The zappi GLO is the latest home EV charger from myenergi, and if you have solar panels or want proper smart charging, it is one of the best options available in the UK right now. At Faithful Spark Electricians, we are a myenergi Zappi Approved installer covering Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Ellon and across Aberdeenshire, so we install these regularly and know exactly what they can and cannot do.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the zappi GLO before you commit — what it is, how it works, what it costs installed, and whether it is actually the right charger for your home. No sales pitch. Just the honest picture from an approved installer.
What Is the zappi GLO?
The zappi GLO is the third-generation smart EV charger from myenergi, the British manufacturer behind one of the most popular solar-compatible chargers in the UK. It replaces the zappi v2.1 with a completely redesigned body, a slimmer profile, and some meaningful changes under the lid.
The most obvious difference from the previous model is the design. The old zappi had a chunky square body with a physical screen on the front. The GLO is a smooth oval unit in matte black — no screen, no buttons. Everything is controlled through the myenergi app on your phone. It looks much more like a piece of considered home technology and less like an electrical widget bolted to a wall.
But the design is not the main reason to choose it. The GLO is built around solar diversion, which means it can charge your car using electricity your solar panels are producing rather than pulling from the grid. If you have panels, that is a genuinely useful feature that can cut the cost of running an EV dramatically.
zappi GLO Technical Specs
Before we get into how it works in practice, here are the key numbers:
- Power output: 7kW single-phase or 22kW three-phase
- Charging modes: Eco+, Eco, and Fast
- Tethered or untethered: Both options available
- Cable length (tethered): 6.5 metres
- IP rating: IP65 — fully weatherproof
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- App: myenergi app (iOS and Android)
- RFID access: Up to 126 users
- Warranty: 3 years standard
- OZEV approved: Yes
- Unit price: £599 including VAT
The IP65 rating matters in Scotland. That means it is protected against water jets from any direction — it will handle whatever weather Aberdeenshire throws at it without issue.
How the Three Charging Modes Work
This is where the zappi GLO earns its price tag, particularly if you have solar panels. The three modes give you proper control over where your car’s electricity comes from.
Eco+ Mode — Solar Only
In Eco+ mode, the zappi GLO charges your car exclusively using surplus solar energy. It reads your household import and export via a CT clamp fitted on your meter tails, and it diverts any electricity your panels are generating but not currently using to charge the car instead of sending it back to the grid.
This is genuinely useful if you are home during the day. Your panels might be generating 3kW at any given point, with 1.5kW going to the house and 1.5kW being exported. The zappi in Eco+ mode grabs that 1.5kW and puts it into your car. Charging is slower this way — you might add 20 to 30 miles of range over a sunny afternoon — but it is effectively free electricity.
Eco Mode — Solar First, Grid Top-Up
Eco mode works the same way but adds a grid top-up when solar alone is not enough. If the minimum charge threshold is not being met by the panels, the zappi draws the shortfall from the grid. You still get a meaningful chunk of your charging from solar, but the car actually charges in a reasonable timeframe on cloudy days or in winter.
For most people in north-east Scotland, Eco mode is the most practical day-to-day setting. Eco+ is ideal for summer weekends when you are home and your panels are working hard. Eco handles the rest of the year.
Fast Mode — Full Grid Power
Fast mode ignores solar entirely and charges at the full 7kW from the grid. If you need a full charge quickly before a long drive and do not want to wait for surplus solar, this is the mode you use. At 7kW, most electric cars add around 25 to 30 miles of range per hour.
Smart Tariff Integration — What It Actually Does
One of the features that makes the GLO stand out from basic smart chargers is how it handles time-of-use tariffs. If you are on Octopus Agile, the zappi reads the day-ahead prices published at 4pm each day and automatically schedules charging for the cheapest half-hour slots overnight. You set a departure time, the charger figures out when to run.
If you are on Octopus Intelligent Go, OVO Charge Anytime, or EDF Smart Charging, your supplier schedules the charger directly. You do not need to do anything.
Combined with solar diversion, the GLO gives you two ways to cut your charging costs — free solar during the day, cheap off-peak grid power at night. For most EV drivers in Aberdeenshire, that combination covers the vast majority of what the car needs each week.
zappi GLO vs zappi v2 — What Has Actually Changed
If you already know the zappi brand and are wondering whether the GLO is worth it over the previous model, here is the honest comparison:
Design: The GLO is significantly slimmer and better looking. The old v2 was a fairly utilitarian box. The GLO has clearly been designed with the appearance of the house in mind.
No on-unit screen: The v2 had a physical display showing charging status. The GLO has none — everything is in the app. For most people that is fine. If you specifically want to check status without getting your phone out, this is a genuine difference to consider.
Embodied carbon: The GLO has 35% lower embodied carbon than the v2.1. If the environmental credentials of the product matter to you beyond just the charging mode, that is a meaningful improvement.
OCPP support: The GLO supports OCPP as standard, which means it can connect to a much wider range of energy management platforms and third-party apps.
No 4G: The v2 had a 4G SIM option. The GLO is Wi-Fi only. For home use that is rarely a problem, but if your property has poor Wi-Fi coverage near where the charger would be mounted, this is worth thinking about before you order.
Same solar core: The solar diversion logic that made the zappi popular in the first place is carried across. The Eco+, Eco, and Fast modes work the same way.
