Zaptec Go 2 vs Indra Smart PRO: Future-Proofed vs Practical Value
The Future-Proofer vs the Practical Saver
These two chargers come from a similar place: both are made by companies with genuine vehicle-to-grid (V2G) ambitions, both are less mainstream than the likes of Ohme or myenergi, and both offer something a bit different from the crowd. But they take very different approaches to winning your money.
The Zaptec Go 2 is a compact, Scandinavian-designed unit that bets big on the future — it's the UK's first V2G-ready AC home charger, with hardware that can auto-switch between single and three-phase charging. The Indra Smart PRO, meanwhile, is a British-made charger that focuses on saving you money right now, with a built-in surge protection device (SPD) and CT clamp for solar diversion included in the box. If you're weighing up these two, you're essentially asking: do I pay more for tomorrow's technology, or save today with a charger that already includes everything I need?
In a nutshell:
- Zaptec Go 2 (£707): The UK's first V2G-ready AC home charger with subscription-free 4G, MID-approved metering, and 1/3-phase switching for solar optimisation.
- Indra Smart PRO (£599): A practical, British-made charger with an included SPD and CT clamp that genuinely reduces your total installation cost.
Spec Comparison
| Feature | Zaptec Go 2 | Indra Smart PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Price (unit) | £707 | £599 |
| Max Power | 7.4kW (single-phase) / 22kW (three-phase) | 7.4kW (single-phase only) |
| Type | Untethered (Type 2 socket) | Tethered (Type 2, 6m cable) |
| Smart tariffs | Scheduled charging via app | Smart tariff integration |
| Solar | 1/3-phase switching for solar integration | Solar mode with CT clamp included |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, 4G (subscription-free), Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Warranty | 5 years | 3 years |
| IP Rating | IP54 | IP54 |
| Weight | ~3.2 kg | ~5.0 kg |
| Dimensions | 240 × 180 × 106mm | 340 × 240 × 115mm |
| OZEV approved | Yes | Yes |
Smart Features and Connectivity
The Zaptec Go 2 has a clear edge in connectivity. It comes with subscription-free 4G as standard, meaning it stays online even if your home Wi-Fi doesn't reach the driveway — a genuine problem for plenty of UK homes with chargers mounted on a garage wall 15 metres from the router. According to zaptec.com, the Go 2 also supports OCPP 1.6J, which means it can talk to third-party energy management platforms — handy if you're building a more sophisticated home energy setup down the line.
The Indra Smart PRO connects via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is perfectly adequate for most homes but lacks that 4G fallback. Where Indra fights back is on practical smart features: it includes dynamic load balancing to protect your home's electrical supply, and its smart tariff integration works with major UK providers. Both chargers offer scheduled charging through their respective apps, letting you take advantage of off-peak rates on tariffs like Octopus Go (7.5p/kWh between 00:30 and 04:30) or Octopus Intelligent Go (~7p/kWh).
Both apps are described as functional but relatively basic compared to market leaders like Ohme. Neither charger is going to wow you with a slick interface, but both get the scheduling job done.
Solar Integration
Both chargers support solar charging, but they approach it differently. The Indra Smart PRO includes a CT clamp in the box — no extra hardware to buy. Clip it onto your meter tails and the charger can divert surplus solar generation to your EV. For a household already running solar panels, that's a meaningful inclusion that keeps the total cost down.
The Zaptec Go 2 takes a more technically ambitious approach. It can auto-switch between 1 and 3-phase charging to optimise solar usage, though Zaptec recommends connecting with ev.energy for solar integration according to zaptec.com. On a three-phase supply, this switching capability is genuinely clever — but fewer than 5% of UK homes have three-phase power. On a standard single-phase supply, the Indra's straightforward CT clamp approach is arguably more practical.
If you have solar panels and a single-phase supply (which is almost certainly the case), the Indra's included CT clamp is the simpler, cheaper path to solar charging.
Power, Charging Speed, and V2G Readiness
On a standard UK single-phase supply, both chargers deliver 7.4kW — enough to fully charge a typical 60kWh EV battery in roughly 8.5 hours, comfortably overnight. For the vast majority of UK households, there's no difference in real-world charging speed.
