Pod Point Solo 3: specifications, tethered options and warranty

The Pod Point Solo 3, sold in its current form as the Solo 3S, is one of the most widely fitted home EV chargers in the UK. It is made by Pod Point Limited, a company registered in England (number 06851754) with 17 years of experience in EV charging, more than 300,000 customers and over 6 billion miles powered¹. The charger is Wi-Fi enabled, OZEV approved, compatible with all plug-in electric vehicles, and fully compliant with the government's latest smart charging regulations².

The headline price is from £999 to install, though Pod Point notes the price may differ where subsidised pricing has been agreed with vehicle manufacturers³. The charger comes in tethered and untethered (universal socket) forms, and its solar charging modes let a household charge a car from excess solar generation or a mix of solar and grid power⁴.

The Solo 3 explained, and its manufacturer

The Solo 3 is Pod Point's home charge point, the device that turns a domestic electricity supply into a dedicated EV charging point on your wall. Pod Point describes it as compatible with all plug-in electric vehicles, OZEV approved, and fully compliant with the government's latest smart charging regulations². The company behind it, Pod Point Limited, has been charging the UK since 2009 and presents 17 years of experience, 300,000+ customers on board, 6 billion+ miles powered and 21,000+ 5-star reviews¹. On Trustpilot the company is rated "Excellent"⁷.

Pod Point Limited acts as a credit broker, not a lender, introducing customers to Klarna Bank for finance, and is an appointed representative of Product Partnerships Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority¹. The company states its chargers are compatible with all energy suppliers, so a Solo 3 is not tied to one electricity account¹. In 2026 the business evolved into the Pod brand, and it is one of Mercedes's preferred home charge suppliers for its portfolio of electrified vehicles, including all-electric and plug-in hybrid models⁸.

For a household, the Solo 3 is a grid-tied appliance: it draws mains electricity to charge a car, faster and more safely than a domestic socket, with smart scheduling layered on top. The full context of home charging options is in our guide to EV charging at home, and the wider Pod Point domestic range is covered on our Pod Point home chargers page.

Choosing between tethered and universal socket versions of the Solo 3

The Solo 3 comes in two connection forms. The untethered version has a universal socket and works with both Type 1 and Type 2 connectors, so you use your own charging cable and can serve different cars from the same unit⁹. The datasheet for the Solo 3 Home specifies a Mennekes Type 2 socket (IEC 62196-2) with a statutory locking mechanism, and lists both Type 1 (SAE J1772) and Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) connectors among the charging connectors it supports⁶. A tethered version has the cable permanently attached, which means no cable to carry or store but a fixed connector type.

The choice matters for how the driveway is used. A universal socket suits households with more than one car, or visitors with different connector needs, because any Type 1 or Type 2 cable can plug in. A tethered unit suits a single-car household that wants the simplest possible routine: park, lift the cable, plug in. The statutory locking mechanism on the socket means the cable is held securely during charging⁶.

The trade-offs are practical rather than electrical. An untethered socket leaves a cable to store and to remember; a tethered cable is always present on the wall, whatever the weather. The full comparison, including how each form handles security and cable management, is in our guide to tethered vs untethered chargers, and connector types are explained in EV connectors and charging cables.

Technical specifications and power output

The Solo 3 Home datasheet sets out the unit's electrical specification. Connectivity is IEEE 802.11bgn Wi-Fi, with standby Wi-Fi consumption under 2.5W, so the charger draws very little when idle⁶. Charging is 3x faster than using a 3-pin domestic plug, which is the comparison most households care about: a dedicated wallbox turns an overnight charge from a slow trickle into a full top-up². The speeds and charging times this implies across different cars are explained in EV charging speeds and times.

The protection list is worth reading closely. The on-board 6mA DC leakage protection is, in Pod Point's words, "fully compliant with BS 7671:2018 - regulation 722.531.2.101", which is the wiring-regulations requirement for DC fault protection on EV charging circuits⁶. The unit also carries over current, PME and failed earth protection, and is certified against LVD 2014/35/EU, EMCD 2014/30/EU, BS EN 61851-1:2019, EN61000-3 and -2, and BS7671:2018⁶. What these standards mean for a safe installation is covered in EV charge point safety, standards and certification.

