Pod Point is one of the most searched brands on Top Charger, and there’s no doubt about why; the company is killing it with great products.
The Solo 3 is Pod Point’s newest home charger, released last November. It replaced the Solo, bringing a sleeker, oval design and an upgraded polycarbonate case. Other upgrades include a new circuit board and wiring configuration.
Pod Point Solo 3
The Pod Point Solo 3 is a fast home electric vehicle charger that can provide up to 90 miles of range per hour. It comes in 3 power ratings (3.6kW, 7kW, 22kW) and can be purchased as a universal socket or with a tethered cable. Key features include fast charging, over-the-air updates via Wi-Fi, auto power balancing to prevent overloading your home’s electrical supply, and pairing with the Pod Point app for charge scheduling. The Solo 3 is OZEV approved, complies with the latest regulations, and comes with a 5 year warranty. Pricing starts from £798 including standard installation.
Let’s jump in!
Price when reviewed: From £949 (tethered) with installation without the OZEV grant.
2023 update – You can now get the Pod Point Solo 3 as a 22kW version, priced at £1,749 for the untethered model and £1,799 for the tethered model. It’s compatible with commercial 3-phase installations, making it the perfect EV charger for business car parks. Safety and compliance with standards are key strengths of this product. It includes 6mA DC leakage protection, dual redundant power contacts in the Type 2 socket, and complies with crucial electrical standards.
Pod Point Solo 3 review
Summary
The Pod Point Solo 3 is stylish and easy to use, with a simple but intuitive app that lets you set charging schedules and add tariff details (kWh prices) to track costs. You can specify a tethered or untethered model and a single or three-phase model to suit your power supply. Overall, it’s a fantastic smart charger that should be towards the top of your list.
Pros
- Stylish design
- Tethered or untethered
- Cable wraps around charger (no messy wall hook)
- App has cost tracking
- Well-made
- In-built earthing (no earth rod)
- App is basic but easy to use
Cons
- LED status light isn’t the best
- Doesn’t support kWh price caps
- No solar integration
Pod Point Solo 3
The Pod Point Solo 3 is a sleek, oval-shaped Level 2 home EV charger. It replaces Pod Point’s previous Solo model with upgrades like a polycarbonate case and refined wiring. The Solo 3 charges at 7kW on a 32A circuit for fast overnight charging up to 24 miles of range per hour. It has built-in Wi-Fi and syncs with the Pod Point app for scheduling charging sessions. A key feature is the tethered model’s cable that neatly wraps around the charger. Downsides are the small status light that’s hard to see and lack of a power boost mode to override schedules. Overall, the Solo 3 is a stylish, robust charger with reliable scheduled charging, although the app lacks some smart features found on rivals. It’s a decent option for scheduled home charging.
The Pod Point Solo 3 is a stylish charger that works well with schedules and offers a reliable charging experience.
It’s available untethered or tethered. Tethered models get a 4.8m Type 1 or 7.5m Type 2 cable (most people will use the Type 2 variety).

I like the design, with the new polycarbonate case and oval shape being a whole lot sleeker than the original Solo’s round, ABS body. Also, the large body serves as a natural reel for the cable to loop around, creating a tidy installation.
A few more colour options would be nice – the grey is crying out to be black or white for those Stormtrooper vibes.

I also like the app, which is logical and easy to use, although some people have connectivity problems (I had no such problems). The app lets you schedule charging to make use of cheap rates and you can also input your tariff details for cost tracking.
A notable missing feature is a boost/power mode to override schedules, which is annoying if you want a quick boost (the solution is to deactivate the schedule that covers the period of inactivity you want to charge in).

A screen on the charger would have been handy to check the charge level. Pod Point has instead stuck with a single status light for at-a-glance status information.
The tiny LED status light is beaten by the likes of the Wallbox Pulsar Plus.
Overall, the Solo 3 is a decent smart charger in terms of design, build quality and scheduled charging. Add a power/boost button and it’s a winner.
Is the Pod Point Solo 3 easy to install?
The Solo 3 has in-built earthing so there is no requirement for an earth rod. It has a Protective Multiple Earth (PME) system, so if a fault is detected, the charge cycle is denied and it becomes a double-insulated device that isolates the vehicle from supply and earth.