The Zaptec Go 2 does support up to 22kW on a three-phase supply, which would slash that charge time to around 2.7 hours. But unless you're one of the rare UK homeowners with three-phase power (or planning to upgrade), this remains a theoretical advantage.
The headline feature of the Go 2 is its V2G-ready hardware. Vehicle-to-grid technology promises to let your EV feed energy back to the grid or power your home during peak hours — potentially earning you money. It's a genuinely exciting prospect, but as topcharger.co.uk and other reviewers have noted, V2G is still emerging in the UK. You're paying a premium today for a feature that may take years to become mainstream. The Indra Smart PRO doesn't support V2G itself, though Indra positions it within their ecosystem for potential future V2G upgrades — a vaguer promise, but at a lower price.
Installation Considerations
Here's where the Indra Smart PRO makes its strongest case. It includes a surge protection device (SPD) as standard. Since the 18th Edition wiring regulations, most new charger installations in the UK require an SPD, and electricians typically charge £100–£150 to supply and fit one. With the Indra, that cost disappears.
The Zaptec Go 2 doesn't include an SPD, so you'll likely need one added during installation. However, the Go 2 does include built-in PEN fault protection (as does the original Zaptec Go, per zaptec.com), which means you won't need an earth rod — another potential saving. The Go 2 also has a MID-approved energy meter built in, useful for accurate energy tracking and potentially for workplace or landlord billing scenarios.
The Zaptec Go 2 is also remarkably compact at just 3.2 kg and roughly the size of an iPad, making it one of the most discreet chargers on the market according to topcharger.co.uk. The Indra is larger and heavier at 5 kg, though still a perfectly normal size for a home charger.
One practical note: the Go 2 is untethered only, so you'll need to plug in your own Type 2 cable each time. The Indra comes tethered with a 6-metre cable permanently attached — simply grab and plug in. For convenience, especially in the rain, tethered wins.
Price and Value
| Zaptec Go 2 | Indra Smart PRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit price | £707 | £599 |
| Typical installation | £400–£600 | £400–£600 |
| SPD saving | £0 (not included) | ~£100–£150 saved |
| Total installed (estimate) | £1,107–£1,307 | £800–£1,050 |
| After OZEV grant (if eligible) | £757–£957 | £450–£700 |
The numbers tell a compelling story. The Indra Smart PRO's included SPD means your real-world installed cost could be £150–£250 less than the Zaptec Go 2. That's a significant gap — enough to buy a decent Type 2 charging cable if you went untethered, or to cover a couple of months of off-peak charging on Octopus Go.
The Go 2 justifies its premium through V2G-ready hardware, a 5-year warranty (versus Indra's 3 years), free 4G connectivity, and a MID-approved meter. Whether those extras are worth £100+ more depends entirely on how much you value future-proofing over immediate savings.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Zaptec Go 2 if:
- You want to be ready for V2G technology when it arrives in the UK
- Your Wi-Fi doesn't reach your charger location and you need 4G connectivity
- You have (or plan to install) a three-phase supply
- You need a MID-approved meter for accurate energy billing
- You prefer an ultra-compact, discreet charger design
Buy the Indra Smart PRO if:
- You want to minimise your total installed cost — the included SPD genuinely saves money
- You have solar panels and want solar diversion without buying extra hardware
- You prefer a tethered charger with a cable always ready to grab
- You want a British-designed and manufactured product
- You'd rather save money now than pay for V2G technology that isn't yet mainstream
Our recommendation: For most UK homeowners buying a charger today, the Indra Smart PRO offers better immediate value. The included SPD and CT clamp mean your total installed cost is genuinely lower, and you get a solid, well-featured smart charger that handles solar, smart tariffs, and scheduled charging without fuss. However, if you're the sort of person who buys technology with one eye on the future — and you're comfortable paying a premium for V2G readiness, 4G connectivity, and a longer warranty — the Zaptec Go 2 is a thoughtful, well-engineered bet on where home energy is heading.
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For the full specs-level breakdown, see our Zaptec Go 2 vs Indra Smart PRO comparison page.
Read our full Zaptec Go 2 review or Indra Smart PRO review.
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