Ohme introduced the ePod, an untethered smart electric vehicle charger, to its range in January 2023. The company said the unit carries the same technology as its existing Home Pro charger but without a cable attached1.
The ePod is an untethered model, meaning the charging cable is not fixed to the unit. Ohme said this provides universal charging for all electric vehicles and would help it reach new markets, particularly new build housing. The company said it is already the official charger provider for developers including Harron Homes and Hollins Homes, and is part of the House of the Future project at the University of Salford alongside Saint-Gobain, Barratt and Bellway1.
"The ePod will open up new markets for us and boasts all of the functionality of our award-winning Home Pro but in an untethered package giving customers greater choice than ever before."
Ohme said the ePod connects with the national grid in real time and automatically adjusts charging to take advantage of low price periods on smart off-peak tariffs. It also offers the option to charge when renewable generation on the National Grid is at its highest1. The company gave a running cost comparison for charging a Volkswagen ID. Buzz from zero to 100 per cent1:
| Tariff | Cost for a full charge |
|---|---|
| Octopus Intelligent (10p/kWh) | £7.70 |
| Standard Variable Tariff (34p/kWh) | More than £26 |
Ohme said it is the official charger provider for the Volkswagen Group in the UK and for Motability Operations, and that it was named Best Electric Charging Point Provider by Business Motoring. It said the Home Pro helped make it one of the UK's fastest growing smart charging companies in 20221. The ePod's unit price, warranty terms and installation arrangements have not been reported.
Why it matters for households
A charger that holds no fixed cable lets a household use the cable that came with the car, or a longer or shorter one, rather than being tied to the lead supplied with the unit. That matters where two different electric vehicles share one charge point, or where a cable stored indoors is preferred to one left outside. Ohme's claim that the ePod carries the same technology as the Home Pro means the untethered choice is not presented as a step down in smart functionality1.
The cost figures point to the wider point about home energy independence. The gap between £7.70 and more than £26 for the same full charge rests on the tariff and on the charger's ability to shift charging into cheaper hours, not on the hardware alone1. Shifting a car's charging load to off-peak windows also changes when a home draws power, which is the same principle behind running appliances when grid prices or renewable output are favourable. The ePod's stated ability to follow renewable generation is aimed at that1.
What happens next
No launch date beyond January 2023, pricing, availability date or installation details were given in the announcement1.