Two Underdogs Worth Your Attention
Neither the Zaptec Go 2 nor the Simpson & Partners Home 7 is a household name in UK EV charging. You won't find them plastered across Instagram ads or bundled with every Tesla delivery. But both offer something the big players don't — and this comparison comes down to a philosophical question: do you want a charger built for the future, or one built to outlast everything else on your wall?
In a nutshell:
- Zaptec Go 2 (£707): The UK's first V2G-ready AC home charger, with free 4G and an MID-approved meter. A bet on tomorrow's grid.
- Simpson & Partners Home 7 (£649): British-made, anodised aluminium, 10-year enclosure warranty, and available tethered. A bet on lasting quality.
Is the Zaptec Go 2's V2G Readiness Worth Paying For?
V2G — vehicle-to-grid — is the headline feature. The idea is that your Tesla becomes a two-way battery, feeding power back to the grid when electricity prices spike and charging when they're low. It's a compelling vision. The problem? It's not here yet, at least not for AC home chargers in any meaningful, widely-available way in the UK.
So the £707 you're spending on the Zaptec Go 2 buys you a promise. If V2G rolls out broadly in the next few years, you'll be ahead of the curve. If it doesn't — or if it arrives via DC chargers instead — you've overpaid for features you never used. The MID-approved energy meter and subscription-free 4G connectivity are genuinely useful today, though. No Wi-Fi dependency means rock-solid connectivity regardless of where your driveway sits relative to your router. That alone might justify the Zaptec for some buyers.
Does the Simpson & Partners Home 7 Justify That 10-Year Warranty Claim?
A 10-year warranty sounds extraordinary, and it is — but read the detail. It covers the enclosure, not necessarily every internal component. That said, the enclosure is anodised aluminium, UK-manufactured, and available in finishes including Accoya wood. This thing is built like outdoor furniture from a design magazine.
For context, most chargers offer 3 years. The Zaptec gives you 5, which is already above average. Simpson & Partners nearly doubles that for the housing. If longevity and kerb appeal matter to you — and you plan to stay in your home for a while — the Home 7 makes a strong case. It's also £58 cheaper than the Zaptec at £649, which makes the value equation straightforward.
Tethered vs Untethered: A Real Practical Difference
This one's easy to overlook but matters daily. The Zaptec Go 2 is untethered only — you bring your own cable, plug it in, unplug it, coil it up, store it. Some people prefer this flexibility. Others find it a faff, especially in the rain at 11pm.
The Simpson & Partners Home 7 gives you the choice: tethered with a 5-metre cable, or untethered. If you want to walk up, grab the cable, and plug in without rummaging in the boot, the Home 7 is your only option here. It's a small thing that becomes a big thing over hundreds of charging sessions. If you're leaning untethered regardless, the Zaptec's compact Scandinavian design (240mm × 180mm, just 3.2kg) is impressively minimal on the wall.
Smart Tariff and Solar: How Do They Compare?
Neither charger is an Ohme Home Pro when it comes to smart tariff wizardry, but they take different approaches. The Simpson & Partners Home 7 directly supports Octopus Go, OVO Anytime, and EDF GoElectric through its app — solid if you're on one of those tariffs. Check our tariff comparison guide for current rates.
The Zaptec Go 2 leans on OCPP 1.6J compliance, meaning it can talk to third-party energy management systems. That's more flexible in theory but requires more setup. Its ability to auto-switch between single and three-phase charging is a nice touch for solar panel owners who want to maximise self-consumption — though the Simpson & Partners also lists solar compatibility.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Zaptec Go 2 if:
- V2G readiness matters to you and you're willing to pay for future-proofing
- You need 4G connectivity because your Wi-Fi doesn't reach the charger location
- You want an MID-approved meter for precise energy tracking
- You prefer a minimal, ultra-compact wall unit
Buy the Simpson & Partners Home 7 if:
- You want the longest enclosure warranty on the market (10 years)
- You prefer a tethered charger with a permanently attached cable
- Premium British-made build quality and distinctive finishes appeal to you
- You'd rather save £58 and spend it on a smart tariff setup instead
For most Tesla owners browsing our best home charger guide, the Simpson & Partners Home 7 is the smarter buy right now. It costs less, offers more flexibility with tethered and untethered options, and that aluminium build will still look good on your wall a decade from now. The Zaptec Go 2 is the more interesting charger — but interesting and practical aren't always the same thing.