Smart tariffs and EV charger compatibility
How smart charging tariffs work with home charge points, which pairings need which hardware, and what to confirm before you buy.
The cheapest way to run an electric car is overnight charging on a smart tariff. The catch is that some tariffs control the charger, some control the car, and some require specific supported hardware.
Buying the charger first and choosing the tariff afterwards is the wrong order, and it is the most common expensive mistake we see.
- Some tariffs need a supported charge point model
- Others work through the vehicle's own connected services
- Scheduled charging on the unit works with any tariff
- We commission the unit ready for your chosen tariff
Charger-controlled versus car-controlled
Charger-controlled schemes require the supplier to talk to the unit, so hardware compatibility lists matter. Car-controlled schemes talk to the vehicle instead, which means the charger simply needs to be available when the car decides to draw.
Simple scheduling still works
If your tariff is a plain off-peak window rather than a managed scheme, a scheduled charge on the unit or in the car achieves the same saving without any integration at all.
What we do at commissioning
We connect the unit, pair the app, confirm scheduled charging works, and check the unit reports correctly before leaving. If your tariff needs a specific configuration, that gets done on the day rather than left with you.
Common questions
Can I change tariff after installation?
Yes, though a charger-controlled tariff may require a supported unit — worth checking before buying hardware.
Do I need wifi at the charger position?
For smart features, yes. We check signal at the proposed position during survey.
Will you set the schedule up for me?
Yes, before we leave — and we'll show you how to change it.
Get a fixed price
Tell us which tariff you're planning to use and we'll confirm which units support it before you order one.