Is the zappi GLO Right for Your Home?
The honest answer is that it depends on your setup. Here is how to think through it.
You should strongly consider the zappi GLO if:
- You have solar panels — this is the charger that gets the most out of them
- You are on Octopus Agile or a similar time-of-use tariff, or you are planning to switch
- You are looking at the solar panels and EV charger together combination
- You want OZEV approval for potential grant eligibility
- You want a clean, modern design that does not look out of place on a rendered or stone-fronted house
A different charger might suit you better if:
- You have no solar panels and no plan to install them — you are paying for a solar feature you will never use
- You need Intelligent Octopus Go to negotiate extra off-peak slots — the Ohme does this more aggressively
- Your Wi-Fi does not reach the location where the charger needs to go
- You want a physical display on the unit itself without needing the app
If you are unsure which charger is the right fit, have a read of our Zappi vs Ohme vs Easee comparison — we cover all three in detail and explain which suits which type of household.
EV Charger Grants — What You Can Claim in Scotland
The zappi GLO is OZEV approved, which matters if you are a renter or you own a flat. The EV Chargepoint Grant from the government covers 75% of the cost of buying and installing a socket up to a maximum of £500 — but it applies to renters and flat owners only, not homeowners in a standard house.
If you own a standard residential property outright, there is currently no direct home charger grant for you. The value you get is through the smart tariff integration and solar diversion features — which, properly set up, can save you hundreds of pounds a year in electricity costs.
Businesses are different. If you want EV charging at a workplace, the Workplace Charging Scheme from OZEV covers up to £350 per socket. We install commercial EV chargers across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire too — contact us if that is relevant.
How Much Does zappi GLO Installation Cost in Aberdeen?
The zappi GLO unit itself costs £599 including VAT direct from myenergi. Installation on top of that depends on what is already in place at your property.
For a straightforward installation — house with a modern consumer unit, cable route from the board to the charger position, and your Wi-Fi reaching the charger location — expect a total installed cost of around £900 to £1,200 including the unit.
What adds to the cost:
- Consumer unit upgrade: If your current board is old or does not have space for a dedicated 32A circuit, it may need upgrading. We can assess this at a survey visit.
- Long cable runs: If the board is far from where the charger needs to go, trunking, conduit and additional cable time adds to the installation cost.
- CT clamp fitting: The CT clamp that enables solar diversion is included as standard in our zappi installations. Some electricians charge this separately — we do not.
- Three-phase upgrade: If you want the 22kW version and your property does not currently have three-phase supply, that is a significant additional piece of work involving the DNO.
For most standard Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire homes, the total cost lands between £900 and £1,200. We give fixed quotes before we start — no surprises on the day.
What Our Installation Includes
As a myenergi Zappi Approved and NICEIC Approved Contractor, every installation we carry out includes:
- Full site survey before booking
- Dedicated 32A RCBO-protected circuit from the consumer unit
- CT clamp installation for solar diversion (where solar is present)
- App setup and walkthrough so you know how to use all three charging modes
- Electrical Installation Certificate under BS 7671 Amendment 4
- Registration of the installation with the local authority as required by Scottish Building Regulations
We are also an OZEV authorised installer, which means we can handle grant applications where they apply. We carry out EV charger installations across Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Ellon, Westhill, Banchory and the wider Aberdeenshire area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the zappi GLO need solar panels to work?
No. In Fast mode it works exactly like any other smart charger, pulling full power from the grid. You only need solar panels if you want to use the Eco+ or Eco modes. Without panels, a different charger at a lower price point might be better value for your setup.
Is the zappi GLO waterproof enough for Scotland?
Yes. The IP65 rating means it is protected against water ingress from any direction. Rain, sleet and horizontal Scottish drizzle are not a problem. It is designed for outdoor installation as standard.
Does my consumer unit need upgrading for a zappi GLO?
Not necessarily, but it needs a spare way for a 32A RCBO. Many modern boards have space. Older boards or boards that are already full may need upgrading. We assess this at survey stage — read our full guide on consumer unit upgrades for EV chargers.
How long does zappi GLO installation take?
A standard installation — existing modern consumer unit, straightforward cable route — typically takes three to four hours. If additional work is needed, we discuss that at survey stage and plan accordingly.
Can I get the zappi GLO as tethered or untethered?
Both options are available. The tethered version comes with a 6.5 metre Type 2 cable attached. The untethered version has a socket you plug your own cable into. Most domestic EV owners prefer tethered for convenience — the cable is always there, no hunting around for it.
What is the difference between the zappi GLO and the Ohme Home Pro?
The zappi GLO is the better choice if you have solar panels — its solar diversion modes are more sophisticated. The Ohme Home Pro has an advantage if you are on Octopus Intelligent Go, where it negotiates additional off-peak charging slots more aggressively than the zappi. See our full charger comparison for the detail.
Book a zappi GLO Installation in Aberdeen
If you are ready to move forward or you want to talk through whether the zappi GLO is the right charger for your home, get in touch. We cover Aberdeen and the whole of Aberdeenshire and can usually get to a survey visit within a few days.
Call us on 07304 027013 or use the contact form on our contact page. You can also find out more about our full EV charger installation service or check out our dedicated EV charger Aberdeen page for local pricing and availability.