Additionally, the Solo 3 has 6mA DC vehicle fault protection and only Type A RCD/RCBOs are required at the source.
The unit is designed to accept cable entry on either the left, right, bottom or via rear, with a rear installation providing a seamless installation.
The Solo 3 also has DIP switches for setting the maximum supply limit. These make it easy to set the maximum supply.

The Solo 3’s large body translates to plenty of room in the case to wire things up. It has a new circuit board and wiring configuration over the Solo, which provides more space in the case than the previous model.
Installation follows the same process as other chargers:
- Install the back plate
- Run the cable
- Create a circuit
- Wire it up
- Install the front casing
- Connect
- Test the unit
Of course, this is a simplified workflow. Electricians do a lot more work in-between, especially when it comes to assuring safety and testing. As always, you should never install an EV charger yourself, unless you are a qualified electrician.
Overall, the Solo 3 is easier to install than most other chargers because it has lots of space in the case. The build quality is excellent from an installation perspective, inspiring confidence at every stage of the installation.
Solo 3 design
The Solo 3 has a polycarbonate case, an upgrade over the previous model’s ABS case. PC is more durable than ABS with greater impact resistance. The unit is rock solid with no creaking or movement in the case.

The oval shape is new, and overall it is sleeker than the Solo’s rounded shape. It doesn’t look as big and this is backed up by the measurements:
- Solo untethered: 360 x 360 x 150 mm
- Solo 3 untethered: 290 x 330 x 167 mm
The untethered unit is slightly larger than the tethered unit to accommodate the socket.
The total volume reduction over the Solo is 17.6%, so it takes up less space on the wall, although it does stick out a bit more.
If you want the tethered model, the tethered Solo 3 is only 112mm thick, so it is significantly thinner than the untethered version. This is because it doesn’t have a built-in charge port, which requires a fatter case.
Thanks to its oval body, the cable loops around the unit, so there is no need for a wall hook like some smaller chargers. A charger holster comes as standard with the tethered model.
The Solo 3 retains the same silver and black colour scheme as the Solo, which gives the charger a bit of kerb appeal.

It’s a more modern-looking unit, and it looks quite nice. The Easee One is still my favourite EV charger to look at, but the Pod Point is nice enough.
The front of the charger hosts a single LED bulb which is used to display the charger’s status (more on this below). It’s basic, not very big and nowhere near as nice as the light strip on the Hypervolt Home 3 Pro.
Overall, the Pod Solo 3 is well-made and looks good, with the tethered version my preference because it’s a lot slimmer than the untethered unit.
Solo 3 status lights
The Solo 3 has a small LED status light that pales in comparison to the LED status ring on the Hypervolt Home 3 Pro.
It’s a shame Pod Point didn’t upgrade it to an LED strip or something fancier because the front of the device has plenty of space for it.
The status lights are as follows:
- Solid green – charging
- Flashing green – battery is full or charger is waiting to start
- Solid blue – standby mode
- Flashing blue/pink – syncing with Pod Point
- Solid white – lost Wi-Fi connection
- Solid yellow – charging is paused and the charger is balancing current
- Flashing yellow – schedule available and waiting to charge
- Solid/flashing red – technical fault
Solo 3 charging speeds
The Solo 3 charges at 7kW on a 32A single-phase supply, 3.6kW on a 16A supply, and 22kW on a 3-phase supply.
Here’s what those charge speeds mean:
- 3.6kW – 14 miles of range per hour
- 7kW – 24 miles of range per hour
- 22kW – 60 miles of range per hour
Most homeowners will charge at 7kW. 7kW is fast enough for overnight charging and the Solo 3 monitors energy use via a CT clamp.
Solo 3 connectivity
The Solo 3 connects to your home Wi-Fi and requires a stable connection for the smart features to work. Otherwise, the charger is a plug and play device, which you activate via your vehicle or vehicle companion app.
The installer connects the Solo 3 to Wi-Fi during installation, leaving the user to download the app and create a Pod Point account.
You need a Pod Point account to link the Solo 3 to your smartphone so you can access smart features like charge scheduling.
You don’t need an account to simply charge your EV, because the charger works as a plug and play device without schedules.
To link the charger to your Pod Point account, you enter your Solo’s PSL number located on the sticker at the bottom of the charger.
The connection process is simple, but if you don’t purchase the charger via Pod-Point.com, you need to contact Pod Point support so they can create an account on their end. This is because the email address you use to buy the Solo 3 on Pod-Point.com is linked to the charger.
It has IEEE 802.11bgn Wi-Fi, which offers a good range signal and isn’t easily obstructed. In practice, it means you shouldn’t have connectivity problems, but there are several reviews on the App Store that complain about issues.
We didn’t have any connectivity problems with the Solo 3, but some users report them. If you have issues, the tips below might help.
You need to enable 2.4Ghz on your Wi-Fi router. Sometimes, Wi-Fi routers block the connection of devices. If you have any problems, restart the charger, and if this doesn’t help, restart your router.
You might also benefit from a Wi-Fi enhancer to expand the signal of your home Wi-Fi. A Wi-Fi enhancer simply plugs into a 3-pin socket.
Solo 3 charging experience
The Solo 3 is a smart charger, so it lets you create schedules that make charging available between different dates and times. The idea is that you schedule charging sessions to fit your lifestyle and to access cheap electricity rates.
To begin charging, first ensure the charger is installed and powered on by checking the breaker switch is in the on position. A light on the charger should indicate it is in standby mode.

