Indra Smart PRO vs Simpson & Partners Home 7: British Underdogs Compared
Two British Challengers, One Driveway: Which Deserves Your Wall?
If you're the kind of EV owner who'd rather support a British manufacturer than buy from the usual suspects, you've likely stumbled across both the Indra Smart PRO and the Simpson & Partners Home 7. Neither has the brand recognition of an Ohme or a myenergi, but both offer genuinely compelling packages — and at remarkably similar price points.
What makes this comparison interesting is how differently these two chargers play their hands. The Indra leans into practical cost savings with its included surge protection device and positions itself within an ecosystem that's flirting with V2G technology. The Simpson & Partners Home 7, meanwhile, bets big on longevity with a 10-year enclosure warranty and premium aluminium construction, while also offering something almost unheard of at this price: three-phase capability.
In a nutshell:
- Indra Smart PRO (£599): A smart, practical charger with included SPD and CT clamp for solar diversion — saving you real money on installation day.
- Simpson & Partners Home 7 (£649): Premium aluminium build with a 10-year enclosure warranty and three-phase support for just £50 more.
Spec Comparison
| Feature | Indra Smart PRO | Simpson & Partners Home 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £599 | £649 |
| Max Power Output | 7.4kW (single-phase) | 7kW (single-phase) / 22kW (three-phase) |
| Cable | 6m tethered (Type 2) | 5m tethered or untethered (Type 2) |
| Smart Tariff Support | Yes (Octopus, OVO, others) | Yes (Octopus Go, OVO Anytime, EDF GoElectric) |
| Solar Integration | Yes — CT clamp included | Yes — solar compatible |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi |
| Warranty | 3 years | 10 years (enclosure) |
| IP Rating | IP54 | IP54 |
| Weight | ~5.0 kg | ~5.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 340mm × 240mm × 115mm | 350mm × 200mm × 110mm |
| OZEV Approved | Yes | Yes |
Power and Charging Speed
On a standard UK single-phase supply, the Indra Smart PRO edges ahead with a 7.4kW maximum output compared to the Simpson's 7kW. In practice, this translates to a marginal difference — a Tesla Model 3 with a typical 60kWh battery would take roughly 8.1 hours on the Indra versus about 8.6 hours on the Simpson. Over a typical overnight charge window, that half-hour difference is unlikely to matter to most drivers.
Where the Simpson & Partners Home 7 pulls a genuinely surprising trick is its three-phase capability. If you're one of the small percentage of UK homes with a three-phase supply — or you're planning a supply upgrade — the Home 7 can deliver up to 22kW. That slashes a full charge to around 2.7 hours. Finding three-phase support at £649 is remarkable; you'd normally need to spend considerably more for that flexibility. It's a niche advantage, certainly, but for those who can use it, it's a significant one.
The Indra also features dynamic load balancing as standard, which automatically adjusts charging current to prevent overloading your home's electrical supply. This is particularly valuable in older properties or homes with electric showers and cookers that draw heavy loads. The Simpson offers energy monitoring, but the Indra's active load management is the more robust safety net.
Smart Tariff Integration and Solar
Both chargers support the UK's most popular smart EV tariffs, making it straightforward to charge at off-peak rates. The Indra Smart PRO integrates with major providers including Octopus Energy and OVO, while the Simpson & Partners Home 7 specifically lists support for Octopus Go, OVO Anytime, and EDF GoElectric. On a tariff like Octopus Intelligent Go at roughly 7p/kWh, you could charge a typical 60kWh battery for around £4.20 — compared to £16-£18 at standard daytime rates. Both chargers let you schedule charging sessions through their respective apps to hit these cheap windows automatically.
On the solar front, the Indra has a clear edge. The Smart PRO includes a CT clamp as standard, enabling solar diversion mode without any additional hardware or cost. If you've got rooftop panels, the charger can detect surplus generation and route it directly to your car. According to electriccarguide.co.uk, Indra's solar matching is one of the charger's standout features. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 is listed as solar compatible, but the data doesn't confirm whether a CT clamp is included or requires an additional purchase — a detail worth clarifying with your installer.