Installation costs from £999 and why quotes vary

Pod Point's published price for the Solo 3S is from £999 to install, and the company notes this may be different where subsidised pricing has been agreed with vehicle manufacturers³. That single caveat explains most of the variation a household sees: car makers and partners negotiate their own deals. In 2026, for example, Jurni Group customers can get £100 off a Pod Point home charger outright, or subscribe with no upfront fee, and EVA England members can take Pod's home charging solution on subscription with no upfront fee or £100 off the purchase price³. Students studying full-time can get an exclusive discount on a Pod Point Solo 3S⁴.

The subscription route changes the arithmetic. Pod Drive bundles an award-winning Pod Point charger, installation handled by Pod Point, Pod Rewards, and exclusive access to the Pod Power by EDF tariff¹. An independent comparison of charging subscriptions found that installing a Pod Solo 3S home charger costs £99 on one subscription deal, or £49 through a special deal for Nissan EV buyers⁸. Pod Point's promotion offering nothing to pay at checkout on a Pod Drive subscription ends on 1 November 2026, subject to status and eligibility³.

What moves a final quote beyond the headline is the installation itself: cable runs, the position of the consumer unit, and whether the existing supply needs work. A standard installation can be completed in as little as 2 hours⁴, but non-standard work adds cost. The broader picture of what a fitted charge point costs is in how much a home EV charge point costs, and the fitting process is covered in home EV charge point installation.

EDF purchase options: tethered and universal socket models

Pod Point's relationship with EDF is close enough that the two are often bought together. The Pod Drive package includes exclusive access to the Pod Power by EDF tariff, and EDF's EV tariff range includes Pod Point products¹. EDF Energy is a French-owned supplier that started operating in the UK in 2002 and is the UK's fifth-largest energy supplier¹⁰. EDF also operates in adjacent home energy markets, installing Ideal, Daikin and Trianco heat pumps through its subsidiary EDF Heat Pumps, itself a Which? Trusted trader¹⁰.

Buying through EDF does not lock the charger to EDF. Pod Point states its chargers are compatible with all energy suppliers¹, so a Solo 3 bought through an EDF route can be used on any electricity tariff. What the EDF route adds is the tariff pairing: the Pod Power by EDF tariff is exclusive to Pod Drive customers, and Pod Rewards pays cash every time you smart charge¹. There is no cost to join Pod Rewards; you download the Pod Home app to get started¹.

The tethered or universal socket choice is the same whichever route you buy through: the untethered version works with Type 1 and Type 2 connectors, and the socket carries a statutory locking mechanism⁶. How EV tariffs change the economics of home charging is set out in EV energy tariffs, and reward schemes in smart charging, flexibility services and rewards.

Smart charging with solar panels

The Solo 3S is a solar-aware charger. Pod Point describes it as a solar compatible charger that "automatically works with solar panels whether you have them now or get them installed in the future"⁴. The launch announcement is more specific: the Solo 3S includes solar integration, "allowing users to charge their electric cars exclusively with excess solar power or with a mixture of solar and grid energy with our new solar charging modes"⁵. For homes without panels, the Solo 3S has been designed to work with them automatically once they are installed, so the charger does not need replacing when solar arrives⁵.

The smart features run through the Pod Point app: Charge Scheduling and the Solar and Grid modes are available there⁴. Charge Scheduling lets a household set charging to happen when electricity is cheapest, typically overnight on an EV tariff⁵. One independent product listing marks the Solo 3S as not smart tariff compatible⁹, while Pod Point's own material emphasises its smart charging features and compliance with the government's smart charging regulations²; the two differ, and the maker's own specification is the one tied to the product.

The charger works without the app and charges whenever plugged in, so basic charging never depends on your phone⁴. The Wi-Fi connection exists to keep the charger up to date with the latest smart features². How solar-aware charging works in practice, and whether a special charger is needed, is covered in charging an EV from solar panels and do I need a special EV charger to charge with solar?.

Pod Point the company: EDF, Which? Trusted Trader and 17 years in the field

Pod Point has been charging the UK since 2009, giving it 17 years of experience, and it presents 300,000+ customers, 6 billion+ miles powered and 21,000+ 5-star reviews¹. It has been accredited as a Which? Trusted Trader for its end-to-end solution and customer-focused service². Which?'s advice on finding a trader you can trust for a home charger installation is worth reading alongside any quote¹².