Next, plug your electric vehicle into the charger. The charger will recognise your vehicle and the light will turn green after a few moments to show charging has begun. If you have connected your Solo 3 charger to the Pod Point app, it will follow any charging schedule you have set in the app by default. This means it may start out yellow to indicate it is waiting to begin charging during your scheduled window.
With app connectivity, you can customise your charging schedule to take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity rates and lower carbon emissions. Scheduling is recommended for most economical and eco-friendly charging. Without the app, the charger will start charging as soon as you plug in your vehicle.
To check on the status of your charging session, refer to the colored light on the charger unit. Solid green indicates active charging, while flashing green shows your vehicle battery is fully charged. Yellow means the charger is waiting to start charging at the next scheduled time.
When charging is complete, simply unlock your vehicle, disconnect the charging cable, and safely store it. For portable cables, remove from both the vehicle and the charger before storage. Your vehicle will now be ready for its next journey.
For further features and customisation, connecting your Solo 3 to your home Wi-Fi network enables app connectivity. You can then access energy usage statistics, public network charging, and more helpful features. The Pod Point app also provides the option to deactivate charge scheduling and return the charger to manual mode if desired.
Scheduled charging
Without a schedule, the charger reverts to default charging. In other words, it is in standby mode until you plug the cable into your car.
The Solo 3 will charge when it is immediately plugged in unless there is an active
schedule set in advance that limits charging between times. The schedule defines whether the charger is ready to go all the time or not.
With schedules, the charger works well. We didn’t experience missed schedules and the charger didn’t have any problems with connectivity. You can set as many schedules as you like, covering every day of the week across all hours of the day.
No boost button
A notable missing feature is a boost/power mode, so you can override schedules when you want to charge immediately. This is an oversight.

Also, an important note on schedules that we found out the hard way – any vehicle-set scheduled charging will interrupt scheduling within the Pod Point app, so you need to turn off schedules set in your vehicle or your vehicle’s companion app.
Cable and physical experience
The tethered Solo 3 has a 4.8m Type 1 or 7.5m Type 2 cable. The cable loops around the charger, a much more elegant solution than a wall hook. It works well and we like the fact the Type 2 cable is 7.5m as standard.
The charger is rock-solid, with no play at all when using the cable.
The small LED status light is as basic as you’d expect. The Solo 3 would benefit from a small LCD display that shows the power output and charge time.
Overall, the Solo 3 works well with schedules, but there isn’t a boost/power mode to override schedules. The Indra Smart PRO and Zappi v2 both have these features.
Pod Point app
The Pod Point app gets a bad rep on the App Store and Google Play Store. In fairness, it pulls reviews from both Solo users and Pod Point’s public charging customers, who only seem to leave bad reviews.
My experience with the Pod Point app is that it works well enough with the Solo 3 and doesn’t make it difficult to set schedules.
By no means is it the worst app out there, but it isn’t the best either.
Ultimately, interaction with the app is minimal after setting schedules, unless you want to track costs and consumption in the app.
Graphs and information
The Pod Point app has a Stats menu that provides information about charging sessions, tracking both home (Solo 3) and public charging sessions with Pod Point chargers to track all costs.

