If you’re on a smart energy tariff — particularly Intelligent Octopus — the Ohme Home Pro might be the most cost-effective home EV charger available in the UK right now. Its ability to communicate directly with your energy tariff and automatically charge when electricity is cheapest (sometimes under 7p per kWh) has made it a compelling choice for budget-conscious EV drivers. As NAPIT-approved EV charger installers covering Watford and Hertfordshire, we’ll give you an honest assessment of the Ohme, including where it excels and where other chargers might serve you better.
What Is the Ohme EV Charger?
Ohme is a British company that has built its reputation on one core idea: your EV charger should work in harmony with your energy tariff, not just your electricity supply. The Ohme Home Pro connects to your energy account and uses real-time tariff data — including wholesale energy prices and your personal tariff schedule — to automatically charge your car at the lowest possible cost.
This is more sophisticated than simple overnight scheduling. When paired with Intelligent Octopus, Ohme receives dispatch signals directly from Octopus Energy and charges your car when the grid is greenest and cheapest, often achieving rates well below the standard tariff.
Ohme Home Pro Key Features
- Intelligent Octopus Integration: The deepest, most seamless integration of any charger with Octopus Energy’s smart dispatch system — the charger receives real-time signals to charge when rates are lowest.
- Smart Tariff Optimisation: Compatible with a wide range of smart EV tariffs including OVO Charge Anytime, EDF GoElectric, and others — not just Octopus.
- Real-Time Cost Tracking: The Ohme app shows exactly how much each charging session costs, what rate you charged at, and how much you’ve saved compared to charging at peak tariff.
- Smart Scheduling: Set a departure time and minimum charge level; Ohme works backwards to ensure your car is ready when you need it, charging at the cheapest times in between.
- Solar Integration: Basic solar scheduling support — charge during daylight hours when your panels are generating. Less sophisticated than Zappi‘s real-time solar diversion, but functional.
- Ohme App: Clean, straightforward interface for managing sessions, setting schedules, and monitoring costs.
- IP55 Rating: Weatherproof for outdoor installation.
- 7.4kW Output: Standard single-phase domestic charging speed — adds around 30 miles of range per hour.
Who Is Ohme Best For?
Ohme has a clear sweet spot: homeowners who want to minimise their charging costs and are willing to let a smart tariff do the heavy lifting.
- Intelligent Octopus users: If you’re already on Intelligent Octopus or planning to switch, Ohme is arguably the single best charger for extracting maximum value from that tariff. The two were practically designed for each other.
- Cost-focused EV drivers: If your primary goal is the cheapest possible cost per mile, and you don’t have solar panels, Ohme’s tariff optimisation is hard to beat.
- Set-and-forget users: You set your departure time and minimum charge, and Ohme handles everything else. No need to think about when to plug in or when rates change.
- OVO and EDF smart tariff users: Ohme’s broad tariff compatibility means it works well across several UK energy providers, not just Octopus.
Ohme is less ideal if you have solar panels and want real-time solar diversion — Zappi is considerably better for this. It also offers less sophisticated load balancing than Easee, so households with two EVs or limited electrical capacity may find Easee a better fit.
Ohme Home Pro Technical Specifications
- Power output: 7.4kW (single phase, 32A)
- Connector: Type 2 tethered cable (6.5m) — fixed cable, no socket version
- Supply voltage: 230V single phase
- IP Rating: IP55 — suitable for outdoor installation
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Smart features: Tariff API integration, scheduled charging, cost tracking, carbon tracking
- Operating temperature: -20°C to +45°C
Ohme and Intelligent Octopus: How It Actually Works
This is where Ohme genuinely stands apart. Most smart chargers offer scheduling — you tell them to charge between midnight and 5am and they do so. Ohme with Intelligent Octopus goes further.
Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus tariff uses a sophisticated algorithm to dispatch flexible loads (like EV chargers) when the grid has surplus electricity — typically when renewable generation is high and demand is low. Ohme receives these dispatch signals directly and charges your car accordingly, often achieving rates significantly below the standard off-peak tariff.
In practice, this means Ohme users on Intelligent Octopus can charge their EV for a fraction of standard rates — sometimes under 10p per kWh when wholesale prices are low. For a typical EV with a 60kWh battery, the annual savings versus charging at standard rate can be substantial.
You still set a minimum charge level and a ready-by time. Ohme guarantees your car will hit that target — it just optimises when it charges within that window to minimise cost.
