No. All Simpson & Partners chargers work without an internet connection. You can still charge your EV safely. You can just plug in a charge. If you also want to see your energy usage and remote control your charger from your mobile (eg locking and scheduling and charging history) then you'll need to have an internet connection.

Choosing the right EV charging solution for your hotel, business, or facility means finding a system that serves your guests, staff, and visitors reliably while fitting your operational needs and budget. Simpson Partners' Commercial Series delivers elegant, commercial-grade AC charging designed specifically for hospitality venues, workplaces, apartment blocks, and visitor car parks. We work with you and qualified electrical engineers to tailor a charging solution that meets your requirements on time and on budget. Key Features to Consider: Charging Speed – 7–22 kW AC charging suits guests and staff who park for extended periods, ensuring vehicles are ready when needed. Flexible & Scalable – We offer dual socket pedestals, single socket wall mount models, and plinth-only models to suit your site layout and budget. Start with what you need today and expand easily as EV adoption grows among your guests and team. Our plinth-only option is a clever way to future-proof your charging: install the plinth infrastructure now alongside your active chargers, then add sockets later when budget allows. This cost-effective approach gets the groundworks done once, saving you money and disruption down the line. Easy Management – Our commercial chargers are OCPP-compliant, allowing seamless control through third-party specialist energy apps such as Fuuse, Tap, and Wevo. This means seamless integration if your site already has solar PV, battery storage, and daytime charging. Tap, for example, is a free app for landlords and businesses that cleverly bills users when they charge their car, with payments going straight into your bank account. Built to Last – Robust, weather-resistant designs withstand heavy use in outdoor and high-traffic environments. Future-Proof Compatibility – Universal connectors and open standards ensure your investment works with all vehicle types and avoids vendor lock-in.

Yes. All Simpson & Partners EV chargers come with powerful management software built-in, designed for both home and commercial use.For home use – Our Home Series chargers seamlessly integrate with intelligent octopus go, the plus models allow you to use excess solar energy and the app allows you to lock your charger, set charging schedules and track energy usage. Good for those who need to submit energy usage to their employers for reimbursement. For businesses – Our Commercial Series chargers are modular and include user-management tools, secure access control (like RFID), MID-certified metering for accurate billing, and OCPP 1.6J support for managing multiple chargers across your site. We also integrate with third-party specialist apps like Tap Electric, Wevo and Fuuse so you can manage and monetise your charging infrastructure.

If you're seeing a message from Octopus Intelligent that your charger needs an upgrade, it's likely that your charger's hardware version isn't compatible with Octopus Intelligent. This guide explains why and what you can do about it. Why This Happens • Octopus Intelligent relies on a communication protocol called OCPP, which requires certain hardware capabilities. • Only V2 and V3 Simpson & Partners chargers support this protocol. • V1 chargers do not have the required memory or processing power to work with Octopus Intelligent. How to Check Your Charger’s Hardware Version 1. Open the Simpson & Partners app 2. Go to Settings 3. Tap on Info 4. Look at the Firmware Version Use the first number of the firmware version to identify your hardware type: • 1.x.x = V1 • 2.x.x = V2 • 3.x.x = V3 If your firmware version starts with 1, your charger is a V1 model and will need to be upgraded to work with Octopus Intelligent. What Are My Options? 1. Confirm Your Firmware is Up to Date If you have a V2 or V3 charger, but still see the upgrade message: • Make sure your charger is connected to the internet • Restart the charger to trigger a firmware update • During an update, the status light will flash purple 2. Upgrade to V3 Hardware If you have a V1 charger: • A hardware upgrade programme will be available soon • This will allow you to upgrade to the latest V3 hardware • Full details will be shared when the programme launches 3. Use Manual or Scheduled Charging (For Now) While waiting for an upgrade: • You can continue using manual start/stop charging • You can also use Bluetooth-based scheduled charging via the app • However, you won’t be able to use Octopus Intelligent’s automated schedules Need Help? If you're not sure what version charger you have or need help upgrading: Contact the Simpson & Partners support team via simpson-partners.com/support Summary If your charger shows an upgrade message in the Octopus app, check your firmware version. • V1 chargers are not compatible and will require a hardware upgrade. • V2 and V3 chargers must be online and updated to work with Octopus Intelligent. Support is available to help you check, update, or prepare for the upcoming upgrade programme.

