Indra Smart LUX vs Wallbox Quasar 2

> V2G boundary: A “V2G-ready” label or ISO 15118 support does not by itself provide bidirectional power conversion, export approval or a live energy service. Confirm the compatible car, genuinely bidirectional hardware, certified complete system, installer, service and network approval before assigning value to the claim. Read the UK V2G explainer.

A charger you can buy versus one you can register interest in

This is not a conventional comparison. The Indra Smart LUX is a £546 AC wallbox you can order, fit, and use next week. The Wallbox Quasar 2 is a £6,100 bidirectional DC unit that, as of April 2026, exists in the UK only as a pre-registration page. The price gap is £5,554 before installation — and the Quasar 2's install runs £1,500–£3,000 on top, against £300–£500 for the Indra.

They do not compete for the same buyer. But if you've landed here, you are probably weighing a sensible charger now against the promise of vehicle-to-home later. That tension is worth unpacking.

• Indra Smart LUX — a 7.4 kW tethered AC charger with solar diversion, broad tariff integration, and the slimmest profile on the UK market. £546 supply-only; OZEV-eligible.
• Wallbox Quasar 2 — a 12.8 kW bidirectional DC unit capable of V2H and V2G. £6,100 supply-only (converted from euro pricing); not OZEV-eligible, not yet orderable.

What the £5,554 gap actually buys

The Quasar 2's sole reason to exist is bidirectional power. It can push up to 12.8 kW from your car's battery back into the house — or, with DNO G99 approval, out to the grid. That is a fundamentally different proposition from the Smart LUX, which moves electricity in one direction only: socket to car.

The catch is that bidirectional charging requires a compatible car. Today that means the Kia EV9 and a short, evolving list. If you drive a Tesla — or most other UK EVs — the Quasar 2 cannot use its headline feature. You would be paying £6,100-plus for a DC charger that charges more slowly than many public AC units when the V2H path is closed.

The Indra Smart LUX, by contrast, charges any Type 2 EV at 7.4 kW, integrates with over 1,000 UK tariffs (including half-hourly schedules on Octopus Agile), and diverts solar via the included CT clamp. It does one job and does it well.

The Indra Smart LUX on its own merits

At 78 mm deep and 3.6 kg, the Smart LUX is the thinnest tethered smart charger on the UK market. IP67 and IK10 ratings mean it is submersible and impact-resistant — overkill for most driveways, but reassuring if yours is exposed or tight on space. Built-in SPD and PEN fault detection save an estimated £150 or more at install, because your electrician does not need to supply them separately.

The three-year warranty is shorter than some rivals — the Simpson & Partners Home 7 offers ten years, and the Rolec EVO gives five. Indra sells a five-year extension for £100, which is reasonable but not free. And 4G connectivity, if you need it, adds roughly £250; the Ohme Home Pro includes a SIM at £539. Buyers weighing those two should see the Ohme Home Pro vs Indra Smart LUX comparison.

Eligible renters and flat owners can claim the £500 OZEV grant against the Smart LUX. That reduces the £546 unit price to £46 — the grant covers almost all of the hardware and leaves the install as the main cost.

When the Quasar 2 might make sense

If you own a Kia EV9 (or another confirmed V2H-compatible car), have solar panels, and are willing to navigate the G99 application process — 30 to 60 working days with your DNO — the Quasar 2 offers something no AC charger can: your car as a home battery. On a variable tariff like Octopus Agile, charging at 5p/kWh overnight and discharging at peak rates could, in theory, offset a meaningful share of household electricity costs.

But the economics are fragile. At a total installed cost likely north of £7,600, the payback period stretches well beyond the three-year warranty. A GivEnergy EV Charger at £444 paired with a dedicated home battery achieves similar load-shifting without tying up your car's range — and without waiting for a product that is not yet on open sale.

For buyers who want to be V2G-ready without the bidirectional price tag, the Zaptec Go 2 and NexBlue Point 2 both support OCPP and are positioned for future V2G firmware, at £638 and £534 respectively.

The verdict

Buy the Indra Smart LUX if:

• You want a charger installed and working within the month, not a pre-registration email
• You value slim profile, rugged build, and broad tariff integration at a fair price
• You are OZEV-eligible and want to reduce the £546 unit cost by £500

Buy the Wallbox Quasar 2 if:

• You already own or have ordered a V2H-compatible car — not plan to, own
• You have solar and a clear tariff arbitrage strategy that justifies £7,600-plus all-in
• You accept the risk of early-adopter hardware with a three-year warranty and limited UK installer support

For the vast majority of UK EV owners today, the Indra Smart LUX is the straightforward answer. It charges the car, talks to the tariff, fits flush to the wall, and leaves £5,554 in the bank. The Quasar 2 is an interesting piece of infrastructure for a small number of buyers with the right car, the right house, and the right appetite for waiting. Everyone else should spend the money on a charger that exists.