Pod Point has changed the game. We are reviewing the Pod Point Solo 3S, which is an update on the Pod Point Solo 3, but there’s been a change and it’s worth knowing. Now the brand is known simply as Pod and, to mark the shift in direction Pod has introduced a new all-in subscription service called Pod Drive. The aim is to give drivers a cheaper and more convenient way to charge their EV at home, which cuts the up-front costs of installing a charger from £1,249 to £99, while rewarding customers with cashback on up to 7,500 ‘smart charged’ miles per year, potentially saving £170 on your electricity bills. More details about the offer can be found in the Value for Money section of this review. You can buy the 3S outright with installation if you want to, without doing the subscription model. So, what of the unit itself? Well, it now features solar integration so you can potentially enjoy zero carbon emissions and zero cost if you fully utilise your panels. You can choose solar-only or solar and grid modes depending on your needs. If you don’t have solar yet the 3S features next-generation software designed to integrate with future home energy technology, meaning your home will be future-proofed for years to come. The 3S gets a redesign with a darker panel that is slicker than the 3S and the app has been updated so users can tap into cheaper, off-peak energy rates (typically overnight) through the charge schedule feature. In terms of the overall offering, the major pluses are the in-house installation service and five-year warranty.
This is sort of fair to middle in terms of the design. The 3S is definitely an improvement on the Solo 3 but it is bulky compared to others and could look a little prettier. It’s built to last, however, and the five-year warranty is reassuring. It all serves to underscore Pod Point’s confidence in its product.
The updated app is straightforward, allowing you to do all the necessaries without any fuss. You can schedule charging to sync with your off-peak energy tariff, letting you charge when it’s cheapest. You can see what your charging costs are and the app also has a neat little page that will give forecast of your local carbon intensity provided by National Grid. Like most chargers you can export itemised reports and check your charger’s live charging status. The solar function is easy to use – you simply toggle across to solar and the charger will take an excess energy from your panels. Pod Point’s software offers automatic over-the-air updates over WiFi and, if you have the untethered unit, you can lock it in via the app. Overall, the functionality is easy-to-understand and intuitive.
The new Pod Drive subscription is a curveball and it is a fairly revolutionary pricing structure that removes the high up-front cost of charger installation, a significant barrier to EV adoption, while giving subscribers control over their EV running costs. It is also a way of keeping customers on board and offering a better, more accountable after-sales service. A £40 monthly subscription to Pod Drive includes a Solo 3S charger, installation and a 48-hour Service Level Agreement which is designed to give extra peace of mind. In addition, Pod Drive helps customers to reduce the impact of EV ownership on household electricity bills through a form of cashback. By enabling “smart charging” with Pod Drive, customers will be rewarded up to 7,500 miles of cashback per year, the equivalent of over £170.
So how does it work?
Without the subscription the Pod (Point Solo 3S) 7kW charger is priced from £1079 with standard installation. There’s an untethered version and a tethered version (fixed cable attached), which is £50 more, and it comes with a 5-metre cable as standard, but you can opt for a longer cable at additional cost. You also have to pay an additional £100 for a surge protection device, which seems a little unnecessary – surge protection on most chargers is included in the price. The newly introduced solar function on the 3S will reduce your long-term costs if you are ahead of the ‘energy independence’ curve and already have panels installed. Customers can also take advantage of the new ‘Pod Point Plug & Power’ bundle with EDF that offers drivers the ability to purchase a Pod Point Solo 3S charger for an initial payment of £499 (compared to £1,079). This special tariff, also priced at £2,139 a year for the average EV driver, gives customers cheap overnight rates, with five hours of off-peak electricity between midnight and 5am to power both their home and car, priced at 8.49p per kWh. For an average motorist, charging with Pod Point Plug & Power will save drivers £538 a year compared to petrol. And compared with using the public charging network, EV drivers charging with the tariff would save £460.
Existing Pod Point owners can upgrade their old charger to the new Solo 3S starting at a cost of £599 depending on when your existing charger was installed. You get a fresh 5-year product warranty and, if you opt for the tethered version, you’ll get a 5-metre cable and cable holster included in the price. Installation should take about two hours, and most reassuring is the award-winning in-house installation service. This is where Pod Point stands out, having won the best Aftersales and Support category in the latest What Wallcharger? Awards.
Untethered (Universal)
Dimensions (HxWxD) – 330mm x 290mm x 167mm
Weight – 3.5kg
Connection type – Type 2
Compatibility – All plug-in vehicles
Charging mode – Mode 3
Cable length – N/A
Cable holster supplied – Sold separately
Lockable – Remote lock available via app
WiFi – WPA, WPA2, WPA3 or Open WiFi
IP Rating – IP54 enclosure (IP44/54 for plugs and socket)
IK Rating – IK10
Operating temperature -25C- 40C
Protection – 6mA DC Leakage, Over current, PME and failed earth protection
Tethered Unit
Dimensions (HxWxD) – 330mm x 290mm x 112mm
Weight – 6kg
Connection type – Type 2
Compatibility – Type 2 compatible vehicles
Charging mode – Mode 3
Cable length – 5 metres
Cable holster supplied – Yes
Lockable – Remote lock available via app
WiFi – WPA, WPA2, WPA3 or Open WiFi
IP Rating – IP54 enclosure (IP44/54 for plugs and socket)
IK Rating – IK10
Operating temperature -25C- 40C
Protection – 6mA DC Leakage, Over current, PME and failed earth protection
The Pod Drive is a new pricing structure, and it is an innovative way of reducing the large upfront cost while giving an ongoing service. As a unit, this is an unfussy charger, built to last with an easy-to-use solar function. Of course, the fact that it won the What Wallcharger? Award for best Aftersales and Support means that there will be peace of mind during the installation process. For existing customers, the chance to upgrade for £599 will be tempting and the choice of an untethered unit or a tethered unit is very welcome. It’s a solid offering, not flashy, but functional and robust.
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