The app lets you add your tariff’s kWh price for different times to track charging costs on schedules, and it works perfectly fine.
The app doesn’t let you set a kWh price cap (a la Ohme Home Pro) so the Solo 3 only charges when the cheapest price becomes available. There is also no integration for dynamic tariffs like Octopus Agile, which will probably become more common.

The ability to add tariff prices is useful because it estimates charging costs based on power consumed. You can set kWh prices for different times (see screenshot above), so you can track costs on a dual-rate energy tariff.
The app also displays Pod Point public charging stations:

Clicking on any of the circles zooms in and you can then select a charger and get directions.
Potential app improvements
The app performs well enough, but there are a few ways Pod Point could improve it:
- While the app lets you integrate your tariff’s kWh prices for cost tracking, you can’t set kWh price caps for tariffs with dynamic pricing. This means you rely on scheduling for cheaper rates.
- There’s no power/boost mode to override schedules. It means if you want to charge immediately outside a schedule, you have to mess around with schedules to do it.
- There’s no lock mode in the app to lock the charger down. A lock/holiday mode would be useful to make sure the charger can’t be used.
Overall, the Pod Point app does the job but leaves room for improvement. If Pod Point were to address the points above, it would be a whole lot better.
Smart Charge Point Regulations compliance
The Pod Point Solo 3 fully complies with the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 in the UK. The regulations require that smart chargers like the Solo 3 have certain capabilities to support smart charging of electric vehicles.
The Solo 3 has communication capabilities that allow it to connect to a network via Wi-Fi or cellular data. This allows it to receive remote commands to start, stop or adjust the charging rate. This smart functionality enables features like scheduled ‘off-peak’ charging, as well as participation in demand-side response services to help balance electricity demand on the grid. The regulations require smart charge points to have these capabilities.
The Solo 3 can measure electricity usage and charging time, providing access to this data via the Pod Point mobile app. It can store charging history for the past 12 months to enable monitoring electricity usage. Accurate metering of usage is mandated by the regulations.
A key requirement is that the chargepoint functions are not tied to any specific energy supplier. The Solo 3 complies by working with any suitable electricity supply and tariff. The app features will work regardless of supplier.
For safety and reliability, the Solo 3 prioritises its internal safety systems over external commands for charging. This helps prevent overloading or electric shock risks. The regulations emphasise the importance of safe and reliable operation.
When communication is lost, the Solo 3 defaults to charging after a random delay unless overridden. This maintains core charging functionality if disconnected while still allowing grid-friendly charging defaults. The regulations require reasonable functionality without external connectivity.
Physical and data security features like tamper protection, encrypted storage and secure communication protocols aim to prevent unauthorised access and control. These types of cybersecurity protections are called for by the regulations.
Regular over-the-air firmware updates will enable ongoing security improvements and new capabilities over the product lifetime. The regulations encourage updatability to maintain smart functionality.
Verdict
The Solo 3 is a decent smart home charger, with reliable performance, rock-solid build quality and a refined design that lets you wrap the cable around the charger.