The company's partnerships now reach across the car industry. It is one of Mercedes's preferred home charge suppliers for its portfolio of electrified vehicles, including all-electric and plug-in hybrid models⁷, and in 2026 it became EVA England's first ever home charging partner⁸. In May 2026 Pod acquired EO Charging, expanding its commercial fleet offering and energy management capabilities, and in August 2026 Mercedes-Benz UK chose Pod as its sole home EV charging partner⁸.

On ownership and listing, the position is this: Pod Point Limited is registered in England, number 06851754¹, and was listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "POPD" according to a 2023 press release¹. The company has since rebranded to Pod, being recognised in the 2026 Inspiring Workplaces Awards twelve months after that evolution⁸. Its EDF relationship is commercial rather than a lock-in: chargers are compatible with all energy suppliers¹.

Security review: what the record shows

The security picture for the Solo 3 rests on the maker's datasheet and the regulatory framework it sits in. The Solo 3 Home uses secure HTTPS data encryption for its data connections⁶. It is certified against LVD 2014/35/EU, EMCD 2014/30/EU, BS EN 61851-1:2019, EN61000-3 and -2, and BS7671:2018⁶, and the charger is fully compliant with the government's latest smart charging regulations², the rules that govern connected charge points sold in the UK.

What a household should weigh is the dependence that connectivity creates. The charger is Wi-Fi enabled so it stays up to date with the latest smart features², which means the smart functions depend on a home broadband connection and on the manufacturer continuing to support the product. Basic charging does not: the charger works without the app and charges whenever plugged in⁴. The statutory locking mechanism on the socket is a physical security measure, holding the plug securely during charging⁶.

The wider question of how connected chargers handle data and remote control, and what the smart charge point regulations require of them, is covered in EV charger cybersecurity, data and remote control and the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021.

Cover, customer care and handling faults

Pod Point's domestic product warranty statement, dated May 2025 and running to June 2026, sets out the claim process. If a fault arises, "you must report this to the Pod support team either by calling completing the contact support team form at https://help.pod-point.com/s/contactsupport or by calling us on +44 (0)20 7247 4144"¹³. Support is available around the clock: Pod Point advertises peace of mind with 24/7 support, and its customer support team are available 24/7¹. The warranty is governed by the relevant sale or hire terms and the laws of England¹³.

Around the warranty sit two support structures. Pod Rewards, which pays cash for smart charging, has no cost to join: you download the Pod Home app to get started¹. And the Pod Drive subscription includes installation handled by Pod Point alongside the charger and tariff access¹, which shifts responsibility for the install onto the company rather than a third-party fitter. The general picture of what charge point warranties cover, and what to check before relying on one, is in EV charge point warranties and aftercare, and common faults in EV charge point faults and troubleshooting.

Funding schemes and fitting charges

Grant support for a home charge point depends on where you live and your housing situation. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the electric vehicle chargepoint grant can help towards the cost of installing an EV chargepoint socket at your property for renters or flat owners who meet the criteria¹⁴, and the government's installer pages set out who can apply¹⁵. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland offers a grant towards the cost of purchasing and installing a home charge point¹⁶, and its electric cars guidance describes grants to help cover the cost of purchasing and installing your charge point¹⁷. Residential landlords can receive grants for up to 200 sockets per year¹⁸.

The Solo 3S is OZEV approved, which is a condition of grant-funded installations². The old Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, which once covered units like this, has closed; its history is on our Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme page. Current routes are covered in detail on the electric vehicle chargepoint grant and the EV chargepoint grant for landlords pages.

How the Solo 3 supports a home's energy self sufficiency

A home charger is often the first piece of energy infrastructure a household owns, and the Solo 3's position is mixed. On the independence side: it lets a household charge on its own terms, at home, on any energy supplier, with solar integration that can push the car on excess generation rather than bought electricity¹. The charger works without the app, so the basic function of charging a car does not depend on a phone, an account or a broadband connection⁴.

On the dependence side, the list is real. The charger draws grid electricity for most households most of the time, so a supplier relationship remains. The smart features, the solar and grid modes, Charge Scheduling and the rewards payments all run through the Pod Point app and the charger's Wi-Fi connection to the manufacturer². The longest support routes run through Pod Point's own team and processes¹³, and the tariff-linked benefits run through EDF¹. A household that wants to push further, charging a car from its own generation as fully as possible, will find the options in EV charging and household energy independence and charging an EV from solar vs the grid.