The myenergi Zappi and Wallbox Pulsar Plus represent two fundamentally different approaches to home EV charging. The Zappi is a solar-first powerhouse built in Lincolnshire, designed from the ground up to maximise your renewable energy. The Wallbox Pulsar Plus is a sleek, ultra-compact smart charger from Barcelona that prioritises design, simplicity, and app-controlled convenience. Both are excellent chargers. But they're built for different people — and choosing the wrong one means leaving money (or free solar energy) on the table.

Quick Comparison

myenergi Zappi v2 Wallbox Pulsar Plus
Price (inc. install) ~£949 ~£950–£1,100
Price after OZEV grant ~£599 ~£600–£750
Charging speed 7.4kW (single-phase) / 22kW (three-phase) 7.4kW (single-phase) / 22kW (three-phase)
Solar divert modes ✅ 3 modes (Fast / Eco / Eco+) ✅ Eco-Smart mode (requires energy meter add-on)
100% solar charging ✅ Eco+ mode (zero grid draw) ✅ Eco-Smart mode (with energy meter)
Smart tariff integration ⚠️ Basic (schedule-based) ✅ Intelligent Octopus Go (via Pulsar Max)
App myenergi app — functional, dated UI myWallbox app — clean, intuitive
On-unit display ✅ LCD screen with real-time data ✅ LED halo status light
Load balancing Via CT clamp (built-in) Power Boost (dynamic, built-in)
Dimensions 439 × 282 × 122 mm 166 × 163 × 82 mm
IP rating IP65 IP54
Made in 🇬🇧 UK (Lincolnshire) 🇪🇸 Spain (Barcelona)
Warranty 3 years 3 years
OZEV grant eligible ✅ ✅
## Two Different Philosophies Before we get into the detail, it's worth understanding *why* these chargers exist. The Zappi was born from myenergi — a Lincolnshire company founded by people obsessed with renewable energy and self-consumption. Their entire product range (Zappi, Eddi, Libbi, Harvi) is designed to keep your energy in-house. The Zappi was purpose-built to work with solar panels and home batteries from day one. Wallbox, on the other hand, is a Barcelona-based tech company that thinks of EV chargers as smart home devices. The Pulsar Plus is designed to be the smallest, most elegant charger you can bolt to a wall — controlled entirely through a polished app. Solar compatibility exists, but it's a feature rather than the founding mission. Neither approach is wrong. But it means these two chargers excel in very different areas. ## Solar Charging — The Zappi's Home Turf ### myenergi Zappi: Three Modes of Solar Control The Zappi uses a CT clamp on your meter tails to monitor your home's energy flow in real time. It offers three charging modes: **Fast Mode:** Full-speed grid charging, solar ignored. For when you need juice quickly. **Eco Mode:** Prioritises excess solar but supplements from the grid to maintain a minimum 1.4kW charge rate. Your car charges consistently, even on cloudy days, while still making good use of solar. **Eco+ Mode:** The Zappi's killer feature. In Eco+ mode, the charger *only* uses surplus solar energy. If your panels aren't generating enough excess (above ~1.4kW), charging pauses entirely. When the sun comes back, charging resumes automatically. Zero grid draw. Completely free motoring. The Zappi also integrates seamlessly with the wider myenergi ecosystem — the Eddi (solar hot water diverter) and Libbi (home battery). If you're building a whole-home energy system, the Zappi is the natural EV charging piece of that puzzle. ### Wallbox Pulsar Plus: Solar as a Feature The Pulsar Plus supports solar charging through its "Eco-Smart" mode in the myWallbox app. However, this requires purchasing an additional Wallbox energy meter (the Power Meter or a compatible CT clamp setup) — it's not included in the box. Once configured, Eco-Smart mode directs surplus solar energy to your car. Wallbox claims it can charge using 100% solar when surplus is sufficient. In practice, the system works but requires more setup and an additional purchase compared to the Zappi, where solar monitoring is built in from the factory. The bigger difference is granularity. The Zappi gives you three distinct modes with clear behaviour. The Wallbox gives you one solar mode that you toggle on or off. For solar enthusiasts who want fine-grained control over exactly how their panels interact with their EV, the Zappi is more capable. **Solar verdict:** The Zappi wins for solar panel owners. Built-in CT clamp, three dedicated modes, and the Eco+ zero-grid option make it the superior solar charger. The Wallbox can do solar, but it's an add-on — both philosophically and literally. ## Smart Tariff Support — The Wallbox's Strength ### Wallbox: Intelligent Octopus Go Integration Wallbox has partnered with Octopus Energy to bring Intelligent Octopus Go integration to its chargers. The newer **Pulsar Max** (the Pulsar Plus's successor, now shipping in the UK) integrates directly with Octopus's API, enabling automatic scheduling during the cheapest off-peak slots. The Pulsar Plus itself supports smart scheduling through the myWallbox app — you set your off-peak window and it charges accordingly. It works well with any time-of-use tariff like Octopus Go or Economy 7. If you want the full Intelligent Octopus Go API integration, the Pulsar Max is the model to look at. Either way, Wallbox's app makes tariff scheduling straightforward. Set your departure time, your target charge level, and let the app handle the rest. ### Zappi: Basic Schedule Support The Zappi supports timed charging — you can programme it to start and stop at specific times. This works fine for simple off-peak windows (e.g., midnight to 5:30am on Octopus Go). But it doesn't connect to Octopus Intelligent Go's API, doesn't handle Agile's half-hourly variable pricing, and doesn't dynamically optimise across cheap slots. If you're on a flat-rate tariff or a simple dual-rate tariff, the Zappi's scheduling is perfectly