well-packaged, reducing the chances of transit issues.
In case of warranty problems, Hypervolt is quick to respond, with some electricians reporting installation of up to fifty chargers without any issues.
The Hypervolt Home 2.0 is compact and easily installed in most locations, making it a great choice for anyone looking to charge their EV at home.
It’s also compatible with all popular EVs. Overall, the Hypervolt Home 2.0 is an excellent product that provides both easy installation and reliable performance.
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Design
Zappi v2
The design is functional, robust and built to last, with a unique shape that resembles an old wall clock with a curved top and angled bottom.
Available in two colour schemes, white and light grey or black and light grey, both are equally appealing and fitting for various installation locations.
Although larger than the Hypervolt Home 2.0, the Zappi’s size doesn’t detract from its appeal.
The charger’s front features an LCD display and four control buttons, allowing users to control charging and view charger information at the charger itself.
The display is easy to read and the charger is ready to use, indicated by a simple RGB LED indicator on the front.
The Zappi is IP65 rated, making it weatherproof and suitable for all installations. The charger comes in tethered and untethered versions, allowing users to choose based on their needs and preferences.
The tethered version has an elegant cable tidy that wraps around the unit and is hidden by the body, while the untethered version provides a cleaner look without the need for a cable.
The Zappi’s use of acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) for its enclosure makes it fully recyclable, ensuring that it can be repurposed in the future.
Although the Zappi’s size may not blend in with its surroundings, it makes up for it in functionality, ease of use and overall quality.
Hypervolt Home 2.0
The Hypervolt Home 2.0 is a great mid-sized electric vehicle charger, offering a sleek and compact design that sits nicely between larger and smaller options.
Measuring only 101mm at its thinnest point, this charger barely protrudes from the wall, making it a perfect fit for smaller spaces.
Available in both white and black, the Hypervolt Home 2.0 has a modern and unassuming appearance that can blend well with any home’s exterior.
The black model, in particular, is inconspicuous, but the white model is equally stylish.
One unique aspect of the Hypervolt’s design is the hidden cable tidy located in the body of the charger.
The 5m tethered cable wraps neatly around the unit, eliminating the need for a separate cable tidy and adding a touch of elegance to the unit.
The optional charger holster is also a great add-on that keeps the charger head in place, giving the setup a more uniform look.
However, the tethered setup can make the unit look slightly cluttered. An untethered option would be a welcomed addition to the Hypervolt lineup in the future.
Overall, the Hypervolt Home 2.0 is an excellent mid-sized EV charger with a sleek and modern design that can fit in almost any location.
If you’re looking for a compact and elegant charging solution, the Hypervolt Home 2.0 is an excellent choice.
Also read: EV Battery in Hot Temperature: 5 Things to Know
Charging
Zappi v2
Looking for an EV charger that can handle different charge speeds? Look no further than the Zappi charger!
With the ability to charge up to 7kW single-phase and 22kW three-phase, as well as 3.6kW single-phase and 11kW three-phase charge speeds, this charger can handle a variety of electric cars.
The 7kW Zappi is especially impressive, adding up to 25 miles of range per hour and charging most cars with a battery under 60kWh in about 9 hours.
While cars with a larger battery may take up to 12 hours, the Zappi’s solar power integration makes it worth the wait.
One of the standout features of the Zappi is its solar power integration.
With two ECO charging modes, the Zappi can automatically adjust the charging current in response to on-site generation and household power consumption.
This means you can charge your EV with 100% solar power generated from your solar panels or a combination of solar and mains.
In addition to solar PV support, the Zappi can also be fed with power from your wind turbine or micro-hydro system without any special settings required.
And when it comes to the charging experience, the Zappi charger is a dream to use.
You can set up charge schedules to make power available when you need it and even lock the charger from the unit using a PIN number.
With three charging modes (ECO, ECO+, and FAST), the Zappi charger can handle a variety of charging needs.
The ECO and ECO+ modes have three boost modes (Manual, Smart, and Scheduled) to improve efficiency and ensure you get the energy you need when you need it.
Overall, the Zappi EV charger is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a versatile, solar-powered charging solution for their electric vehicle.
Hypervolt Home 2.0
One of the standout features of this charger is its ability to connect to your home Wi-Fi via Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n @2.4 GHz, ensuring a stable connection for the app to work seamlessly.
Another great feature is the charger’s LED status lights, which display a solid blue light when ready to charge and turn green when your vehicle is charging.