Ohme Installation: What to Expect
Site Assessment
The Ohme installation process is straightforward. We assess your consumer unit for capacity, earthing arrangements, and the best cable route to your parking position. Because Ohme is a tethered charger with a 6.5m cable, we also confirm the cable will reach your car’s charging port comfortably from the planned mounting position.
Unlike Zappi and Easee, Ohme doesn’t require a CT clamp for basic smart operation — the tariff optimisation works through the API connection rather than physical monitoring of household load. This can simplify the installation slightly.
Installation Day
A standard Ohme Home Pro installation takes approximately two to three hours. We run the dedicated circuit, fit the circuit protection, mount and connect the charger, and then set up the Wi-Fi and app connection. Linking to your energy account (Octopus or otherwise) takes a few minutes through the app. We’ll walk you through the scheduling settings before we leave so you’re confident using all the features from day one.
How Much Does an Ohme Home Pro Cost to Install?
An Ohme Home Pro installation in Hertfordshire typically costs between £850 and £1,300 all in, including the charger, installation, materials, and certification. Ohme’s unit price sits in the mid-range, which means total installed cost is often lower than Zappi or a premium Easee setup.
The same variables apply as with any charger installation: cable run length, consumer unit condition, and earthing requirements. We provide fixed-price quotes — see our Hertfordshire EV charger cost guide for a full breakdown of what affects your installation price.
Ohme and EV Charger Grants
Ohme Home Pro qualifies for the government EV chargepoint grant scheme. It meets smart charger criteria with full scheduling and tariff optimisation capability. We handle the grant application as part of your installation — it’s a quick process that can meaningfully reduce your upfront cost.
Ohme vs Other Chargers
- Ohme vs Zappi: If you have solar panels, Zappi is better for solar diversion. For tariff optimisation and cost-per-kWh savings, Ohme is the clear leader.
- Ohme vs Easee: Easee is better for multi-EV households and advanced load balancing. Ohme is better for single-car households who want the cheapest overnight charging.
- Ohme vs Hypervolt: Hypervolt is a good all-rounder with solar integration. Ohme’s tariff API integration is more sophisticated for cost optimisation.
For a full comparison across all three top chargers, see our Easee vs Zappi vs Ohme guide.
Real Installation: Ohme Home Pro in Watford
We recently installed an Ohme Home Pro for a homeowner in Watford who had just switched to Intelligent Octopus. They were previously using a three-pin plug to charge their Nissan Leaf overnight and were paying standard rate electricity. After the Ohme installation, they connected to their Octopus account through the app and set a departure time of 7:30am with a minimum charge of 80%. Within the first month, their average charging cost had dropped considerably — Ohme dispatched most sessions between 1am and 4am when Octopus wholesale rates were at their lowest. The installation itself took two and a half hours including app setup.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohme
Does Ohme work with energy providers other than Octopus?
Yes. Ohme integrates with several UK energy providers including OVO (Charge Anytime), EDF (GoElectric), and British Gas (Electric Driver). The Intelligent Octopus integration is the most seamless, but Ohme provides smart scheduling and cost optimisation across multiple tariffs.
What if my Wi-Fi drops — will Ohme still charge?
If the Wi-Fi connection drops, Ohme reverts to a fallback charging schedule that you configure during setup (typically off-peak hours). Your car will still charge, but real-time tariff dispatch won’t function until connectivity is restored.
Is Ohme tethered or untethered?
The Ohme Home Pro is tethered — it comes with a 6.5m Type 2 cable permanently attached. There’s no socket/untethered version of the Home Pro. If you prefer an untethered charger, Easee or Zappi would be more suitable.
Can I use Ohme if I’m not on a smart tariff?
Yes. Without a smart tariff integration, Ohme functions as a standard scheduled charger — you set the hours you want it to charge and it does so. You won’t get the full tariff optimisation benefits, but it still qualifies as a smart charger for grant purposes and remains a capable, user-friendly unit.
Ready to Install an Ohme Charger in Watford or Hertfordshire?
We install Ohme Home Pro chargers across Watford, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Bushey, Rickmansworth, and throughout Hertfordshire. As a family-run NAPIT-approved team, we’ll give you honest advice on whether Ohme is the right fit — or whether Zappi or Easee would serve you better given your energy setup and driving habits.
Get your free, no-obligation quote today. Call 07736 736233 or use our online quote form. We handle everything from the initial site assessment to grant application and final certification.
