Survey the parade of upstart home energy storage solution brands and it’s common to see “former” and “Tesla” underlined in a company’s “About Us” page. Simpson & Partners founders, Mandy and David Simpson are a little different. Mandy Andersen’s 18-year career in fashion prior to spearheading the EV revolution may explain why the UK brand’s EV chargers actually look the part of an addition, rather than a subtractive element, for the home.
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All three versions of Simpson & Partners Home Series EV chargers – Home 7, Home 7 Plus, and Home 22 Plus – share a common modern industrial design that hews closer to a Bang & Olufsen audio component rather than the sci-fi austerity adopted by the likes of Tesla or Enphase.
Available in 107 different color combinations and a fluted detailed front, the EV charger’s understated case complements an architectural aesthetic instead of intruding onto a residential exterior as a conspicuous eyesore. Customers have the option to top the small charging unit from a selection of four genuine Accoya wood tops or from a range of four metal tops.
The charger’s design also stands out for the fairly small footprint required to install the unit onto a vertical surface; the Home Series chargers are smaller than an A4 sheet of paper, and an optional complementary Cable Hook completes the handsomely integrated finish for EV drivers who must (or prefer) to park and charge in front of their home.
One specification we particularly appreciate is the company’s decision to make all three Home Series 7kW and 22kW cloud-free operable, meaning scheduling, load balancing, solar charging, locking, and other convenience/info features don’t need to be connected online to work. Instead, the Simpsons decided to keep these features local, residing in the charger’s firmware without the dependency upon an internet connection that too many “smart” devices rely upon.
The basic Home 7 lacks the option to charge via solar like the Home 7 Plus and Home 22 Plus, nor does it include the integrated courtesy lights that help illuminate the other two upgrade units. Also, only the two upper tier models include an energy regulation and management system allowing the Home 7 Plus and 22 Plus to automatically load balance power between the charger and the home so maximum charging rates are maintained without stressing a home’s main fuse.
Each of three models include a 6.8m cable when purchased as a tethered unit.
And as its name implies, the Home 22 Plus is equipped with 22kW specs, meaning it delivers much faster recharge rates than the lower rated single phase 7kW chargers, making the top tier model the best investment in the long term, in our opinion.
Simpson & Partners’s cofounder identifies as obsessive about good design as an extension of thoughtful function. An example is the amount of research and effort for the system’s cable route:
We have spent many months developing one of our new products, and we are now fine-tuning the cable routing. Why does this matter? Well, cable routing is important for several reasons. First, it influences the performance and reliability of the charger. Cables are like the arteries that connect all the electronic organs of the charger. A minor rubbing of a cable, or an unprotected cable exposed to a slip of an installer’s screwdriver, or a cable termination exposed to moisture can be disastrous and result in a customer who cannot charge their car. We want to prevent these possible failures by paying attention to the cable routing. Second, it shows our pride in our work. We strive to design and build charging products that look good on the outside. So, it’s only fair that we mirror the same attention to presentation and looks on the inside of our chargers.
For more information about Simpson & Partners EV Home Series chargers, check out their website, simpson-partners.com.
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Source: design-milk