adequate. If you're on a variable-rate smart tariff and want automated optimisation, the Wallbox ecosystem is ahead. **Tariff verdict:** Wallbox leads on smart tariff integration, particularly with the Pulsar Max and Intelligent Octopus Go. The Zappi handles basic scheduling but lacks the API-level intelligence. For the best smart tariff comparison, see our [Zappi vs Ohme guide](/reviews/zappi-vs-ohme/) — the Ohme is the real tariff champion. ## App Experience ### myWallbox App The myWallbox app is clean, modern, and genuinely pleasant to use. You get: - Start/stop charging remotely - Smart scheduling with tariff awareness - Per-session energy and cost tracking - Power Boost configuration - Charger lock for security - Firmware update notifications The interface feels like it was designed by a proper UX team. Everything's where you'd expect it, and the scheduling workflow is particularly intuitive. ### myenergi App The myenergi app is functional but dated. It covers the essentials — mode switching, scheduling, session history, and real-time generation/consumption data — but the UI feels like it was designed by engineers who had more important things to worry about (like building excellent hardware). You'll also want the myenergi Hub (£50–£70 extra) for full remote access. Without it, the Zappi only connects locally via Wi-Fi. The Wallbox connects via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth with no additional hardware needed. **App verdict:** The myWallbox app is significantly more polished. If you interact with your charger primarily through the app (and most people do), the Wallbox provides a noticeably better daily experience. ## Design and Build Quality This is where the Wallbox Pulsar Plus really shines. The **Pulsar Plus** is genuinely tiny — 166 × 163 × 82mm, roughly the size of a small cereal bowl. Available in black or white with a matte scratch-resistant finish and a signature LED halo ring that glows to show charging status. It's the sort of thing that actually *improves* the look of your driveway wall. Weight: just 1kg (without cable). The **Zappi** is substantially larger — 439 × 282 × 122mm. It's a proper industrial unit with an LCD screen showing real-time solar generation and consumption data. It looks functional rather than elegant, but it's built like a tank. The IP65 rating means it's fully protected against water jets — significantly more weatherproof than the Pulsar Plus's IP54. If you live somewhere exposed to harsh weather (coastal, Scottish Highlands, anywhere with persistent driving rain), the Zappi's IP65 rating gives meaningful peace of mind. If your charger will be sheltered or you prioritise aesthetics, the Wallbox is in a different league visually. **Design verdict:** The Wallbox Pulsar Plus is the best-looking home charger on the UK market. The Zappi is more robust and weatherproof. The Zappi's LCD showing live solar data is a genuine practical advantage for solar owners. ## Price and Installation The **Zappi** typically costs around £949 fully installed (unit from ~£779). After the £350 OZEV grant: approximately **£599**. The **Wallbox Pulsar Plus** costs £950–£1,100 fully installed. After the OZEV grant: approximately **£600–£750**. Both chargers are OZEV grant eligible for renters, flat owners, and landlords. See our [OZEV grant guide](/guides/ev-charger-government-grant-uk/) for eligibility details. Installation complexity is similar for both — a qualified OZEV-registered installer will handle everything. The Zappi's CT clamp installation adds minimal extra time. The Wallbox's compact size makes it slightly easier to position in tight spaces. **Price verdict:** The Zappi is marginally cheaper when fully installed, and better value if you have solar panels. The Wallbox is competitively priced for what you get — the premium is really paying for the design and app experience. ## Who Should Buy Which? ### Buy the myenergi Zappi if: - You have solar panels and want maximum free charging - Eco+ mode (100% solar, zero grid) appeals to you - You're building a myenergi ecosystem (Eddi, Libbi) - You want the most weatherproof option (IP65) - You like seeing live solar data on the unit's LCD screen - You value UK-made products - You're on a simple tariff where advanced scheduling isn't critical ### Buy the Wallbox Pulsar Plus if: - You want the most compact, stylish charger on the market - App quality and daily UX matter to you - You don't have solar panels (or solar is secondary to convenience) - You want a charger that genuinely looks good on your wall - You prefer the "install and forget" approach - You're upgrading to the Pulsar Max for Intelligent Octopus Go support - Space is tight and the Zappi's bulk is a concern ## Our Verdict **For solar panel owners:** The Zappi is the clear winner. Three dedicated solar modes, built-in CT clamp, zero-grid Eco+ charging, and myenergi ecosystem integration make it the most capable solar charger on the UK market. If you've invested in panels, the Zappi ensures your EV gets maximum benefit from them. **For everyone else:** The Wallbox Pulsar Plus is a brilliant compact smart charger. The app is excellent, the design is market-leading, and it handles the basics of smart charging superbly. If solar isn't part of your setup and you want something that looks great and works reliably, the Wallbox delivers. **The nuance:** If you want both solar *and* smart tariff integration, neither of these is the perfect answer. The [Ohme Home Pro](/reviews/ohme-home-pro-review/) combines decent solar support with best-in-class tariff optimisation. But if you're choosing between a solar-first approach (Zappi) and a design-first approach (Wallbox), this comparison should make the right choice clear.

