Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 vs Rolec EVO: Which UK Charger Is Worth It?

Two UK-Made Smart Chargers Under £450 — But £87 Apart

This is a proper head-to-head between two British-designed smart chargers that share a surprising amount of DNA: both deliver 7.4kW single-phase, both include solar integration, both have built-in PEN fault protection, and both support OCPP 1.6J. On paper, the Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 and Rolec EVO look almost interchangeable. So where does the Rolec's extra £87 actually go?

In a nutshell:

• Sync Energy Wall Charger 2: The budget champion — available tethered from just £302, with nine colour options and solid smart features
• Rolec EVO: The more polished package — 5-year warranty, Wi-Fi 6, built-in RCD, Red Dot Award-winning design, and a CT clamp in the box

Does the Rolec EVO's 5-Year Warranty Justify the Price?

Warranty is one of the clearest differentiators here. The Rolec EVO comes with five years of cover from a manufacturer that's been building EV chargers in Lincolnshire for over a decade. The Sync Energy offers three years. That's two extra years of peace of mind for £87 more — roughly £44 per additional year. Given that chargers live outdoors and deal with British weather year-round, that extended protection has real value.

Rolec also builds in a Type A RCD with 6mA DC leakage protection, which means your installer may not need to fit a separate device in the consumer unit. That alone can knock £50–100 off installation costs, narrowing the effective price gap considerably.

Solar Charging: Both Capable, One Better Equipped

If you have solar panels — or plan to install them — both chargers deserve a spot on your shortlist. Our solar charger guide covers the full landscape, but these two are among the most affordable options with genuine solar diversion built in.

The Rolec EVO edges ahead here because it includes a CT clamp in the box and offers two distinct modes: Eco (blends solar and grid power) and Eco+ (solar-only charging). The Sync Energy's SolarCharge feature does similar work, but the CT clamp may need to be sourced separately depending on your purchase bundle. Both use dynamic load balancing as standard, so neither will trip your main fuse if you're running the oven while charging.

Sync Energy's Tethered Option Is a Genuine Differentiator

Here's where the Sync Energy carves out clear territory: it's available as a tethered unit with a 7.5-metre cable from around £302. The Rolec EVO is untethered only. Full stop.

For many Tesla owners, having a permanently attached cable is non-negotiable. You pull up, grab the cable, plug in, done. No fishing a cable out of the boot, no coiling it back up afterwards. If that convenience matters to you — and you're watching your budget — the tethered Sync Energy is one of the cheapest smart chargers available in the UK right now. At £302, it undercuts the Rolec by £147.

The untethered Rolec does have its own advantage: flexibility. If your household runs multiple EVs with different cable lengths, or you prefer the cleaner look of a socket-only unit, the Rolec's compact 260mm × 260mm square design (it weighs just 3kg) is tidy on the wall.

App and Connectivity: A Mixed Bag on Both Sides

Neither charger has a perfect software story. The Sync Energy app went through a messy transition away from the Monta platform, which left early adopters frustrated. User reviews also flag Wi-Fi reliability issues at range — a problem if your charger sits far from your router. The base model lacks 4G, so if Wi-Fi drops out, you lose smart scheduling until it reconnects. You'd need the pricier GG variant for cellular backup.

The Rolec EVO ships with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 — newer standards that should handle connectivity more reliably, especially in congested home networks. But its app is still relatively new and reviews suggest it's being actively refined. Neither app is in the same league as the Tesla or Ohme ecosystems yet.

Both chargers support OCPP 1.6J, which is the important long-term play. If either app disappoints you permanently, OCPP compatibility means you can eventually migrate to a third-party energy management platform.

Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 if:

• You want a tethered charger with a fixed cable — the Rolec simply doesn't offer one
• Budget is your primary concern and £302 tethered is your target
• You like the idea of swappable colour fascia plates (nine options) to match your house
• You already have strong Wi-Fi coverage near your parking spot

Buy the Rolec EVO if:

• You value a longer warranty — five years vs three is meaningful for outdoor hardware
• You want solar charging with the CT clamp included out of the box
• Built-in RCD protection matters to you (potential installation savings of £50–100)
• You prefer an untethered socket design and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity

For most buyers comparing these two at full price, the Rolec EVO is the smarter spend. The warranty, included accessories, and built-in electrical protection make that £87 gap feel smaller than it looks. But if you specifically want a tethered charger on a tight budget, the Sync Energy at £302 is a category of one at that price point. Check our best smart EV charger guide if you want to see how both stack up against the wider market.