The Zaptec Go stands out with its remarkable features, boasting a size and weight that is approximately 80% smaller and lighter than other 7.4kW EV chargers available in the market. This compact design makes it an ideal choice for discreet installations.
Equipped with an integrated type 2 socket and an LED status indicator surrounding the socket, the charger ensures easy monitoring of its status. Personalization is made possible with 6 interchangeable fascias, available in various colors.
Keeping you connected, the charger remains online through WiFi or 4G LTE-M, enabling automatic updates and seamless integration with the Zaptec App. This app allows users to monitor charging sessions and speeds effortlessly. The installation process is simplified due to the charger’s fewer built-in parts, and it adheres to the highest safety standards.
Curious if the Zaptec Go is the perfect EV home charger for you? Dive into our comprehensive review to unveil all the details.
Regarding pricing, anticipate an installation cost of approximately £1,149 without the OZEV grant, placing it competitively within 10% of the market average for home chargers.
Zaptec Go Review
Summary
The Zaptec Go is a smart and elegantly designed charger equipped with RFID technology. With dependable WiFi or 4G LTE-M connectivity, this charger remains consistently online, ensuring it stays current with the latest functions and updates. It serves as an ideal choice for individuals seeking a hassle-free smart charger experience.
Quick Review – Zaptec Go
Presenting the Zaptec Go, a meticulously crafted charger designed with minimal parts and an optimized RFID chip and socket placement for enduring reliability. Enjoy the assurance of a generous five-year hardware warranty, surpassing the typical charger’s duration by three to five times.
This compact charger, featured in our Untethered Charger Reviews, stands out as it is approximately 80% smaller and lighter than its 7.4kW counterparts, making it an ideal choice for discreet installations under the radar.
Equipped with an integrated type 2 socket and an LED status indicator encircling it, monitoring the charger’s status is a breeze. Personalize your charging experience with the option of six interchangeable fascias in various colors.
Staying seamlessly connected through WiFi or 4G LTE-M, the Zaptec Go ensures automatic updates and easy access to the Zaptec App for monitoring charging sessions and speeds. The installation process is made simpler due to the charger’s minimal built-in parts, meeting the highest safety standards.
In our comprehensive Zaptec Go review by BestEVCharger, this smart home charger scores high in design, build quality, app/software functionality, ease of installation, and charging experience. With a quick review rating of 4.5, the Zaptec Go stands out as a stylish and well-made smart charger featuring RFID technology. Its reliable connectivity ensures it’s always online, making it a hassle-free solution for those seeking a no-fuss smart charger.
Highlighted in the review is the Zaptec Go’s discreet profile, taking up 80% less space than comparable chargers. Its clever design even allows for the addition of up to three chargers in the same space, offering expandable charging capabilities.
Select from multiple fascia colors to match your preference, and enjoy the compact design that seamlessly fits into any space. The Zaptec Go app provides convenient monitoring of charging sessions, speed, and history, along with features like cable locking and access management for family and friends.
In summary, the Zaptec Go emerges as a simple, stylish, and well-crafted smart charger with the added benefit of a substantial warranty. Discover why it could be the perfect solution for your EV home charging needs in this comprehensive review.
Installation
Installing the Zaptec Go is a straightforward process for a professional electrician, typically taking 2-3 hours, assuming your existing RCD and power supply meet the necessary requirements.
Commencing the installation involves creating a hole in one of the three entry points (top, bottom, and back). The terminal cover is then gently pulled downward, avoiding any pulling towards you. To facilitate cover removal, simultaneously press on the retaining tab near the configuration switch while pulling down.
For successful use of the Zaptec Go, an upstream circuit breaker and a dual-pole 30mA RCD Type A are essential. The charger is equipped with an integrated RDC-DD 6mA compliant with IEC62955. To ensure full earth fault protection, a 30mA Type A RCD is also required.
The final hardware step involves connecting the charger to the house supply, securely attaching the wires, and pressing down all levers as indicated. Once the wires are firmly connected, replace the terminal cover and switch on the circuit breaker.
Included in the unit are all the necessary seals and gaskets to maintain the IP integrity of the device. It is important to note that sealing the mounting screws is not required, as the internal device ensures the IP seal.
When the Zaptec Go charger powers on and is ready for setup, the status indicator emits an orange hue. This signifies readiness to connect to the Zaptec app, which provides step-by-step instructions and typically takes around 2 minutes to complete the setup process.
Design
The Zaptec Go stands out as a modern charger suitable for any residence, garage, or parking space, providing the convenience of charging your electric vehicle discreetly.
Compact by charger standards, it measures 24.2 x 18 x 7.5 cm (H, W, D), positioning itself as one of the smallest home EV chargers available.