Our Recommendation

myenergi Zappi — Best for solar panel owners who want maximum free charging.

Check Zappi Price →

Wallbox Pulsar Plus — Best compact smart charger for design-conscious buyers.

Check Wallbox Price →
--- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can the Wallbox Pulsar Plus charge from solar panels? Yes, but it requires an additional Wallbox energy meter purchase and configuration. The Eco-Smart mode in the myWallbox app then directs surplus solar to your car. The Zappi has solar monitoring built in from the factory with no extra hardware needed — making it the simpler and more capable solar option. ### Is the Zappi compatible with Intelligent Octopus Go? The Zappi supports scheduled charging for fixed off-peak windows, so it works with Octopus Go's cheap-rate hours. However, it doesn't integrate with Octopus Intelligent Go's API for dynamic, automatic optimisation. For that, look at the Wallbox Pulsar Max or the [Ohme Home Pro](/reviews/ohme-home-pro-review/). ### Which is more weatherproof — Zappi or Wallbox Pulsar Plus? The Zappi is rated IP65 (protected against water jets from any direction), while the Wallbox Pulsar Plus is IP54 (protected against splashing water). Both are fine for typical UK conditions, but the Zappi is the better choice for exposed, unsheltered locations. ### Do I need a myenergi Hub for the Zappi? For basic local control via Wi-Fi, no. But for full remote access away from home and complete app functionality, the myenergi Hub (around £50–£70) is recommended. The Wallbox connects directly via Wi-Fi with no additional hub required. ### What's the difference between the Wallbox Pulsar Plus and Pulsar Max? The Pulsar Max is Wallbox's newer model, adding Intelligent Octopus Go API integration, a slightly updated design, and improved smart features. The Pulsar Plus remains widely available and is an excellent charger — the Max simply adds deeper smart tariff capabilities. Both offer 7.4kW single-phase and 22kW three-phase charging. --- *See also: [Zappi v2 Review](/reviews/zappi-v2-review/) · [Wallbox Pulsar Plus Review](/reviews/wallbox-pulsar-plus-review/) · [Zappi vs Ohme Home Pro](/reviews/zappi-vs-ohme/) · [Best Home EV Chargers UK 2026](/best-picks/best-home-ev-chargers-uk/) · [Solar Panels & EV Charging Guide](/guides/ev-charger-solar-panels-uk/)*

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