Indra Smart PRO vs Sync Energy Wall Charger 2: Which Saves More on Install?

Two British-Made Chargers That Cut Your Install Bill — But One Costs £237 Less

Here's what makes this comparison interesting: both the Indra Smart PRO and the Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 have built-in features that reduce installation costs. The Indra bundles a surge protection device (SPD). The Sync includes PEN fault protection, eliminating the earth rod most installers would otherwise need to fit. Both include CT clamps for solar diversion. Both offer dynamic load balancing. On paper, they're remarkably similar.

The difference? Price. The Sync starts at £362 socketed (or roughly £302 tethered), while the Indra sits at £599. That's a significant gap for chargers with overlapping feature sets.

In a nutshell:

• Indra Smart PRO: Included SPD, British-manufactured, positioned for future V2G upgrades
• Sync Energy Wall Charger 2: £237 cheaper, built-in PEN fault protection, longer cable, tougher build

Does the Indra's Included SPD Justify the Price Gap?

The Indra's headline selling point is its bundled surge protection device. That typically saves £100–150 on installation because your electrician won't need to fit a separate SPD in your consumer unit. Fair enough — that's real money.

But the Sync counters with built-in PEN fault protection, which eliminates the earth rod requirement. Depending on your property, an earth rod installation can cost £100–200 and involves drilling into the ground near your charger location. In some cases — concrete driveways, rented properties — it's genuinely awkward. Removing that requirement is arguably a bigger practical win than an included SPD.

Even if you credit the Indra with a full £150 install saving, its effective price is still £449. The Sync at £362 — potentially saving you a similar amount on the earth rod — remains comfortably cheaper. The maths don't work in the Indra's favour here.

Does Indra's V2G Pedigree Actually Matter?

Indra made its name with vehicle-to-grid technology, and the Smart PRO is marketed as part of that ecosystem. The idea is that buying into Indra now positions you for a future V2G upgrade.

Let's be honest: the Smart PRO itself doesn't support V2G. You'd need to buy a different Indra product for that. And V2G in the UK remains early-stage, with limited vehicle compatibility and regulatory uncertainty. Buying a charger today based on a speculative future upgrade path is a stretch. If V2G matters to you, research the actual V2G-capable hardware separately rather than treating the Smart PRO as a stepping stone.

The Sync's Practical Advantages Are Hard to Ignore

Beyond price, the Sync wins on several practical details. Its 7.5-metre tethered cable gives you 1.5 metres more reach than the Indra's 6-metre lead — meaningful if your parking spot isn't right next to the charger. Its IP65 and IK10 ratings mean full protection against water jets and physical impacts, versus the Indra's IP54 which only covers splashes. If your charger lives on an exposed driveway, that difference matters.

The Sync also supports OCPP 1.6J, an open protocol that lets it talk to third-party energy management platforms. That's genuine future-proofing — not the speculative kind. And the Ethernet port is a welcome backup for anyone whose Wi-Fi doesn't reliably reach the driveway. Speaking of which, some Sync owners have reported Wi-Fi connectivity issues at range, so having that wired option is more than a nice-to-have.

The nine interchangeable colour fascias are a small thing, but if your charger sits prominently on the front of your house, matching it to your brickwork or front door is a thoughtful touch. The Indra comes in one colour.

One area where neither charger dominates is the app experience. The Indra's app is basic compared to market leaders, and the Sync's transition away from the Monta platform caused early confusion. For truly polished smart tariff control, you'd want to look at the Ohme Home Pro or check our smart EV charger guide. Both the Indra and Sync handle scheduled charging and tariff integration adequately, but neither is best-in-class.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Indra Smart PRO if:

• You specifically want Indra's ecosystem and plan to explore their V2G products later
• Your installer confirms the included SPD will save you more than a PEN fault device would
• You value buying from a smaller British manufacturer
• A 6-metre cable comfortably reaches your parking spot

Buy the Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 if:

• You want the lowest total cost (charger plus installation)
• Your charger will be exposed to weather or potential knocks (IP65/IK10)
• You need a longer cable reach (7.5m)
• OCPP support and Ethernet connectivity matter to you
• You want colour options to match your property

For most Tesla owners, the Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 is the smarter buy. It's substantially cheaper, arguably saves more on installation thanks to PEN fault protection, and matches or beats the Indra on nearly every practical spec. The Indra is a perfectly decent charger — it's just hard to justify paying £237 more for a less weatherproof unit with a shorter cable. If budget is your priority, the Sync belongs on your shortlist alongside the other options in our cheapest EV charger guide. And if you're weighing solar charging specifically, both perform well — see our solar charger guide for the full picture.