Yes — when comparing EV charger brands for business use, consider features like user management, metering, access control, installation flexibility and future‑proofing. For example, the Simpson & Partners Home Series EV Charger Plus and its business counterpart from Simpson & Partners offer commercial‑grade options: MID‑certified metering, RFID access control and OCPP support for workplaces and visitor parking. When comparing other brands, check whether they also provide features such as built‑in RCBOs, dynamic load management and freestanding posts. Simpson & Partners stands out for blending these business features with aesthetic design and UK manufacturing.

Every S&P charger comes with smart app control, load management, and over-the-air updates. That means you can schedule charging, monitor usage, and future-proof your setup. Some competitors may have app control, but few combine this with advanced energy management and OTA updates in one reliable package.

Single-phase is the phrase given to describe the electrical power supply that comes from the national grid into your property. Single-phase power supply is the most common type of electricity supply in UK homes, about 85% of domestic properties use it. It means electricity flows through one live wire, protected by a single fuse (usually rated at 60, 80, or 100 amps). With a single-phase power supply, the maximum charging rate for an EV charger is typically 7.3kW, which is perfect for most home charging needs.

If you want 2 or more sockets, that's absolutely fine. Our Home Series wall mount options and the Freestanding home unit each come with 1 socket, so you'd need two separate units if you want two charging points. Our Business Series Freestanding Dual is designed with 2 sockets mounted back to back on one post. If you choose the dual 22kW option with a three-phase power supply, you can send up to 22kW to each socket. If you opt for the 7kW version on a single phase, you'll get 7kW per socket. Just keep in mind: if you install 2 separate 7kW chargers and you have a single phase power supply, the 7.3kW available will be shared between the two chargers when they're both in use.

We love colour. Mandy Simpson has curated a beautiful range to suit your home or business. The Home Series Basic model comes with our standard plastic cap in 4 classic colours. The Plus model gives you more choice — premium metal or wood lids, and 14 different front colours so you can create your own combination. Mandy works one-to-one with homeowners, interior designers, and architects. She offers a free personal consultation to help you choose colours that work with your brickwork, windows, doors, and overall environment. Mandy often helps those that live in listed homes or conservation areas put together a supporting pack to win approval from council planners and relevant heritage preservation authorities. Email her at mandy.simpson@simpson-partners.com

The Home 7 and Home 7 Plus are both single-phase AC chargers and will deliver up to 7.3kW (32 amps) to your car. The Home 22 is a three-phase charger and can deliver up to 22kW—three times the power. Just keep in mind, you’ll need a three-phase power supply to get the full 22kW.

No problem! We offer freestanding posts with a single socket, allowing you to install a charger anywhere in your driveway or garage. These posts feature a fully integrated, discreet, and slim design. No wall? No problem!

Single-phase power is the standard electricity supply for most UK homes — around 85% of domestic properties use it. It delivers electricity through one live wire and is protected by a single fuse (typically rated at 60, 80, or 100 amps). With single-phase, the maximum charging rate for an EV charger is usually 7.3kW, which is ideal for overnight charging and suits most households. Three-phase power, on the other hand, is more common in commercial buildings or larger homes. It uses three live wires, allowing electricity to flow more efficiently and at higher capacity. If your property has a three-phase supply, you can install a charger capable of delivering up to 22kW —useful for larger battery EVs or homes with multiple electric vehicles needing faster turnaround. In short: • Single-phase = up to 7.3kW charging, standard for most homes • Three-phase = up to 22kW charging, suited for high-demand setups, commercial car parks, multi-dwelling residences.

We offer a 10-year enclosure and 5-year electronics warranty, supported by our UK team. Many competitors provide shorter warranties or rely on overseas support.

Yes! We offer customisable charger lids in both metal and wood to match your home's style:Metal lids: Perfect for a sleek, modern look that complements contemporary properties.Wood lids: Provide a natural aesthetic that blends beautifully with gardens, driveways or interior spaces. Real sustainable wood (accoya) in four beautiful translucent shades and a no rot guarantee for 50 years.Choose the finish that best suits your property's design and personal taste.

