RFID cards make sense for home chargers because it’s easier to override schedules and activate the charger than using an app. This article explores the best EV chargers with RFID.
RFID uses electromagnetic fields to identify RFID tags. EV chargers with RFID have an RFID reader that can identify the tags in RFID cards, letting you start and stop charging sessions and lock and unlock the charger with a scan of your card.
RFID stands for radio-frequency identification and it is anything but new technology. It was invented in 1948 by scientist Harry Stockman, although the first RFID key card was patented in 1973 by inventor Charles Walton.
Despite the convenience of RFID cards for home charging, very few home EV chargers have RFID. This is because most people prefer using their smartphones to control their chargers and schedule charge times.
However, RFID is undoubtedly nice to have. If you want an EV charger with RFID, we’ve listed the five best EV chargers available below.
Let’s jump in!
Quick list of best chargers with RFID
- Best overall: Easee One
- Smallest: Sync EV
- Good all-rounder: Rolec WallPod
- Solid performer: ICS W7C
- Worth considering: Project EV Pro Earth
Easee One charger
Pros
- Stylish design
- RFID
- Integrated eSIM
- Tethered and untethered all-in-one
- Scheduled charging
- Run two slaves off one master for up to 3 charging points on 1 fuse
Cons
- No solar integration
- LED status lights take some getting used to (a small status screen would be a big improvement)
The Easee One is our favourite EV charger with RFID because of its striking Scandinavian design and clever features. These include a lockable charge port that transforms the Easee One into a tethered charger and the ability to run up to three chargers on one fuse.
Read our full Easee One review.
RFID comes as standard in the Easee One. You use Easee Keys, which are the same as RFID tags and you can set the charger to only recognise RFID tags, so no one can mess around with the settings without the key.
The Easee One is sold as an untethered charger but you can lock the cable to the charger in the app, effectively creating a tethered charger. It doesn’t have an in-built cable tidy, but it does have a hook that lets you wrap the cable to tidy it up like so:
The Easee One charges at 7.4kW on a single-phase supply, and you can pair up to three chargers on one fuse, simplifying multiple installations.
Overall, we love the Easee One. It’s easily one of the best home chargers with RFID, and a top choice regardless. The only feature missing is solar support. If you want RFID and a smaller form factor, the Sync EV (below) is a better choice.
Sync EV charger
Pros
- Small
- No earth rod
- LED light ring
- RFID card included
Cons
- App is basic
- 4G is optional, not standard
The Sync EV charger comes as standard with one RFID card and you can order as many spare cards as you like. Scanning the card starts and stops charging, providing access to the fastest charge speeds without needing to use the Sync EV app.
In addition to RFID, the Sync EV has dynamic load management and in-built earthing. No earth rod is needed and installation is as easy as it gets for an electrician.
Read our full Sync EV review for more information on installation. We awarded the charger 4.2/5.
The Sync EV is also available untethered or tethered with a 5m cable. We prefer the untethered version because the tethered unit has no built-in cable tidy.
Our favourite Sync EV feature is the LED light ring around the charge port, which makes it easy to see charger status at a glance without looking at your smartphone. For example, solid blue means ready to charge.
Overall, this is our favourite small EV charger with RFID. It charges at speeds up to 7.4kW, adding up to 30 miles of range per hour.
Rolec WallPod
Pros
- Optional RFID
- Rock solid
- Dumb and smart versions
- Tethered and untethered
- Solar version available
- Good app
- Smart charging with tariff integration
- No earth rod required in 2022 models thanks to TruePEN technology
Cons
- Tethered version has a primitive cable tidy (a wall hook is a better option)
- App is provided by a third-party which Rolec has no control over
The Rolec WallPod is a decent charger with optional RFID. The charger is built to a high quality and the app is a solid performer, letting you integrate your tariff for kWh price caps and such. The app is provided by third-party ev.energy.
In our Rolec WallPod review, we highlighted that RFID cards/fobs let you scan to charge by authorising users. This feature works extremely well, but because RFID is optional, you need to specify the RFID version with your installer.
The new version of the WallPod has in-built earthing, so you don’t need an earth rod so long as you get the latest version of the charger.
ICS W7C charger
Pros
- No earth rod with TN-C-S PME
- Great build quality
- Status screen
- RFID card support (scan to charge)
- Wi-Fi and 4G
- Good app and software
Cons
- Big
- Marmite design
- No solar charging
- Glossy finish attracts fingerprints
The ICS W7C has RFID as standard and comes with one card. You can scan to charge and manage RFID cards in the ICS Lite app.
Above the charge port, there’s a physical button that can start and pause charging, deactivate RFID and cycle charging modes. Above that there’s a screen:
The in-built screen is handy for seeing charger status at a glance although in direct sunlight it can be difficult to see.
Read our full ICS W7C review to find out more about the charger design and the charging experience. We awarded it 4.1/5.
Although the ICS W7C is untethered, it is also available as a tethered version called the WCS WT7C which is the same except for a 5m cable.
Overall, the ICS W7C is a solid home charger with RFID. It isn’t as good as the Sync EV but it should be towards the top of your list.
Project EV Pro Earth
Pros
- RFID
- Good build quality
- Emergency stop (red button on side)
- Wi-Fi
- 7.3kW charge speeds
Cons
- Enormous
- A bit ugly
- Rubbish app
The Project EV Pro Earth is the biggest charger on our list and the least pleasing to the eye, but it is available with RFID as standard. You scan to charge at the bottom of the charger where the card symbol is, or where the circle is on some models:
Our Project EV Pro Earth review gave the charger 3.4/5, but it has a good reputation in the EV world among electricians. It charges at speeds up to 7.3kW and has built-in earthing so there is no need for an earth rod or Garo device.
The Project EV charger is also available as a black model which is sleeker:
The app lets this charger down, and in this company, it’s firmly beaten. If you can, go for the Easee or Sync EV instead for a better app.
Overall
The best EV chargers with RFID are the Easee One and Sync EV chargers. The Easee One is more stylish but the Sync EV is smaller.
Our third choice is the ICS W7C. It has a good app and a sturdy build, but no solar and the design is Marmite (you’ll love it or hate it).
The Rolec WallPod is a jack of all trades with optional RFID. It’s low-cost and smart, making it a safe choice for your first charger. You can also get it with solar integration.
The Project EV Pro Earth makes our list because it’s available with RFID, but it’s the weakest charger on this list with a poor app. It’s only worth it if you can get a great deal.
If you’re new to EV chargers, read our how to choose an EV charger guide.
If you like this article, check out our best small EV chargers roundup and be sure to share your favourite charger by commenting below.
