Best EV Charger for Solar Panels UK 2026: The 6 Best Options Ranked
Why Solar Compatibility Matters in an EV Charger
If you have solar panels — or plan to install them — your choice of EV charger makes a real difference to how much free driving you get. A charger with solar diverting (also called excess solar charging) monitors your panels in real time and sends surplus generation straight to your car instead of exporting it to the grid at just 4–6p/kWh.
Without solar diverting, you're either guessing when to charge or simply scheduling daytime charging and hoping the sun cooperates. A proper solar-compatible charger removes the guesswork entirely.
We've ranked all 6 chargers on our site that offer genuine solar integration — from CT clamp monitoring and automatic surplus diverting through to full battery storage pairing.
Solar Charger Comparison Table
| Rank | Charger | Price | Solar Diverting | CT Clamp Included | Battery Pairing | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zappi GLO | £779 | Yes — best-in-class | Yes | Yes (myenergi Libbi) | 3 years |
| 2 | Ohme Home Pro | £535 | Yes — built-in | No (uses grid data) | Limited | 3 years |
| 3 | Hypervolt Home 3 Pro | £690 | Yes — via CT clamp | Yes | No | 3 years |
| 4 | GivEnergy EV Charger | £478 | Yes — via GivEnergy ecosystem | Requires inverter | Yes (GivEnergy batteries) | 3 years |
| 5 | EO Mini Pro 3 | £699 | Yes — via CT clamp | Yes | No | 3 years |
| 6 | Indra Smart PRO | £599 | Yes — V2G capable | Yes | Yes (vehicle-to-grid) | 3 years |
How We Ranked Them
Our ranking weighs solar diverting quality (how accurately and responsively the charger adjusts to surplus generation), ease of setup, app experience, price, and ecosystem integration (battery storage, smart tariffs, and future-proofing).
1. Zappi GLO — The Solar Specialist
Price: £779 | Full review →
The Zappi GLO from myenergi is purpose-built for solar homes. It was the first mainstream charger designed around solar diverting, and it remains the best at it.
Why it's #1:
- Three charging modes: Fast (full power from grid), Eco (solar + grid top-up), and Eco+ (100% solar only — your car charges purely from surplus)
- Sub-second response time to changes in solar generation — the most responsive diverting on the market
- Pairs with myenergi Libbi battery storage for a fully integrated solar + battery + EV system
- Works with any solar/battery setup, not just myenergi — the CT clamp is universal
- No internet required for solar diverting — it works locally via the CT clamp
The trade-off: At £779, it's the most expensive charger on this list. If you don't have solar panels yet and aren't sure you'll get them, you're paying a premium for features you won't use.
Best for: Homeowners who already have solar and want the absolute best solar diverting experience. Also ideal if you're planning a full myenergi ecosystem (Zappi + Libbi battery + Eddi hot water diverter).
Compare: Zappi GLO vs Ohme Home Pro →
2. Ohme Home Pro — Best Value Solar Option
Price: £535 | Full review →
The Ohme Home Pro takes a different approach to solar diverting. Instead of a physical CT clamp, it uses data from your smart meter and solar inverter to estimate surplus generation and adjust charging accordingly.
Why it's #2:
- No CT clamp needed — simpler installation
- Combines solar diverting with smart tariff optimisation — it can charge from solar during the day and switch to off-peak grid rates overnight
- Best smart tariff integration of any charger — works directly with Octopus, OVO, and British Gas
- £244 cheaper than the Zappi GLO while still offering genuine solar diverting
The trade-off: Solar diverting isn't quite as responsive as the Zappi's CT clamp approach. There's typically a 30–60 second lag in adjusting to solar output changes. For most users, this doesn't matter — but purists will notice.
Best for: Homeowners who want solar diverting AND smart tariff savings in one charger, without paying Zappi prices.
3. Hypervolt Home 3 Pro — Strong All-Rounder
Price: £690 | Full review →
The Hypervolt Home 3 Pro offers solid solar diverting via an included CT clamp, with a well-designed app that shows real-time solar generation, grid import/export, and EV charging in a single dashboard.
Why it's #3:
- CT clamp included in the box — no extra hardware to buy
- Excellent app with clear solar generation and charging data
- Works with Octopus Intelligent Go for combined solar + off-peak charging
- Sleek design — one of the best-looking chargers on the market
The trade-off: No battery storage integration. If you want a full solar + battery + EV ecosystem, the Zappi or GivEnergy are better choices.
Best for: Homeowners who want reliable solar diverting with an excellent app experience.
