NexBlue Point 2 vs VCHRGD Seven Pro: Two Newcomers, One Clear Winner?

Two Upstart Chargers Go Head-to-Head — Which Newcomer Earns a Spot on Your Wall?

The NexBlue Point 2 and VCHRGD Seven Pro represent a new wave of UK smart chargers from brands most people haven't heard of yet. Both pack feature lists that embarrass established names costing significantly more. Both include CT clamps for dynamic load balancing as standard. And both carry the inherent risk of buying from companies without years of proven track record.

So what separates them? About £100, a tethered cable, and a very different bet on the future.

In a nutshell:

• NexBlue Point 2 (~£530): V2G-ready with ISO 15118, OCPP 2.0.1, and lifetime free 4G — the most future-proofed budget charger available
• VCHRGD Seven Pro (£432): Tethered with a 7.5m cable, dual solar modes, and RFID cards included — the most features per pound today

Is V2G Readiness Actually Worth £100 More?

The NexBlue Point 2's headline feature is ISO 15118 and V2G readiness. In theory, this means your charger could eventually send power from your car battery back to the grid or your home — potentially earning you money or cutting bills further. It also supports OCPP 2.0.1, the latest open protocol standard.

Here's the reality check: V2G is not commercially available to most UK households yet. When it does arrive, you'll also need a V2G-compatible car, a supporting energy tariff, and potentially additional hardware. The NexBlue won't need replacing when that day comes, which is a genuine advantage — but you're paying a premium now for something that might not be useful for years.

The VCHRGD Seven Pro runs OCPP 1.6J, which is the current industry standard and perfectly adequate for every smart charging scenario available today. If you're pragmatic rather than speculative, that £100 saving buys you a charger that does everything you actually need right now.

Solar Charging: The VCHRGD Seven Pro Has the Edge

If you've got solar panels, the VCHRGD Seven Pro is the stronger choice between these two. It offers two distinct modes — Solar Export and Solar Only — built directly into the Powerverse app. Solar Export diverts surplus generation to your car while Solar Only restricts charging entirely to solar power. Both work with the included CT clamp.

The NexBlue Point 2 can do solar surplus charging too, but it requires the separate NexBlue Zen accessory. That's an additional cost and an extra piece of hardware. For a deeper look at solar-optimised chargers, see our best EV charger for solar guide.

Tethered vs Untethered: A Bigger Deal Than You Think

The VCHRGD Seven Pro comes tethered with a generous 7.5-metre cable at £432 — or untethered from £395 if you prefer. The NexBlue Point 2 is untethered only. No tethered version exists.

This matters more than the spec sheets suggest. A tethered charger means you walk to your car, grab the cable, plug in, done. No fishing a cable out of the boot, no coiling and storing a separate lead. For daily convenience — especially in the rain, in the dark, in January — tethered wins every time. If you specifically want an untethered socket (perhaps you charge multiple vehicles with different cables), the NexBlue's compact 2.1 kg unit is impressively small at 235mm × 230mm. But for a single-Tesla household, the VCHRGD's tethered setup is simply easier to live with.

Smart Tariff Integration and Connectivity

Both chargers handle smart tariff scheduling competently. The NexBlue's EcoPilot system automates cheap-rate charging, while the VCHRGD integrates with Octopus Intelligent Go through Powerverse. Neither is as deeply embedded with energy providers as the Ohme platform, but both get the job done.

Where the NexBlue pulls a trick the VCHRGD can't match: built-in 4G eSIM with a lifetime free subscription. If your Wi-Fi signal doesn't reach your driveway, this is a significant practical advantage. The VCHRGD offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as standard, with 4G only as an optional extra. Weak garage Wi-Fi is one of the most common complaints among EV charger owners, so the NexBlue's triple connectivity deserves credit.

Warranty and Brand Risk

Neither NexBlue nor VCHRGD has the install base or longevity of an Easee, Ohme, or Tesla. That's the trade-off for their aggressive pricing. The NexBlue mitigates this somewhat with a 5-year warranty — matching established competitors. The VCHRGD's 3-year warranty is shorter, and its reliance on the third-party Powerverse app introduces a dependency that wouldn't exist with a more vertically integrated product.

If brand risk concerns you, both our best Tesla home charger and best smart EV charger guides cover more established alternatives.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy the NexBlue Point 2 if:

• V2G and ISO 15118 future-proofing are important to you
• Your Wi-Fi doesn't reach your charger location (built-in 4G solves this)
• You prefer an untethered socket for multi-vehicle flexibility
• A 5-year warranty gives you peace of mind from a newer brand

Buy the VCHRGD Seven Pro if:

• You want the most features for the least money
• A tethered 7.5m cable suits your daily routine
• You have solar panels and want built-in dual-mode solar charging
• You need RFID access control for a shared driveway

For most Tesla owners buying a charger today, the VCHRGD Seven Pro is the better purchase. It costs less, comes with a cable, handles solar better out of the box, and does everything a smart charger needs to do in 2024. The NexBlue Point 2 is the more interesting product — but interesting and practical aren't always the same thing. Save the £100, get the tethered VCHRGD, and spend the difference on cheap overnight electricity.