Easee One vs Zaptec Go 2: Budget Pick vs Future-Proof Contender

The Value Champion vs the Future-Proof Scandinavian

Here's an interesting face-off: two compact, untethered, Scandinavian-designed smart chargers — both with free 4G connectivity, both OZEV-approved, both IP54-rated — yet separated by a £302 price gap. So what exactly does that extra money buy you?

The Easee One has carved out a reputation as the UK's best-value smart charger, coming in at just £405 for the unit alone. It's feather-light at 1.5 kg, has a lifetime built-in eSIM, and includes integrated safety hardware that can save you money on installation extras. The Zaptec Go 2, at £707, counters with something no other AC home charger in the UK currently offers: V2G (vehicle-to-grid) readiness, plus three-phase capability and a MID-approved energy meter. These are features that could genuinely matter in a year or two — or might sit unused for much longer.

If you're choosing between these two, you're essentially asking yourself: do I want the best deal today, or am I willing to invest in technology that could pay dividends tomorrow?

In a nutshell:

• Easee One (£405): The lightest, cheapest smart charger on the UK market with lifetime 4G and rock-solid basics.
• Zaptec Go 2 (£707): The UK's first V2G-ready AC home charger, with three-phase support and a MID-approved meter for those thinking long-term.

Spec Comparison

Power and Charging Speed

On a standard UK single-phase supply — which covers the vast majority of homes — both chargers deliver an identical 7.4kW. That'll take a typical 60kWh EV battery from empty to full in roughly 8.5 hours, comfortably overnight on any smart tariff like Octopus Go or Intelligent Go.

Where the Zaptec Go 2 pulls ahead is three-phase support. If you're one of the small percentage of UK homeowners with a three-phase supply (common in some rural properties or new-builds), the Go 2 can charge at up to 22kW — slashing that same charge to around 2.7 hours. The Easee One is single-phase only, full stop. For most buyers this won't matter, but if you know you have three-phase power, it's a significant differentiator.

The Go 2 also auto-switches between single and three-phase charging, which is particularly useful for solar integration — it can match its draw to whatever your panels are producing. The Easee One doesn't support solar integration at all, as confirmed by topcharger.co.uk.

App and Connectivity

Both chargers come with subscription-free 4G cellular connectivity, which is a genuine advantage over rivals that rely solely on your home Wi-Fi. If your charger is mounted on a garage wall at the far end of the garden, a weak Wi-Fi signal won't leave you stranded. The Easee One's built-in eSIM with lifetime 4G is one of its headline features, and the Zaptec Go 2 matches it with its own subscription-free 4G, plus adds Bluetooth as a third connectivity option.

On the app front, the Easee app is well-established and reasonably polished — you can schedule charging, monitor energy usage, and manage access via RFID. The Zaptec app covers similar ground but is generally considered more basic in its interface, according to user feedback. Neither charger offers the direct smart tariff integration you'd get from an Ohme, where the charger automatically fetches half-hourly Agile prices and optimises charging without you lifting a finger. With both the Easee and Zaptec, you'll set your own schedules to align with off-peak windows — perfectly workable with fixed-window tariffs like Octopus Go (7.5p/kWh between 00:30 and 04:30), but less elegant with variable tariffs like Agile.

One notable extra on the Zaptec side: OCPP 1.6J compliance. This open protocol means the Go 2 can talk to third-party energy management systems, which could prove valuable as the smart home ecosystem evolves.

Future-Proofing: V2G and Beyond

This is where the Zaptec Go 2 makes its boldest pitch. It's billed as the UK's first V2G-ready AC home charger — meaning that when vehicle-to-grid technology matures, your Go 2 should be able to send power from your EV's battery back into your home or the grid. In theory, you could charge cheaply overnight at 7.5p/kWh on Octopus Go and sell energy back during peak hours, potentially turning your parked car into a revenue-generating asset.

The caveat? V2G is still very much emerging in the UK. You'll need a V2G-compatible vehicle (currently very few models support AC V2G), and the regulatory and tariff frameworks are still being finalised. You're paying a premium today for a feature that may take years to deliver real-world value. The MID-approved energy meter is a more immediately useful feature — it provides billing-grade accuracy, which matters if you're claiming business mileage or want precise cost tracking.

The Easee One doesn't pretend to offer V2G or solar smarts. What it does offer is the ability to run up to three chargers from a single 32A electrical supply via dynamic load balancing — handy for multi-EV households, though additional Easee hardware is required. It also includes integrated RCD Type-B and open PEN protection, which can save £100+ on installation compared to chargers that need these fitted separately in the consumer unit.

Price and Value

The numbers speak loudly here. Even at the top end of installation costs, a fully installed Easee One after the OZEV grant comes in under £660 — that's remarkably cheap for a smart charger with lifetime 4G, integrated safety hardware, and dynamic load balancing. The Zaptec Go 2, while hardly extravagant, costs £300+ more for features (V2G, three-phase, MID meter) that many UK homeowners simply won't use in the near term.

That said, the Go 2's five-year warranty versus the Easee's three years adds peace of mind, and if V2G does take off within that warranty period, you'll be glad you invested early. As heatable.co.uk notes, the Easee One remains a solid, proven unit with thousands installed across the UK — but it's not trying to be a future-tech pioneer.

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Easee One if:

• You want the lowest possible total cost for a genuinely smart charger
• You have a single-phase supply (like most UK homes) and just need reliable overnight charging
• You value ultra-simple installation — at 1.5 kg, it's the lightest charger on the market
• You want lifetime 4G connectivity without any subscription fees
• You might add a second or third charger later using Easee's load balancing

Buy the Zaptec Go 2 if:

• You have (or plan to get) a three-phase supply and want 22kW charging speeds
• You want to be ready for V2G when compatible vehicles and tariffs arrive
• You have solar panels and want a charger that can auto-switch phases to match generation
• You value a longer warranty (5 years vs 3)
• You need a MID-approved meter for accurate billing or business expense tracking

Our recommendation: For the majority of UK homeowners on a standard single-phase supply, the Easee One is the smarter buy right now. At £405 it's nearly half the price of the Go 2, it does everything most people need, and the integrated safety hardware keeps installation costs down. The Zaptec Go 2 is genuinely impressive technology — but you're paying a significant premium for V2G readiness that remains largely theoretical in 2025, and three-phase capability that fewer than 5% of UK homes can actually use. If you're in that small group with three-phase power and solar panels, the Go 2 is well worth the extra. For everyone else, pocket the £300 saving and put it towards your next electricity bill.

Read our full Easee One review or Zaptec Go 2 review.

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