Compare: Zappi GLO vs Hypervolt Home 3 Pro →
4. GivEnergy EV Charger — Best for GivEnergy Battery Owners
Price: £478 | Full review →
The GivEnergy EV Charger is competitively priced and integrates tightly with GivEnergy's inverters and battery storage systems. If you already have (or are planning) a GivEnergy solar and battery setup, this charger slots in seamlessly.
Why it's #4:
- Deep integration with GivEnergy inverters and batteries — the charger, battery, and solar panels are managed as one system
- Affordable at £478 — second cheapest on this list
- The GivEnergy app manages your entire energy ecosystem: solar generation, battery state-of-charge, EV charging, and grid import/export
The trade-off: Solar diverting requires a GivEnergy inverter — it doesn't work as a standalone solar charger with a CT clamp like the Zappi or Hypervolt. If you have a different inverter brand, this charger loses its solar advantage.
Best for: Homeowners with an existing GivEnergy solar and battery system, or those planning to install one.
Compare: Zappi GLO vs GivEnergy →
5. EO Mini Pro 3 — Compact Solar Option
Price: £699 | Full review →
The EO Mini Pro 3 is one of the most compact chargers available and includes solar diverting via a CT clamp. It's a solid option if space is tight and you want solar capability.
Why it's #5:
- Very compact design — fits in tight spaces
- CT clamp included for solar diverting
- Works with most solar setups regardless of inverter brand
The trade-off: The app and solar diverting responsiveness aren't quite at the level of the Zappi or Ohme. At £699, it's also pricier than the Ohme while offering less smart tariff integration.
Best for: Homeowners who need a compact charger with solar capability.
Compare: Zappi GLO vs EO Mini Pro 3 →
6. Indra Smart PRO — The V2G Pioneer
Price: £599 | Full review →
The Indra Smart PRO is unique on this list because it supports vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology — your car can send stored energy back to the grid or your home. Combined with solar panels, this creates a genuinely bi-directional energy system.
Why it's #6:
- V2G capable — your Tesla battery can power your home during peak hours or export to the grid for profit
- Solar diverting included via CT clamp
- Future-proof — as V2G tariffs and standards mature, this charger is ready
The trade-off: V2G is still in its early stages in the UK. Not all Tesla models fully support V2G yet, and the real-world savings from V2G are modest compared to simple solar diverting. The technology is promising but not proven at scale.
Best for: Early adopters who want to experiment with V2G, or homeowners planning for a future where V2G is mainstream.
Solar + Battery Storage: The Full Picture
Pairing your solar panels and EV charger with battery storage dramatically increases how much solar energy you can use for driving. Without a battery, you can only charge your car when the sun is shining and your car is at home. With a battery, surplus solar energy is stored and used to charge your EV overnight.
| Setup | Solar Utilisation for EV | Estimated Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Solar + standard charger (scheduled) | ~25–35% | £200–350 |
| Solar + solar-diverting charger | ~40–55% | £350–500 |
| Solar + solar charger + battery | ~70–85% | £550–750 |
Best battery pairings by charger:
- Zappi GLO → myenergi Libbi (fully integrated ecosystem)
- GivEnergy EV Charger → GivEnergy battery (single app, single ecosystem)
- Ohme / Hypervolt / EO → Any battery (these chargers work independently of your battery brand)
For a deeper dive into solar and EV charging economics, see our full guide: Solar Panels and EV Charging: Can You Charge Your Tesla for Free?
Annual Savings: Solar Charging vs Grid Charging
For a Tesla Model 3 owner driving 8,000 miles per year (consuming roughly 2,000 kWh):
| Charging Method | Cost per kWh | Annual Cost | Saving vs Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard tariff (grid only) | 28p | £560 | — |
| Off-peak tariff (grid only) | 7p | £140 | £420 |
| Solar only (free generation) | 0p | £0* | £560 |
| Solar + off-peak top-up | ~3p blended | £60 | £500 |
**Assumes 100% solar coverage, which is realistic only in summer months. Year-round, expect 40–60% solar coverage with the remainder from grid.*
The sweet spot for most solar homeowners is a blended approach: solar diverting during the day and off-peak grid charging overnight. This keeps annual charging costs under £100 while ensuring your car is always fully charged.
Our Recommendation
If you have solar panels, the Zappi GLO is the best charger you can buy for maximising solar self-consumption. Its three charging modes and sub-second CT clamp response are unmatched.
If you want the best value, the Ohme Home Pro at £535 offers genuine solar diverting plus smart tariff integration — no other charger combines both this well at this price.
If you have a GivEnergy system, the GivEnergy EV Charger at £478 is the obvious choice for a fully integrated ecosystem.
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