Charging cables are connected to the Zappi, which is a compact unit that supplies electricity to the vehicle. The Zappi is usually mounted on the wall or a stand, and the electricity is then transmitted to the vehicle through either an untethered or tethered EV charger.
When it comes to EV chargers in Ireland, there are two main types: untethered and tethered. The key difference between these two options is the presence of a detachable cable. Tethered chargers come with a fixed cable, while untethered chargers feature a detachable charging cable that can be used with other charging points.
Cables are essential for EV charging stations because they transport electricity from the source to the battery in the car. The Electric Services Board (ESB) of Ireland operates 1,350 public EV charge points across Ireland, most of which are tethered chargers. Tethered chargers are typically considered more convenient and neater since they have a pre-attached cable that can be easily unwound from the charging point. Additionally, the tethered charger is usually included in the advertised price of the charging unit, making it a more cost-effective option than purchasing a separate untethered cable, which can be quite expensive.
While tethered chargers may be more convenient, untethered EV chargers provide more flexibility since they allow users to carry their cable and attach their vehicles to different charge points. This makes it an attractive option for homeowners who want to have a broader range of options when it comes to home EV chargers. Furthermore, untethered chargers are often longer cables, which allows for more flexibility in terms of charging point configuration.
It's important to note that EVs come with two different types of plugs: Type 1 and Type 2. Tethered EV chargers are fixed to a specific plug type and are typically type 2, while untethered EV chargers often allow for changing connector types on the vehicle side. This means that you can charge your car with different EV chargers.
Additionally, untethered chargers enable the use of longer cables, allowing them to reach your vehicle even if you need to park in a different location or reconfigure the charge point altogether. However, while untethered chargers offer greater flexibility, they also have their drawbacks. Detachable cables mean you may have to crawl into the boot of your car to re-attach them to your home charger, especially in rainy conditions. Furthermore, unattended untethered EV chargers are vulnerable to theft.
With so many home chargers available in the market, it can be challenging to determine which one works best for you. Zappi is a sturdy electric vehicle charger that has been winning over many sustainability-minded consumers for some time. In addition to being the world's first solar-compatible EV charger, Zappi offers a fully integrated app to regulate energy output and comes with a 3-year warranty.
Like most other EV charging units, Zappi chargers are available in both tethered and untethered versions. A brief exploration into the functionalities of both future-proof models will shed further light on the options available with both tethered and untethered EV charging units.
The untethered Zappi charger from Wattcharger comes without an attached cable and is available in both white and black, providing a sleek, inconspicuous home EV charger. The charging unit itself weighs 7.305 kg, preserving a neater appearance without the attached cable. Regardless of which detachable charging cable is used, Zappi users will still be able to connect to the myenergi app.
Through the app, users can set thresholds for the amount of energy that needs to be produced using sustainable sources such as solar energy. The ECO+ mode on the app ensures that the transfer of energy is paused if renewable sources fall below the predetermined threshold. Similarly to the tethered Zappi charger, this model comes with 7kWh and 22kWh power options. The 7kWh charger will charge the vehicle in less than eight hours, while the 22kWh charge point will take only about three hours to charge a typical EV model.
The untethered Zappi charger is available on Wattcharger for €975, with the 22 kWh model costing €1,175. Both models are available in white and black and are covered by myenergi’s 3-year warranty.
An untethered EV charger offers the advantage of using a lengthy charging cable, enabling you to charge multiple vehicles in a driveway without the need to rearrange the cars. We would recommend this option if you have two or more electric vehicles.
The Zappi tethered unit comes with a 6.5m attached cable. Although some EV owners fear that tethered EV chargers pose threats of inflexibility, the Zappi tethered charger has most of the bases covered. Zappi charging cables are compatible with just about every popular electric vehicle on the Irish market right now, including the entirety of Tesla’s current EV fleet, making it a solid choice for EV owners in Ireland.
Although there is a tethered cable for charging, the cable easily wraps around the unit. This ensures that the cable does not pose a hindrance and is easy to store in a neat and useful way on the charging unit itself. The tethered electric car charger is available to Irish EV owners in both black and white, and Wattcharger currently supplies the 7 kWh tethered option for €999, with the 22 kWh costing €1,180.
Like all things, EV charging solutions depend on your needs as an EV owner in Ireland. While both tethered and untethered charging options have their drawbacks, they both represent solid home charging models that can help you be one of the one million electric vehicles that the Irish Government anticipates on the road by the end of the decade.
If you have any questions about the different types of chargers or you are interested in purchasing one, do not hesitate to contact the experts at Wattcharger, we are here to discuss all your electric car charging needs.