Downsides? The app is basic and it has a few missing features that the best apps have, like a lock mode, a power/boost mode to override schedules instantly, and the ability to input kWh price caps so you always get the cheapest rates.
Overall, the Pod Point Solo 3 isn’t the smartest charger out there, but it looks good and performs well. If you don’t want to make use of dynamic tariff pricing (e.g. Octopus Agile), and scheduling is enough for you, it’s a decent option.
It achieves a score of 4.2/5.
Final thoughts
The Pod Point Solo 3 is one of the most popular Level 2 home EV chargers in the UK because it’s reliable and easy on the eye.
A key advantage of the tethered Solo 3 is how the cable wraps neatly around the charger, removing the need for a wall hook. Build quality is excellent with a robust polycarbonate case.
Reliable scheduled charging is a strength but the lack of a power boost override is an annoyance. There’s also no solar integration.
Overall, the Solo 3 nails the fundamentals as a smart charger. The design, cable management and quality installation inspire confidence. Pod Point could improve the app and status lights in future versions, but it’s a solid option for scheduled charging.
Pod Point Solo 3 alternatives
The Zappi v2.1 is a good alternative. We awarded it 4.4/5, with the Zappi having an in-built display and a better charging experience.
Another option is the Hypervolt Home 3 Pro. The status lights are easier to see, it has Wi-Fi and 4G, and the app offers more information.
Check out the Ohme ePod if you want something smaller, or the Ohme Home Pro if you want a screen to see the charger status at a glance.
Documentation
This review was produced in collaboration with Barclay Electrics, OZEV Approved Installers of home and workplace chargers. We extend our thanks to Barclay Electrics for the photos and insights used in this review. Be sure to visit them if you like what you see!
Do you have the Pod Point Solo 3? Help out the Top Charger community by sharing your own review below!
Totally not happy with pod-point had my car back at main dealers were the car chargers to 32 miles range at home it won’t charge passed 18 miles, pod-point are being very un helpful
Sorry to hear that Paul. The output of your charger can be driven by several factors – this article might help https://topcharger.co.uk/why-is-my-electric-car-charging-slowly/
I’ve had my Solo3 and used it with my VW ID.3 for 3 months now and I’m very happy with it. As the review points out, there is no way to lock it. I have a tethered version which, in theory, means that someone could park on our drive and use it simply by plugging into their car. In reality, law-abiding behaviour, nosy neighbours and the fact that the device ins’t that obvious would make this highly unlikely. I agree with the reviewer, having the ability to lock it from the app would be good.
Question: what would the impact be of turning it off at the isolator switch for a significant period of time? That is a means of security where it is otherwise lacking. Maybe I need to ask PodPoint.
Otherwise, I may resort to mechanical means, e.g. preventing the cable from being unreeled or the connector from being removed from its holder.
I’m surprised this review is so positive (although I don’t have the benefit of comparisons – maybe all chargers give quite poor user experiences).
The PodPoint app will only deal with one car, so if you have 2 EVs (which we do), a lot of the scheduling and cost tracking features are useless. There is no way to set a charge level limit, so you are dependent on your EV’s app managing 80% charging.
And on the charger itself the lack of solar integration is an unforgivable omission – no effort at future proofing.
I’ve been using the Pod Point Solo 3 for a few weeks now and I have to say that it’s the best solo yet. The battery life is amazing and the charging is really fast. I would definitely recommend this
We got the electric car first and the Solo3 seemed a good enough buy, it was promoted by the garage.
My ID3 does not like the charger setting the schedule, so I use the in car program which is OK until it goes wrong.
My biggest problem is the no solar integration because we rapidly obtained solar panels due to the ongoing crazy electricity prices making it a very good time to get them.
I can go into the car and tell it to charge now with a reduced current and this works well to absorb about 2kw of solar. It’s a faff though and I wish VW would improve the ability to activate this mode without redefining the whole charging profile.
I’ve been using the Pod Point Solo 3 for a few weeks now and I have to say that it’s the best solo yet. The battery life is amazing and the charging is really fast. I would definitely recommend this
I’ve been using the Pod Point Solo 3 for a few weeks now and I have to say that it’s the best solo yet. The battery life is amazing and the charging is really fast. I would definitely recommend this
It’s a decent charger for sure!
The Solo 3 is an easy to use charger. The app is a doddle to navigate and set up charging at lower tariff times. What’s not to like? BMW i4 edrive 40.