Pod Point Solo 3S

Pod Point is one of the most established names in UK EV charging -- you have probably seen their public chargers at Tesco and Lidl car parks. The Solo 3S is their latest home charger, and it is only available as an installed package at £999. You cannot buy the unit separately and use your own electrician. Pod Point handles the entire process from survey to installation through their network of third-party contractors, which is undeniably convenient but means you have no say in who turns up to do the work, and no easy way to vet their individual track record beforehand. The charger itself is straightforward and reliable, available in both tethered (with cable attached) and untethered (socket only) versions. The Pod Point app handles scheduling and energy monitoring, and the 5-year warranty is among the longest on this list. For buyers who want a completely hands-off experience -- one phone call, one price, charger on the wall -- the Pod Point delivers exactly that. The trade-off is flexibility: you pay Pod Point's price, use Pod Point's installer, and get Pod Point's feature set, with no option to mix and match.

Best for: Buyers who want a completely hassle-free, all-inclusive installation experience and prefer dealing with a single established brand from purchase to after-sales support.

Installation

The Pod Point Solo 3S installation is handled entirely by Pod Point. After you place your order, Pod Point arranges a remote or in-person survey, then schedules an installation date with one of their third-party contractor network. The £999 price covers the charger unit and standard installation, which includes mounting the charger, running cable from your consumer unit, and connecting to your electrical supply. Standard installation assumes a straightforward cable run of up to a certain length and no major electrical upgrades -- if your consumer unit needs replacing or the cable run is unusually long, additional charges may apply. The tethered version weighs 6 kg with a 5-metre cable, while the untethered version weighs 3.5 kg. The charger is IP54 rated for sheltered outdoor positions. The convenience of Pod Point's all-in-one service is genuine: you do not need to find your own electrician, get multiple quotes, or coordinate between a charger supplier and a separate installer. The downside is that you cannot choose your installer. Pod Point assigns a contractor from their network, and you cannot check that specific installer's reviews beforehand. For a broader overview of the installation process, see our complete guide to home EV charger installation.

Tariff Compatibility

The Pod Point Solo 3S supports basic scheduled charging through the Pod Point app, allowing you to set charging windows to align with off-peak tariff hours. This works for simple time-of-use tariffs like Octopus Go (00:30--04:30 off-peak) where you set the schedule once. However, the Pod Point does not have direct smart tariff integration. It cannot communicate with Octopus to request extended off-peak slots on Intelligent Go, and it cannot dynamically optimise for variable pricing on Agile Octopus or similar half-hourly tariffs. The adaptive load management feature is useful for protecting your home's electrical supply but is not the same as smart tariff optimisation. If tariff automation is important to you, the Ohme Home Pro is significantly better in this area. The Pod Point's approach to tariffs is simple and manual -- set your off-peak window, and it charges during those hours. For many users on basic two-rate tariffs, this is perfectly adequate. For a full comparison of tariff options, see our best EV charging tariff guide.

Price Breakdown

The Pod Point Solo 3S pricing model is unique on this list: £999 includes both the charger and standard installation. This makes it impossible to directly compare unit prices with other chargers. However, if we assume a typical installation costs £400--600, the implied unit cost is £399--599. At the lower end, that makes it competitive with the Easee One (£405) and GivEnergy (£478); at the higher end, it is comparable to the Indra Smart PRO (£599). The convenience premium is real but not extortionate. If you are eligible for the OZEV grant, £350 comes off the total, bringing it to £649 installed -- which is genuinely excellent value for a hassle-free installation from an established brand.

How It Compares

The Pod Point Solo 3S occupies a unique position as the only all-inclusive installed package on this list. For a direct comparison with another established brand at a similar total price point, see our Tesla Wall Connector vs Pod Point Solo 3S comparison -- the Tesla offers better app integration and a longer cable but requires you to source your own installer. The key question is whether you value convenience (Pod Point) or control (every other charger). With every other charger on this list, you buy the unit separately and choose your own installer, giving you the ability to shop around for the best installation quote and vet your electrician's reviews. The Pod Point removes that flexibility but also removes the hassle. For buyers who find the process of sourcing an electrician daunting, the Pod Point is the safe, straightforward option.