Gridly
Overview
The Ohme Home Pro is a UK-designed smart EV charger that made its way to Australia in 2025 with a proposition no other charger in the market matches as cleanly: automatic tariff-optimised charging. Where most smart chargers let you set a manual schedule (“charge from midnight to 6am”), the Ohme connects to your electricity retailer’s rate data and schedules charging into the cheapest available windows — automatically, every session.
Ohme has an established base in the UK, where it is one of the most popular smart chargers. The Australian launch brought full local support, local warranty handling, and retailer API integrations for the major Australian energy companies.
The tariff scheduling advantage
This is what sets the Ohme apart. Here’s how it works:
- Connect your electricity plan in the Ohme app — select your retailer and tariff type
- Set your departure time and minimum charge level — “I need 80% by 7am”
- The charger does the rest — it identifies the cheapest rate windows overnight and schedules charging accordingly
For a household on a time-of-use tariff paying 15c/kWh off-peak vs 45c/kWh peak, this is straightforward — the charger runs off-peak. Where the Ohme genuinely differentiates is on more complex tariff structures:
- Amber Electric or wholesale pass-through plans: rates change every 30 minutes. The Ohme responds to these changes in near real-time, charging when wholesale rates drop and pausing during spikes
- Demand tariffs: the charger avoids contributing to peak demand windows that drive up your demand charge
- Controlled load tariffs: the charger aligns with your controlled load window automatically
The price cap feature is particularly useful on wholesale plans. Set a cap of 10c/kWh and the charger only runs when the rate drops below that threshold. On most nights in most NEM regions, wholesale rates dip below 10c/kWh for several hours — enough to add 150–200km of range to a typical EV.
Smart features beyond tariff scheduling
The Ohme isn’t a one-trick charger. The full smart feature set:
| Feature | Ohme Home Pro |
|---|---|
| Tariff scheduling | Yes — automatic, retailer-integrated |
| Price cap | Yes — set max c/kWh per session |
| OCPP | 1.6J |
| Solar integration | Yes — CT clamp included |
| Load management | Yes — CT clamp-based |
| App control | Yes — iOS and Android |
| Scheduling | Yes — departure time + charge level |
| Session monitoring | Yes — real-time kWh and cost |
| Energy reporting | Yes — monthly summaries |
OCPP 1.6J means the charger can integrate with third-party platforms — fleet management, Home Assistant via OCPP nodes, or commercial charge point management systems. This is an advantage over the myenergi Zappi (proprietary protocol) and matches the Evnex E2 Plus.
Solar integration
The included CT clamp monitors whole-home energy flow at the switchboard. In solar mode:
- Surplus solar is directed to the EV automatically
- Grid boost maintains a minimum charge rate when solar drops (configurable)
- Works with any inverter — Fronius, SolarEdge, Sungrow, Enphase, GoodWe, or any grid-connect system
The solar implementation is functional and reliable. It is not as granular as the myenergi Zappi’s three dedicated modes (Fast/Eco/Eco+), but for most solar households it delivers the same practical outcome: charge from solar when available, supplement from grid when needed.
Where the Ohme gets interesting is combining solar and tariff scheduling. On a day when solar fills the battery to 60%, the charger can top up the remaining 20% overnight at the cheapest grid rate rather than running at peak evening rates. This solar-plus-tariff combination is something no other charger handles as elegantly.
Load management
The CT clamp serves double duty — solar monitoring and load management. The charger monitors total household current draw and reduces charge rate when other high-draw appliances are running (air conditioning, oven, hot water system). When those loads drop off, charging ramps back up.
This is essential for Australian homes with 40A–63A main fuses. A 32A charger plus a 20A air conditioner plus a 15A oven can exceed a 63A main fuse. Load management prevents the breaker trip.
Hardware and installation
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Output | 7.4kW (32A, single-phase) |
| Cable | 5m tethered Type 2 (8m option +$100) |
| IP rating | IP55 |
| Dimensions | Compact wall-mount |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| CT clamp | Included |
| Installation | Licensed electrician required |
The 5m tethered cable is standard for the category. The 8m cable option at $100 extra is worth considering for longer garage runs — it’s cheaper than paying an electrician to relocate the charger closer to the car.
IP55 is the main hardware limitation. It handles rain splash and dust, but direct sustained rainfall without shelter is not ideal. Install under a carport, eave, or inside a garage. For fully exposed outdoor walls, the GoodWe HCA (IP66) or Zappi (IP65) are better suited.
Ohme Home Pro vs the competition
| Ohme Home Pro | Evnex E2 Plus | myenergi Zappi | GoodWe HCA 7kW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,395 | $1,299 | $1,345 | $850 |
| Tariff scheduling | Auto (retailer API) | Manual only | Manual only | No |
| OCPP | 1.6J | 1.6 (closed) | No | No |
| Solar integration | Yes (CT) | Yes (CT) | Yes (CT, 3 modes) | Yes (CT) |
| Load management | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Cable | 5m tethered | 6m tethered | 6.5m tethered | 6m tethered |
| Warranty | 3yr | 4yr | 3yr | 2yr |
| IP | IP55 | IP55 | IP65 | IP66 |
vs Evnex E2 Plus ($1,299): The E2 Plus is $96 cheaper with a longer 4-year warranty and a 6m cable. The Ohme wins on tariff scheduling — automatic rate optimisation vs manual scheduling only. If you’re on a time-of-use or wholesale tariff and want hands-off cost optimisation, the Ohme justifies the premium. If tariff scheduling isn’t a priority, the E2 Plus is more charger for less money.
vs myenergi Zappi ($1,345): The Zappi costs $50 less and has the best solar diversion modes in the category (Eco/Eco+). The Ohme adds OCPP, load management, and tariff scheduling that the Zappi lacks entirely. For solar-first buyers building a myenergi ecosystem, the Zappi is the right call. For everyone else, the Ohme is the more feature-complete charger.
vs GoodWe HCA ($850): The GoodWe is $545 cheaper and has the best IP rating (IP66) with solid solar integration. It lacks OCPP, load management, tariff scheduling, and app-based session control. For solar households on a simple flat-rate tariff, the GoodWe is excellent value. For households on complex tariffs or those needing load management, the Ohme is worth the premium.
The Ohme ePod alternative
Ohme also sells the ePod ($1,200) — a compact socket-only version with the same smart tariff features. If you already have a Type 2 cable and want to save $195, the ePod delivers identical tariff scheduling, OCPP, and load management in a smaller form factor.
Who should buy the Ohme Home Pro
Best for:
- Households on time-of-use or wholesale electricity tariffs who want automatic cost-optimised charging
- Amber Electric customers who want the charger to respond to half-hourly rate changes
- Buyers who want OCPP, solar, load management, and tariff scheduling in a single unit
- Home automation users who need OCPP integration with Home Assistant or similar platforms
Skip if:
- You’re on a flat-rate electricity tariff — tariff scheduling provides no benefit; the GoodWe HCA at $850 is better value
- You need a fully weatherproof outdoor installation — IP55 limits exposed wall mounting
- Budget is the priority — the Evnex E2 Flex at $799 covers OCPP and load management without solar or tariff features
- Solar diversion is your primary goal — the Zappi’s Eco/Eco+ modes offer finer solar control