Build Quality and Design
This is where the two chargers diverge most dramatically. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 is constructed from anodised aluminium, giving it a premium, architectural feel that's more akin to the Andersen A3 than a typical plastic-bodied charger. It's available in multiple finish options including Accoya wood and distinctive colours, making it a genuine design statement on your wall. If kerb appeal matters to you — and for a device that's going to sit on the front of your house for a decade — this is a meaningful consideration.
The Indra Smart PRO takes a more utilitarian approach. It's a compact, cleanly designed unit, but it's a polycarbonate enclosure in a single colour option. As wepoweryourcar.com notes, Indra's build quality is solid and the unit is weatherproof, but it doesn't aspire to be a design piece. Both chargers share an IP54 weatherproof rating, so durability in typical British conditions is comparable.
The warranty story strongly favours Simpson & Partners. Their 10-year enclosure warranty is the longest on the UK market by a considerable margin. It's worth noting this covers the enclosure specifically rather than all internal electronics, but given that the enclosure is what faces the elements year after year, it's still enormously reassuring. The Indra's 3-year warranty is industry-standard but unremarkable. According to electriccarguide.co.uk, Indra does offer the option to extend the warranty, though the cost of doing so would narrow the price gap further.
Installation Considerations
Both chargers fall within the standard £400–600 installation range and are OZEV-approved, meaning eligible renters and flat owners can claim up to £350 off the installation cost.
The Indra Smart PRO has a genuine ace up its sleeve here: the included surge protection device (SPD). Since the 18th Edition wiring regulations, an SPD is required for most EV charger installations, and electricians typically charge £100–150 to supply and fit one. With the Indra, it's built in. This effectively reduces the real-world cost of the charger to something closer to £449–499 when you factor in the saving. The included CT clamp for solar users adds further value — that's another £50-80 you're not spending separately.
The Simpson & Partners Home 7 offers the flexibility of tethered or untethered versions, which is useful if you have multiple EVs with different connector preferences or simply prefer the tidier look of a socketed unit. The Indra's 6-metre cable is a metre longer than the Simpson's 5-metre tethered option, which could matter depending on where your parking spot sits relative to the charger.
Price and Value
| Indra Smart PRO | Simpson & Partners Home 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Price | £599 | £649 |
| Installation (typical) | £400–600 | £400–600 |
| Total Installed Cost | £999–1,199 | £1,049–1,249 |
| After OZEV Grant (if eligible) | £649–849 | £699–899 |
On paper, the Indra is £50 cheaper. But factor in the included SPD (saving £100–150) and CT clamp, and the effective gap widens to £150–200 in the Indra's favour. The Simpson counters with that extraordinary 10-year enclosure warranty, premium materials, and three-phase future-proofing. If you're planning to stay in your home for a decade, the Simpson's longevity proposition has real financial value — you're far less likely to need a replacement unit.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Indra Smart PRO if:
- You have solar panels and want plug-and-play diversion with the included CT clamp
- You want to minimise total installation cost thanks to the built-in SPD
- Dynamic load balancing is important for your home's electrical setup
- You're interested in Indra's V2G roadmap, even if it's speculative for now
- You prefer a longer tethered cable (6m vs 5m)
Buy the Simpson & Partners Home 7 if:
- You want a charger that looks genuinely premium on your wall, with multiple finish options
- A 10-year enclosure warranty gives you peace of mind for the long haul
- You have (or plan to get) a three-phase supply and want 22kW charging capability
- You prefer the flexibility of choosing between tethered and untethered versions
- You value aluminium construction over polycarbonate for long-term durability
Our recommendation: For the majority of UK homeowners on a single-phase supply, the Indra Smart PRO offers better overall value. The included SPD and CT clamp deliver tangible savings that more than justify its price, and its smart features cover everything most drivers need. However, if you're after a charger that will look stunning on your wall for a decade and comes with the warranty to match — or if you're one of the lucky few with three-phase power — the Simpson & Partners Home 7 is a genuinely impressive alternative that punches well above its weight.
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Read our full Indra Smart PRO review or Simpson & Partners Home 7 review.
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