If you choose to use the scheduled charging option, the light will turn purple, making it easy to know when the charging will start.
The tethered design of the Hypervolt is also a plus, as it maintains a clean and uniform look. However, if you prefer an untethered option, you may want to look elsewhere.
The Lock/Unlock feature in the app is also worth mentioning, as it ensures no one can initiate a charging session without your permission.
In terms of charging speeds, the Hypervolt charges at 7kW AC, adding approximately 25 miles of range per hour and charging most EVs to 100% in under 8 hours.
The charger also comes with a 5m tethered cable as standard, with 7.5m and 10m cables available for an additional cost.
If you’re looking for precise energy consumption monitoring, you can opt to add an internal MID meter.
Additionally, the Hypervolt app is excellent, providing easy access to all charging modes and data. You can even disable the LED lights if you prefer a stealthier look.
Finally, the Hypervolt Home 2.0 can connect directly to solar panels, allowing you to charge for free if you have enough panels to provide the necessary power.
Overall, the Hypervolt charger is an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable and user-friendly EV charging solution.
App and Support
Zappi v2
Unfortunately, the app that comes with it falls short in many aspects. As evidenced by poor reviews in the app store, it’s clear that the app is not up to par.
On the upside, the Myenergi app is user-friendly, fast, and easy to navigate.
While it doesn’t provide all the features of the charger display panel, it does offer some useful functions such as setting timers, seeing charging data at a glance, and prioritizing your Myenergi chargers.
However, there are a few shortcomings with the app. For instance, it lacks advanced profile management, the ability to export data, and locking and unlocking the charger in the app.
Additionally, it would be great to have firmware updates pushed through the app instead of manually through Wi-Fi.
Despite these issues, Myenergi provides excellent customer support, promptly resolving complaints and addressing queries.
They also make it easy to request a return, report a fault, and submit warranty claims through their website.
Overall, while the Myenergi app has some limitations, the charger’s excellent design and customer support make it worth considering.
Hypervolt Home 2.0
I’m always on the lookout for apps that make charging more accessible and intuitive.
And I have to say, the Hypervolt app is one of the best I’ve tried to date. It’s straightforward to set up and offers a wealth of features that make managing your charging sessions a breeze.
The app’s white and green color scheme is sleek and modern, and the interface is easy to navigate.
One standout feature is the ability to control the LED brightness directly from the app, a feature missing from other chargers like the Wallbox Pulsar Plus.
The app also lets you lock and unlock your charger remotely, adding an extra layer of security to your charging experience.
The app’s three main screens offer a wealth of information, including session data, energy consumed, and real-time energy metrics. And with two charging modes – scheduled charging and plug and charge – you can easily tailor your charging sessions to your lifestyle and energy tariff.
Perhaps the most exciting feature is voice control, which lets you control your charger with Alexa voice commands. It’s easy to set up and incredibly convenient, making the Hypervolt a true smart charger.
Customer support is exceptional. Whether you’re dealing with technical issues or have questions about your charger, the Hypervolt team is always happy to help.
Overall, I’m thoroughly impressed with the Hypervolt app and charger. It’s user-friendly, feature-packed, and backed by exceptional customer support.
Verdict
After reviewing the features and performance of the Zappi V2 and the Hypervolt Home 2.0 chargers, it’s clear that both are excellent options for EV owners.
The Zappi V2 is a great choice for those who are looking for a versatile and reliable charger that can work with a variety of EVs.
Its Smart features, such as the ability to limit charging to certain times or power inputs, make it an excellent choice for homeowners looking to reduce their electricity bills.
The MyEnergi app, while lacking some features, is well-designed and intuitive to use. The firmware updates are a nice touch, as they keep the charger up to date with the latest features and performance improvements.
On the other hand, the Hypervolt Home 2.0 is an excellent choice for those who prioritize simplicity and ease of use.
Its sleek design and straightforward interface make it an excellent choice for those who want a no-fuss charging experience. The Hypervolt app is well-designed and includes some unique features such as voice control via Alexa.
The ability to control the brightness of the charger’s LED lights is also a nice touch.
Overall, while both chargers are great options, the Hypervolt Home 2.0 edges out the Zappi V2 due to its simpler and more intuitive design, as well as its unique features such as voice control.
However, for those who prioritize versatility and control over their charging experience, the Zappi V2 is an excellent choice.
Ultimately, the choice between the two will come down to personal preference and needs