Zaptec Go 2 vs Simpson & Partners Home 7: Future-Proofing vs Built to Last

Future-Proofing vs Built to Last: Two Underdogs Worth Your Attention

Here's a refreshing change from the usual Ohme-vs-Zappi debate. Both the Zaptec Go 2 and the Simpson & Partners Home 7 come from smaller brands that are quietly making waves in the UK home charging market — and both offer something genuinely distinctive that the big names don't.

The Zaptec Go 2 is a Norwegian-designed charger that bets big on the future: it's the UK's first V2G-ready AC home charger, with a MID-approved energy meter and subscription-free 4G built in. The Simpson & Partners Home 7, meanwhile, is a British-manufactured unit that bets on longevity, offering a remarkable 10-year enclosure warranty and premium anodised aluminium construction. Both are OZEV-approved, both support three-phase charging, and both sit at a similar price point — making this a genuinely tough decision.

In a nutshell:

• Zaptec Go 2 (£707): The UK's first V2G-ready home charger, with free 4G connectivity and a MID-approved meter for accurate energy tracking.
• Simpson & Partners Home 7 (£649): A premium British-built charger with the market's longest enclosure warranty and the flexibility of tethered or untethered options.

Spec Comparison

Smart Tariff Integration and Connectivity

This is where the two chargers take notably different approaches. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 offers named smart tariff support for Octopus Go, OVO Anytime, and EDF GoElectric — meaning it can natively integrate with these tariffs to schedule charging during off-peak windows. If you're on Octopus Go, for example, you could be charging at roughly 7.5p/kWh between 00:30 and 04:30, saving hundreds of pounds a year compared to daytime rates.

The Zaptec Go 2 takes a more open-ended approach. It supports scheduled charging through the Zaptec app, and its OCPP 1.6J compliance means it can work with third-party energy management systems. However, it doesn't advertise the same kind of direct API integration with specific UK tariffs that the Simpson & Partners unit does. Where the Go 2 genuinely shines is connectivity: it includes subscription-free 4G alongside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, meaning it stays online even if your home broadband drops out or your Wi-Fi signal doesn't reach the driveway. As topcharger.co.uk noted in their review of the original Zaptec Go, this always-on connectivity via 4G LTE-M ensures you're "always up-to-date with the newest functions and updates."

For most UK drivers on a specific smart tariff, the Simpson & Partners Home 7's named tariff support is the more practical choice today. But if you've got patchy Wi-Fi or want maximum flexibility with energy management platforms, the Zaptec Go 2's 4G and OCPP support are compelling.

Solar Integration and Future-Proofing

Both chargers are solar compatible, but the Zaptec Go 2 goes significantly further. Its headline feature is automatic 1-to-3-phase switching, which optimises how it draws solar energy — particularly useful if you have a three-phase supply and want to maximise self-consumption from your panels. Combined with the MID-approved energy meter, you get accurate, certified readings of exactly how much energy your car is consuming, which could prove valuable for billing, expense claims, or future energy trading schemes.

Then there's V2G — vehicle-to-grid technology. The Zaptec Go 2 is V2G-ready at the hardware level, meaning that when V2G becomes widely available in the UK (and compatible cars arrive), your charger won't need replacing. According to ekizenergie.com, the Go 2 introduces "revolutionary improvements under the hood" including V2G preparation and solar energy integration. It's worth being honest, though: V2G is still in its infancy in the UK, and you're paying a premium for a feature that may take years to become mainstream.

The Simpson & Partners Home 7 lists solar compatibility and energy monitoring, but doesn't offer the same depth of solar optimisation features. If you have solar panels today and want to squeeze every kilowatt-hour out of them, the Zaptec Go 2 has the edge. If solar isn't in your plans, this advantage matters less.

Build Quality and Design

Both chargers punch above their weight here, but in very different ways. The Zaptec Go 2 is astonishingly compact — just 240 × 180 × 106mm and weighing only 3.2 kg. As zaptec.com puts it, it's "no bigger than an iPad." That Scandinavian minimalism means it practically disappears on your wall, which is a genuine advantage if aesthetics matter to you.

The Simpson & Partners Home 7 is larger at 350 × 200 × 110mm and heavier at 5.5 kg, but that extra bulk houses anodised aluminium construction that's built to withstand years of British weather. It's UK-manufactured, available in multiple finish options including Accoya wood and distinctive colours, and backed by that extraordinary 10-year enclosure warranty — the longest on the market by a considerable margin. It's worth noting, however, that this warranty specifically covers the enclosure rather than all internal electronics.

Both carry IP54 weatherproofing, which is standard for outdoor-rated UK chargers. The Zaptec Go 2 also offers interchangeable fascias for customisation, though the Simpson & Partners' premium material options give it a more distinctive kerb appeal.

Price and Value

The £58 price difference between the units is marginal — roughly the cost of a month's off-peak charging. The real question is what you're getting for that money. The Zaptec Go 2 bundles in free 4G connectivity (which would otherwise require a subscription or Wi-Fi extender), a MID-approved meter, V2G-ready hardware, and OCPP compliance. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 counters with a 10-year enclosure warranty (double the Go 2's 5-year coverage), tethered and untethered options, named smart tariff support, and premium British-made build quality.

Both represent strong value compared to premium competitors like the Andersen A3 (£995), and both are OZEV-approved for the £350 grant if you're an eligible renter or flat owner. As localev.uk notes, the best charger isn't always the cheapest — it's the one whose features match your actual needs.

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the Zaptec Go 2 if:

• You want V2G-ready hardware to future-proof your home charging setup
• Your Wi-Fi doesn't reliably reach your charging point — the free 4G is a game-changer
• You have solar panels and want advanced optimisation with auto 1/3-phase switching
• You need a MID-approved meter for accurate energy billing or expense tracking
• You want OCPP compliance for integration with third-party energy management systems

Buy the Simpson & Partners Home 7 if:

• Long-term durability is your priority — the 10-year enclosure warranty is unmatched
• You want the convenience of a tethered charger with a 5-metre cable
• You're on Octopus Go, OVO Anytime, or EDF GoElectric and want direct tariff integration
• You prefer UK-manufactured products with premium material options
• You want a slightly lower upfront cost without sacrificing three-phase capability

Our recommendation: These two chargers serve different philosophies, and your choice should reflect your priorities. If you're the type of person who gets excited about emerging energy technology — V2G, solar optimisation, open protocols — the Zaptec Go 2 is the smarter pick, and the free 4G connectivity alone justifies some of the premium. But if you simply want a beautifully built charger that will reliably charge your car for a decade with minimal fuss, the Simpson & Partners Home 7's combination of build quality, warranty length, tethered option, and named tariff support makes it the more practical choice for most UK homeowners today. It's £58 cheaper, it comes with a cable if you want one, and that 10-year warranty offers genuine peace of mind.

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Read our full Zaptec Go 2 review or Simpson & Partners Home 7 review.

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