№ 17 · Dual Wi-Fi + 4G connectivity · 2026 review
Cord
Zero
Review verdict
Cord Zero decision summary
- Unit only
- £473
- VAT included
- Installed estimate
- £873–£973
- derived market estimate
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Grant position
- Approved unit
- Customer and property eligibility is separate
What stands out
Main limitation
The installed range is an estimate. The source date above is separate from the editorial review date.
A solid, no-nonsense charger with one quiet trick the competition mostly skips: it ships with Wi-Fi and 4G both built in, and the charger switches between them automatically. If the router goes down, the built-in multi-network SIM picks up; if cellular is weak, it stays on Wi-Fi. Every other charger here either uses Wi-Fi only, or 4G only, or charges extra for the cellular add-on. The Ohme Home Pro is cellular-only; the Indra Smart LUX wants £250 for 4G. The Cord Zero includes both as standard.
The other standout is safety: built-in RCD, PEN fault detection, SPD, and overvoltage protection — the fullest in-box protection package of any charger in this selection. On most jobs that takes £150–£250 off install labour, since the electrician skips several components they'd otherwise fit at the consumer unit. The price runs by variant — £473 untethered, £522 with the 5-metre cable, £570 with the 8-metre — which is mid-range on the sticker and competitive once install extras are counted. Cord currently ships with a promotional free five-year warranty upgrade (standard is three); worth confirming the offer's still on before you order.
Best for: Patchy-broadband areas, and pragmatic buyers who want a properly safety-equipped charger with the minimum possible install fuss.
Installation
Fitting the Cord Zero.
Mid-sized at around 5 kg with the 8-metre tethered cable, 320 × 210 × 132 mm. The built-in safety suite is the install advantage. RCD, PEN fault detection, SPD, and overvoltage protection all live inside the charger, which means the electrician often doesn't need to fit separate devices at the consumer unit — subject to their reading of the supply and the rest of the installation. On a typical job that saves £150–£250 of labour and materials. IP54 weather rating with IK08 impact — fine for sheltered positions, a step below the Hypervolt's IP66 + IK10 for fully exposed walls. Dual Wi-Fi + 4G removes the usual "will the signal reach?" question from the install conversation. Standard 5-metre cable; 8-metre option at extra cost. Full walkthrough in our install guide.
Specification
- Max Power Output
- 7.4kW (single-phase only)
- Cable Length
- 5 metres (8m version available)
- Connector
- Type 2 (tethered)
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4GHz + 4G (built-in multi-network SIM)
- Dimensions
- 320mm × 210mm × 132mm
- Weight
- ~5 kg (8m tethered)
- IP Rating
- IP54 + IK08 (weatherproof, impact-resistant)
- Certification
- OLEV/OZEV approved
Tariff compatibility
What it costs to run.
Schedule-based integration through the Cord AI app. Compatible with Octopus Go, Intelligent Go, OVO Charge Anytime, British Gas, EDF. Set the off-peak window; the charger draws during it. No direct supplier API, so no automatic chase of Octopus Agile half-hours or dynamically expanded Intelligent Go slots — the Ohme Home Pro still owns that. Solar support is basic: the Cord Zero can work alongside panels, but doesn't offer the Zappi GLO's surplus-only Eco+ mode. For two-rate tariffs and modest solar, it's fine; for serious optimisation, the Ohme or Zappi are the upgrades. Full pattern in our EV tariff guide.
Best pairing
EDF GoElectric
- Off-peak rate
- 6.99p
- Saving / year
- £546
Estimated at 10,000 miles a year against the 26.11p/kWh standard rate.
Compare every tariffPrice
What you actually pay.
The unit is currently £473. £400–£500 is the working installation range, putting a typical installed total at £873–£973. Untethered model; tethered variants cost more.
Five-year total
£1,922
Charger, installation, and five years of electricity on EDF GoElectric, at 10,000 miles a year.
Less £500 if you qualify for the OZEV grant.
Against the field
How it compares.
Against the Ohme Home Pro: £66 cheaper untethered, with Wi-Fi + 4G dual connectivity and the full safety suite; the Ohme wins decisively on Intelligent Go API integration. Against the Tesla Wall Connector: £2 cheaper, and it adds 4G, an RCD and an SPD in the box; the Tesla wins on cable length and app polish. Against the Indra Smart LUX: £73 cheaper with 4G already included (versus £250 extra); the Indra wins on slim profile (78 mm vs 132 mm) and IP67. The Cord Zero's weakness is brand reach: smaller installer network, fewer reviews, a functional-but-basic app.
Cross-shopped with
What we loved
- PlusDual Wi-Fi + 4G with automatic failover — the most reliably connected charger in this selection
- PlusBuilt-in RCD, PEN fault detection, SPD, and overvoltage protection — the fullest safety suite here
- PlusUsually saves £150–£250 on install labour thanks to the bundled safety components
- PlusBroad schedule-based tariff coverage: Octopus Go, Intelligent Go, OVO, British Gas, EDF
- PlusCurrently ships with a free upgrade from three-year to five-year warranty (promotional)
- PlusAn installer-network option is available in supported areas
What we didn't
- MinusCord AI app is functional rather than polished; the Ohme and Tesla apps are a generation ahead
- MinusSolar support is basic next to the Zappi's Eco+ surplus-only mode
- MinusIP54 + IK08 — a step below the Hypervolt's IP66 + IK10 for fully exposed walls
- MinusStandard warranty is three years; the five-year extension is promotional and may end
- MinusSmaller installer network than the household brands
After the evidence
Ask installers to price this exact charger.
The installation brief carries Cord Zero as your preference, together with the property and parking details needed for a useful response.
Related reading
Keep going →
Complete Guide to Home EV Charger Installation
Everything about installation — costs, timeline, and finding an installer.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla at Home?
Detailed cost breakdown with off-peak tariffs and annual savings.
OZEV EV Charger Grant UK 2026
Who's eligible for the £500 government grant and how to claim.
Solar Panels and EV Charging UK Guide
Can you charge your Tesla for free with solar panels?
Best EV Charger for Solar Panels UK 2026
Ranked comparison of all solar-compatible chargers.
We'll sort the installation — up to three installers selected for postcode coverage, free and no obligation.