The short answer is it’s not that simple (or cheap) to upgrade your property to 3-phase power supply. But here are the steps on how to upgrade to 3-phase: You’ll need to reach out to your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). If you don’t know who your DNO is, contact your electricity provider or search “who is my DNO”. Your DNO are responsible for the infrastructure that supplies electricity to your home or business. Assessment: The DNO will assess whether a 3-phase upgrade is feasible for your property. The feasibility study outcome depends on your location, existing supply and how close you are to a 3-phase network. Costs can vary widely, from a few hundred to several thousand pounds. It really depends on the complexity of the work. How long does it take? It may take several weeks or months to complete, especially if roadworks or new cabling are required. You will bear the full cost of this work as there are no grants available.

Absolutely! You're welcome to use your own qualified electrician to install your Simpson & Partners Home Series charger. We recommend sharing our installer guides with your electrician beforehand – they'll find our chargers straightforward to install Good news about your warranty: Using your own installer won't affect your warranty at all, as long as the installation is completed by a qualified professional.

Not at all. All our lids and finishes meet our high-quality standards. The choice of metal, wood or plastic is purely aesthetic, your charger will perform reliably whatever colour you pick. Our metal fronts are powder coated. Our lids are either anodised or made of sustainable Accoya wood with a no-rot guarantee for 50 years.

David Simpson leads our hardware and software engineering teams and mechanical engineering team to ensure each charger can be physically built for durability and consistent performance. Both David and Mandy Simpson designed the chargers from scratch to have a signature look that they felt looks timeless, modern and discreet. Home Series Plus models feature premium lids in wood or metal, optional Wireless Energy Managers for 'no-mess' load balancing and ethernet connectivity option for ultimate connection. Home Series Freestanding are the worlds first fully integrated pedestal charger. The overall ethos of the business is to create upgradable and repairable chargers and ev chargers that won't end up in landfill.

Our tethered EV charging cables can be neatly wrapped around the charging unit itself, keeping your driveway or garage tidy.For added convenience, we also offer a colour-matched cable hook (£49) as an optional extra at checkout. This provides a nice way to keep your cable tidy and it's by default colour matched to the chargers front.

Yes. Our Business Series modular system is built for complex installations — from tight urban developments to large private car parks. Unlike all-in-one bundles where you pay for features you don't need, our system lets you configure exactly what you require: MID meters, daisy chaining, plinth-only installations, and OCPP compatibility for buildings with solar and battery storage.

Yes. Your charge history is kept on high-security AWS servers, all located within the UK. We’ve applied the same rigorous standards used in internet banking to ensure your data is protected. If you're comparing us to other EV charger brands, it's worth asking them where your data goes.

Yes. EV drivers actively filter their search for properties with on-site charging, and this segment is growing rapidly. Without a charger, you're invisible to these guests. Properties with charging see increased bookings year-round, improved competitiveness, and future-proof appeal as EV ownership continues to rise. Emma from Beaumont House Hotel in Cheltenham explains: "It makes the hotel appear higher up in the ranking on online travel agents such as Booking.com and Expedia as guests can tick hotels with EV chargers, we pop up immediately. I estimate 10% of business is repeat business by guests owning electric cars throughout the year." Simon from Coillemore House in the Scottish Highlands adds: "We were keen to offer EV charging as a value add and as a differentiator to other homes in the area. We were surprised to have multiple guests from the south east and London driving up in electric vehicles. There's more demand than we initially believed."

Simpson & Partners chargers are engineered for reliability with close to zero downtime. If you ever need support, our technical team is available Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturdays 9am–12pm at 01285 405 410. We resolve issues quickly to keep your guests happy and your reviews positive. Emma from Beaumont House explains: "I have particularly noticed repeat business from guests with electric cars, they like the reliability of the chargers as they know they always work. We haven't had any negative reviews at all since the Simpson chargers were installed. With our previous chargers, guests often thought they weren't working and gave up, which regularly resulted in negative customer reviews online."

Not necessarily. Octopus may charge your car at any time to optimise cost and carbon efficiency. Your bill will still reflect the lower smart charging rate.

A Wired Energy Manager is included with every charger. It is a CT clamp. We include one for a 7kW model and three for a 22kW model.