Helping to Manage Britain's Energy Grid
myenergi's zappi charger is compliant with the UK Government's (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021, effective from 30th June 2022. This ensures zappi possesses intelligent features designed to manage demand on the energy grid.
These new smart charging regulations represent a significant step by the UK Government towards preparing homes for a smart, connected, and democratized energy system, crucial for driving down emissions. myenergi is committed to ensuring these regulations are not a cause for concern for customers.
This guide assists installers in explaining the new features to customers and how they can be adjusted to meet individual needs.
Small Changes, Big Impact
The regulations focus on electric vehicle charging times to prevent simultaneous charging, such as during peak hours like "tea time".
Two key features, Smart Scheduling and Randomised Delay, empower customers to make small adjustments that yield significant benefits. Charging during off-peak periods is typically greener and more cost-effective.
Randomised Delay: This feature prevents all charging sessions from starting simultaneously. zappi will randomly wait up to 10 minutes after the scheduled charge time or boost. A similar delay may occur at the end of a scheduled boost, potentially extending charging duration slightly. This is designed to prevent grid strain from all EV chargers activating at once. Note: Randomised Delay does not apply when charging from surplus self-generation (e.g., solar or wind). Customers can override these features via the zappi unit or the myenergi app.
Features for User Control
Smart Scheduling (Default Off-Peak Charging): To comply with regulations, zappi defaults to charging during off-peak hours (00:00–08:00). Customers can customize their charging schedule within the myenergi app or via the 'charge settings' on the zappi unit.
Randomised Delay: zappi may introduce a delay of up to 10 minutes before initiating a charge to help balance the energy grid. Customers can override this delay on the zappi unit by pressing the '+' button. The delay is random, calculated at the start of each session, and can range from seconds to 10 minutes. It also applies at the end of a scheduled boost. The zappi display and the myenergi app will indicate when these features are active.
Charging on Schedule
Customers can personalize their smart charging schedule using the myenergi app, facilitating charging according to their preferences. For instance, customers with variable electricity tariffs can set schedules to optimize savings.
In ECO or ECO+ modes, customers can utilize surplus solar or wind generation irrespective of their set schedule. For immediate charging needs, the schedule can be overridden by initiating a manual boost via the myenergi app.
Customers preferring to charge on demand can disable the default off-peak schedule through the zappi unit or the myenergi app. zappi will then commence charging as soon as the EV is plugged in, particularly when using Fast Mode. The Randomised Delay will still be active, potentially causing a delay of up to 10 minutes before charging begins, unless explicitly overridden.
Ensuring Compliance
myenergi simplifies the setup process for installers regarding the new smart charging regulations effective from 30th June 2022. For devices shipped after 25th May 2022, installers will notice changes during the commissioning process.
Upon initial setup, zappi will prompt installers to specify the installation region (England, Scotland, or Wales) affected by the regulations. zappi will default to ECO+ mode. Compliance features, including Randomised Delay and Off-Peak Charging, will activate as required.
zappi units compliant with the regulations will bear a label on the outer packaging stating: "Compliant with The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021".
Important: For installations on or after 30th June 2022, ensuring the EV charger is connected to the internet via WiFi or Ethernet during commissioning is crucial. Further instructions can be found at: myenergi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/VHub-WiFi-Module-Insert-V1.2.0.pdf
Units manufactured before 30th June 2022 will prompt for a date check on first setup to confirm compliance if installed on or after 30th June 2022.
The myenergi App: Enhanced Functionality
Setting up the myenergi app is recommended to provide customers with the optimal experience. The app allows customers to control and adjust smart charging regulation settings at any time.
Customers can select their preferred charging schedules and receive updates on their vehicle's expected charging times. The myenergi app also provides access to 13 months of charging history, which can be downloaded in CSV or Excel format.
Staying Informed with zappi
The myenergi app and zappi unit will notify customers when Randomised Delay is active and when their vehicle is scheduled to charge. Customers in a hurry can override the delay by pressing 'charge now'.
Randomised Delay can also be overridden on the zappi screen. It reactivates with each new charging session and cannot be permanently disabled. Customers will also see the next charging schedule, indicating when zappi will allow the EV to charge at full power using grid electricity.
Installers can assist customers by advising them to download the myenergi app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
