NexBlue Point 2 vs Rolec EVO

£178 and a bet on the future

Both chargers are untethered, both deliver 7.4 kW on a single phase, and both carry five-year warranties. On paper, the gap is narrow. In practice, the £178 separating the Rolec EVO at £356 from the NexBlue Point 2 at £534 buys a specific set of forward-looking features — V2G hardware, OCPP 2.0.1, and a lifetime 4G eSIM — none of which change how your car charges tonight.

• Rolec EVO — £356. UK-built, install-cost savings baked in, solar surplus modes, proven commercial pedigree. The pragmatist's pick.
• NexBlue Point 2 — £534. V2G-ready, 4G connected, tariff automation via EcoPilot. The early adopter's pick.

The Rolec's hidden discount

The Rolec EVO's headline price is £356, but its real advantage sits behind the faceplate. It includes a Type A RCD with 6 mA DC protection, surge protection, and PME/PEN fault detection — all built in. Most chargers require these as separate components fitted during installation. That typically adds £100–£250 to the electrician's bill. Factor that in and the Rolec's installed cost drops well below anything else in its bracket, including the EVEC VEC03 at £349 and the Vorsprung Alpha Max at £265, neither of which bundles quite as much protection hardware.

The NexBlue Point 2 includes a CT clamp but does not integrate RCD or PME detection in the unit. Expect the standard £400–£600 install cost — and potentially the upper end if your consumer unit needs a separate PEN device or earth rod. The £178 unit-price gap can easily widen to £300+ once both chargers are on the wall.

For OZEV-eligible buyers — renters and flat owners — the £500 grant covers the Rolec EVO's unit price outright and chips into the install costs too. The NexBlue Point 2 would still leave £34 to pay on the unit alone before installation.

When 4G and V2G earn their keep

The NexBlue Point 2 ships with a 4G eSIM — lifetime, no subscription — and that is a genuine differentiator if your charger sits at the far end of a garden or in a detached garage beyond Wi-Fi range. The Rolec EVO relies on Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, or a wired Ethernet connection. If your router reaches your driveway, that is fine. If it does not, you are looking at a Wi-Fi extender or running Ethernet cable, which adds cost and hassle.

V2G readiness is the NexBlue's headline. ISO 15118, Plug & Charge, OCPP 2.0.1 — the newest protocol version, ahead of the Rolec's OCPP 1.6J. Whether that matters depends on your timeline. Bi-directional charging requires a compatible vehicle (currently a short list), a supporting energy supplier, and regulatory plumbing that is still being laid. If you plan to keep this charger for five-plus years and expect to be driving a V2G-capable car within that window, the NexBlue's hardware is already waiting. If V2G feels abstract, you are paying £178 for a feature that may never activate on your wall.

The NexBlue's EcoPilot tariff integration supports Octopus Agile and Intelligent Go, adjusting charge sessions to follow half-hourly pricing. The Rolec EVO handles scheduled charging — set a window, it charges in it — which is perfectly adequate for fixed off-peak tariffs like Octopus Go at 8.5p/kWh or EDF GoElectric at 6.99p/kWh. If you are on Agile and want the charger to chase prices autonomously, the NexBlue is the stronger tool. If you set a schedule once and forget it, the Rolec does the same job for £178 less.

Solar surplus: both capable, differently mature

Both chargers include a CT clamp and offer solar diversion modes. The Rolec EVO's Eco and Eco+ modes mirror the approach popularised by the myenergi Zappi GLO — Eco+ waits for enough surplus before starting, Eco blends grid and solar. Rolec has been building commercial charging hardware for over a decade; the solar logic is not new territory for them.

The NexBlue Point 2 offers solar surplus charging too, but requires an additional NexBlue Zen accessory for full functionality. That is an extra purchase and an extra step. For a household with panels already on the roof, the Rolec delivers solar diversion out of the box with nothing else to buy. Buyers who want the most mature solar integration should also look at the Zappi GLO comparison.

The verdict

Buy the Rolec EVO if:

• You want the lowest total installed cost — £356 plus meaningful savings on labour from built-in protection hardware
• You charge on a fixed off-peak tariff and set-and-forget scheduling is all you need
• You want solar surplus charging without buying extra accessories

Buy the NexBlue Point 2 if:

• V2G readiness and OCPP 2.0.1 matter for your five-year plan
• Your charger location is beyond reliable Wi-Fi and you need 4G
• You are on a variable tariff like Agile and want automated price-chasing

For most buyers fitting a charger today — fixed tariff, panels or no panels, reliable Wi-Fi — the Rolec EVO does everything required and leaves £178 in your pocket. It is a quietly excellent piece of hardware from a manufacturer with real pedigree, priced as though it has something to prove. The NexBlue is a more ambitious product, but ambition only pays off if the ecosystem catches up. Put the Rolec on the wall now; revisit V2G when V2G is ready for you.