Comparably sized to an iPad Mini, the Zaptec Go is not only compact but also offers a variety of aesthetics with six available colors: Asphalt Black, Cloud White, Rock Grey, Midnight Blue, Moss Green, and Wood Brown. Personally, I find the white and black models appealing, but the blue and green options also present a fantastic look.
A noteworthy feature is the interchangeable front covers, allowing for easy replacement in case of damage or scratches, or simply for a change in style.
The front of the charger hosts an LED status ring, providing instant status updates on charging, scheduling, and power status.
In summary, the Zaptec Go is an elegant yet unobtrusive charger boasting exceptional build quality and intelligent internals. It exudes confidence both in its appearance and functionality.
Status Lights
The Zaptec Go has eight status light combinations:
- No light – power off or check power.
- White – standby mode.
- Blue – charging in progress.
- Green – charging complete or waiting for schedule while plugged in.
- Yellow – authentication required.
- Orange – waiting for installer configuration.
- Red – error.
- Purple – Firmware update in progress
Charging Speeds and How To Charge
The Zaptec Go operates at a maximum rate of 7.4kW and is exclusively compatible with single-phase power supplies – a non-issue considering that 99% of homes have single-phase setups.
Under optimal conditions, this charger can add up to 28 miles of range per hour, making it a reliable choice. For instance, a 50kW battery would take approximately 6.4 hours to charge from 10-100%. Initiating the charging process involves connecting the charging cable to the car and plugging it into the charger. Once the status light starts pulsing blue, it indicates that the car is actively charging. A green indicator, on the other hand, denotes that charging is temporarily paused as per a preset schedule.
To pause, stop charging via the app, or detach the cable from the Zaptec Go, you must wait until the charging process is completed or manually interrupted from the vehicle.
For safety considerations, the removal of the charging cable from the Zaptec Go is only possible once the charging process has been finalized or halted by the vehicle.
App & User Experience
In adherence to UK Smart Charging legislation, the Zaptec Go comes preconfigured with a schedule aimed at preventing charging during peak hours, specifically between 8 am and 11 am, as well as 4 pm and 10 pm on weekdays. This scheduling approach aligns with environmental conservation efforts and capitalizes on lower tariffs. However, users have the flexibility to override the default schedule and charge at their preferred times.
Accessing the Advanced settings page in the Zaptec App allows users to effortlessly disable scheduling and set up a personalized charging schedule according to their preferences.
Additionally, the charger provides complimentary 4G LTE-M connectivity, ensuring continuous connectivity for users, along with access to software updates.
For added security and control, users can grant permission for multiple individuals to access their Zaptec Go charger via the app. This feature is particularly useful for those who prefer a private charging setup and want to avoid unauthorized use. The access setting can be toggled on and off as needed.
Once granted access, users can create their own accounts in the app, utilizing it as an authenticator. Moreover, individuals with access can initiate charging using any RFID-enabled device, such as a Zaptec Key, which can be seamlessly added to an account through the Zaptec App.
The user-friendly Zaptec app, available on iOS and Android, simplifies navigation by avoiding complex graphs and hidden menus. Users can easily schedule charging sessions, start and stop charging, view charging history, create accounts for additional users, monitor real-time charger status including charging speed, and lock/unlock the cable to the charger.
While the app’s simplicity is appreciated, it’s worth noting that a notable feature omission is the lack of kWh price integration. The inability to integrate the kWh price into the app means users can’t automatically track charging session costs in addition to energy consumption within the Zaptec app. While users can manually calculate this, having the app handle it would enhance the overall user experience.
Security and Updates
Every Zaptec charger guarantees secure charging by incorporating a secure PIN code assigned to each charger, emphasizing the need to keep this code confidential to restrict access to specific features.
To maintain ongoing security, Zaptec commits to providing software upgrades for up to five years from the date of purchase. These updates can be conveniently applied using either the Zaptec app or the Zaptec portal.
Upon enabling authentication, charging stations within the system remain inactive until a user unlocks them using a registered RFID card or the app. The installation owner holds the authority to designate authentication and access control for the entire system or each individual station.
For those seeking a compact, discreet, reliable, and sustainably designed charging solution, the Zaptec Go stands out as the ideal choice.
Zaptec Go Summary
The Zaptec Go clinches our top spot as the preferred compact EV charger of 2023, boasting a stylish design and an uncomplicated yet highly efficient app and user experience.
While it falls short in terms of energy monitoring and tariff integration, the Zaptec Go excels in its primary function—charging your electric car rapidly and securely, demonstrating outstanding performance.
If your criteria include an appealing, intelligent, and secure EV home charger featuring RFID support for convenient tap-to-charge functionality, your search concludes with the Zaptec Go.
If this doesn’t meet your requirements, the Vorsprung Titan Review should.
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