Hypervolt announced on 26 March 2024 that it is releasing version 5.3 of its charger app, which it said should become available to all users gradually through the end of the month1. The maker said it intends to deliver more frequent releases as it adds features and integrations1.
The main change is to sign-in. Hypervolt said it has moved to a method using native account credentials, Apple accounts on iOS and Google accounts on Android, which allows biometric authentication such as Face ID and Touch ID1. The company described the technical change as moving away from "what was effectively a double-authorisation code flow" to a token exchange model, so that sign-in no longer runs through a browser1. Users do not need to change anything about their account, but Hypervolt said they should expect a slight visual change on the sign-in screen, and that some users may be prompted to sign in again during the coming month1. It warned that users should keep using their original authentication method, whether an email and password or a linked Apple or Google account, because creating a new account may make it difficult to access charger controls and data tied to the old account1.
"We are preparing a release of our new 5.3 app this week, which should become available to all users gradually through the end of the month."
Scheduling changes cover two areas. When a schedule is created in Boost or Eco mode, the app now gives an estimate of the energy that would be acquired during the charging window, based on average grid voltage and the device's configured maximum current limit1. Hypervolt noted that the actual energy transferred to the vehicle battery depends on battery capacity and on vehicle settings that may limit charging, and that in Eco mode the estimate assumes full home generation, so a cloudy day with low solar output will deliver less1. The home screen countdown, introduced with version 5, previously worked only for same-day schedules and could report no further sessions when the next period fell after midnight; it now counts down to the next scheduled period even when it falls on a different day1.
| Feature | What changes in 5.3 |
|---|---|
| Sign-in | Native Apple or Google account credentials, biometric authentication, token exchange instead of browser-based double authorisation1 |
| Scheduled charging | Energy estimate for Boost and Eco schedules, from average grid voltage and configured maximum current1 |
| Countdown | Shows time to the next scheduled period across days, not only same-day sessions1 |
Why it matters for households
A charger app is the main interface between a household and the equipment that draws the largest single load in many homes, so how it authenticates and what it reports has a direct bearing on EV charging and household energy independence. Sign-in through an existing Apple or Google account removes a separate password, and biometric unlock reduces the friction of checking or changing a schedule. The energy estimate for a scheduled window gives a figure in kilowatt hours before charging starts, which is the number a household needs to judge a session against a tariff's cheap window, a subject covered in EV energy tariffs and how they change home charging. The Eco mode estimate assumes full home generation, so it will overstate what a solar-equipped home actually gains on a dull day. The cross-day countdown addresses a gap that could leave a household believing no charging was set when an overnight session was in fact scheduled. Hypervolt's warning about keeping the original authentication method matters because charger controls and historical data sit with the existing account. General background on app, connectivity and firmware behaviour is in EV charger apps, Wi-Fi, 4G and firmware, and the hardware this app controls is described in Hypervolt Home 3 Pro.
What happens next
Hypervolt said the release was due in the week of the announcement and would reach all users gradually through the end of March 20241. It said some users may be prompted to sign in again at some point in the following month1. No further release dates have been reported.
Sources1 cited
- App 5.3 - A new authentication experience and improved scheduling! | Hypervolt, blog.hypervolt.co.uk