VCHRGD Seven Pro Review: Is It Really a Pro?
VCHRGD is a newcomer to the wide and wondrous world of EV charging, having been founded four years ago by Alex Watson. But VCHRGD’s status as a newbie shouldn’t distract you from the impact the company has had in such a short space of time.
Already, thousands of the original VCHRGD Seven and the recently launched VCHRGD Seven Pro have been installed on customers’ walls up and down the country.
And we’re here to tell you why.
Today, we delve into the VCHRGD Seven Pro, providing you with the pros, cons and our final verdict – all in our VCHRGD Seven Pro review.
VCHRGD Seven Pro: An overview
Earlier this year, VCHRGD introduced the successor to its original and popular VCHRGD Seven charger – the revamped and redesigned VCHRGD Seven Pro.
All in all, the VCHRGD Seven Pro is a single-phase, 7.4kW, Type 2, home electric car charger, available in tethered and untethered variants. As you would expect, the VCHRGD Seven Pro is fully compliant with UK smart regulations, comes with a three-year manufacturer warranty, and uses Wi-Fi to connect to the app for EV charger management.
The differences between the two versions? The new VCHRGD’s design is 40% smaller and sleeker. Despite the compact size, though, VCHRGD have retained the features that made the original such a hit: solar charging, dynamic load balancing (dynamic load management) and tariff integration – but more on that later.
Let’s dive into the benefits of choosing the VCHRGD Seven Pro as your home charger.
VCHRGD Seven Pro review: Pros
1. RFID card
All home EV chargers come with smartphone app control to make charging management easy. But the VCHRGD Seven Pro goes the extra mile by offering an app and an RFID card for access control.
Think of it like a contactless card, but to manage your charging. Tap to start. Tap to stop.
Home charging, simplified.
2. Smart tariff compatible
Interested in even cheaper, greener EV charging sessions? With the right home EV charging set-up, the VCHRGD Seven Pro’s tariff integration allows you to charge for as little as 7p per kWh with the Intelligent Octopus GO tariff during off-peak hours.
Note: you may need a compatible electric car to access certain EV tariffs, such as the Intelligent Octopus Go. Always check your EV against certain tariffs for compatibility, or contact us for support to avoid disappointment. Otherwise, you’ll need an Octopus compatible EV charger such as the Ohme Home Pro.
3. Seven trees planted
A dream partnership in green: VCHRGD has united with Ecologi to reduce carbon emissions and make electric car charging even greener.
For every VCHRGD Seven Pro made, Ecologi plants seven trees.
4. Exceptional UK-based customer support
A quick Google search for the brand will reveal something that perhaps bigger EV charging point brands don’t do as well: support.
In fact, VCHRGD are well known for offering incredibly responsive UK-based customer support. Just check out their Trustpilot reviews.
5. Cable lock
With the untethered VCHRGD Seven Pro, you can lock and unlock your cable. Not only does it imitate a tethered unit for the lazy days when you refuse to find your charging cable, but it also adds a strong layer of theft protection.
6. Solar integration
Are you the proud owner of solar panels? Start charging your electric vehicle with free, surplus solar energy from the get-go with the VCHRGD Seven Pro, and slash home charging costs further.
VCHRGD Seven Pro review: Cons
1. Limited colour choice
Unlike some of its charging rivals, such as the Easee One and Indra Smart LUX, the VCHRGD is only available in one colour, and one colour only.
The new design is an upgrade from its previous siblings, in a glossy, reflective, black unit that seamlessly act as a beautiful addition to your home, rather than an eyesore.
That said, if you are searching for something more unique, or a charger to perfectly match your striking red garage door or bold green Mokka EV, your head may be turned elsewhere. Somewhere, perhaps, that has an interchangeable front cover in a slew of different colour choices.
2. Not my type – Type 2 only
Unfortunately, the VCHRGD Seven Pro only comes in Type 2. While this serves the majority of new EVs, older electric car models with a Type 1 connector will need a converter to access the perks of the VCHRGD Seven Pro.
3. Status light indicators
Unlike many EV home chargers on the market, the VCHRGD Seven Pro doesn’t feature an LED to show the status of the charger. Neither does it offer an LCD screen for quick status management.
Of course, you can check analytics in your VCHRGD app, but sometimes a quick glance at the indicator light is all you need – and want.
Despite this, we feel it’s not a dealbreaker. With VCHRGD’s support, you’ll never be down for long. And sometimes, like with the evec, the LED might be a little too bright for everyday charging – especially at night.
VCHRGD Seven Pro Review: Is it worth it?
The verdict? In our opinion, the VCHRGD Seven Pro is the ideal home EV charger for those who want more bang for their buck. At a disgustingly reasonable price, the VCHRGD Seven Pro doesn’t disappoint on looks, with its sleek, glossy, improved design, and doesn’t skimp out on smart charging features: RFID card compatibility, smart tariff compatibility, excellent customer service, sustainable elements, cable lock functionality and solar charging.
With this in mind, we would 100% recommend the VCHRGD Seven Pro EV charger for home charging – future-proof and full of functions.
Ready for your VCHRGD Seven Pro EV charger and installation?
As nationwide electric car charger installers, we can supply and install your VCHRGD Seven Pro wherever you are – all with first class customer service and comprehensive packages, inclusive of DNO notification, grant application (if applicable), supply and installation, aftercare and more.
Don’t believe us? Browse over 1,700 Trustpilot reviews.
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