This is the first EV charger from Humax to go on sale in the UK and, according to the press blurb, there’ll be more models coming down the line. Best known for its digital TV recorders and smart home devices, South Korea-based Humax has a 35-year heritage in manufacturing and the automotive mobility sector, with a product and service portfolio covering smart parking, fleet management, shared mobility and electric vehicle charging. The Humax 7.4kW Smart Home Charger is a Type 2 tethered unit designed for easy installation, either wall mounted or on a pedestal, and the focus is on durability. In terms of the design, it’s ok, but not revolutionary. The chargers are already on sale in the UK and backed by its customer support infrastructure for after-sales and installation. Humax will be using chargedev as their partners for installation and it is fair to say that chargedev is a reputable company with a solid customer service offering.
It’s a sleek looking unit and the shiny black finish with the slimline LED that pretty much extends from the top to the bottom of the unit is a neat touch. So it looks pretty good and the materials used appear to be of decent quality. There’s also a host of protections built in (see tech spec below) which suggests this thing isn’t going to go bang even under the most extreme conditions. The holster for the socket looks easy to fit so that shouldn’t add much to the installation time and although it looks like it will stand the test of time the proof of the pudding, at this stage, is the three-year warranty with an option to extend to five. That suggests the manufacturer has confidence in the product. Although the high Trustpilot rating may be for the company as a whole rather than just for the charging solutions, it does give extra peace of mind knowing that Humax customers, generally, are happy with their purchases.
Charging sessions can be controlled manually or via the Humax EV charging mobile app, which is basic and easy to set up. First you register their device using a QR code and complete the set-up with a few straightforward clicks using the app. Charging can be activated using the RFID card swipe, plug and play or via the app. The status of the charging session is shown on the front LED indicator and in the app. Energy consumption costs can be reduced by setting a preferred charging schedule. The Humax app will learn your usage patterns and track charging history. Multiple profiles can be created in the app, allowing you to share usage history and be notified when the charge point is ready. A real benefit is the solar compatibility function that allows excess solar energy harvested from your panels to charge your vehicle. ‘Solar’ mode allows you to charge only from electric generated from the panels, whereas ‘Solar and Grid’ mode enables users to make the most of any solar energy, while topping up from the grid to ensure the vehicle is fully charged when needed. The Humax charger comes with a pre-set feature for charging outside peak hours (8am to 11am, 4pm to 10pm weekdays), enabling owners to achieve better supply balance while benefiting from lower energy rates.
It’s very competitive – at £599 (including VAT) it’s around £100 cheaper than rivals that offer pretty much the same thing with equivalent capability. The fact that’s it’s solar compatible makes it particularly attractive at this price. There’s no dynamic tariff integration but generally, those with that functionality are more expensive. What that means though is that you won’t maximise savings on your electricity bill, but the solar functionality should help to keep ongoing costs down.
It is also OZEV approved, allowing UK customers to apply for a £350 grant towards installation, where applicable. The Humax charger features a water- and dustproof housing, meets all required safety standards and features built-in PEN fault protection. RFID technology prevents unauthorised access and use, while integrated current detection helps save energy costs if a DC fault is detected. The charger incorporates WiFi and Ethernet connectivity and you can choose from a 4-metre or 7-metre cable, but you’ll pay £50 more for the longer cable. The charger comes with a wall holster that pokes out horizontally, which doesn’t look particularly wonderful: there are other chargers where you can store the cable tidily within the unit, so if you want a neater look with cables not on show then the Humax is not for you. Firmware upgrades are automatically run over WiFi or Ethernet, so the charger remains up-to-date. The product comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty that can be extended to five. According to Humax, it has a dedicated partner for after-sales customer service with a dedicated customer helpline, which picked up within 20 seconds when we called the number. According to Humax customer service, the whole process from initial enquiry to installation should take about two weeks.
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