Fronius Wattpilot EV Charger – An Independent Review

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Note: Solar Choice has no affiliation with Fronius EV chargers or any EV Charging company. Our reviews reflect our own unbiased opinions.

At a Glance: Fronius Wattpilot EV Chargers Score 3 out of 5

Solar Choice has developed a transparent scorecard to evaluate all the EV Chargers available on the market.

Price:  $$$$$: The Fronius Wattpilot Home or Go models cost around $1,750 before installation. This price excludes the Fronius smart meter which will be required for solar integration and a charging cable which will set you back around $200.

  • Company Backing in Australia: As a result of their strong, long-standing position in the solar inverter market, Fronius have already established a large office and support team locally in Australia. They are very well supported and expect this to translate through to their EV charger range which is manufactured in Austria. We score Fronius 5 out of 5 for company backing.
  • Warranty Offer: In Australia EV Chargers range from a 1 year warranty through to 5 years. Fronius like most of EV chargers on the market offer a 2-year warranty. We offer 1 point per year on our scorecard giving Fronius 2 points.
  • Solar Compatibility: For existing Fronius solar system owners with a Fronius smart meter, then the Fronius EV charger will be a simple option to integrate. Otherwise to integrate the Fronius EV charger consumers will need to also purchase and have installed a Fronius smart meter. Once installed the Fronius charger will auto-switch between 3-phase and 1 phase and requires a minimum of 1.38kW or around 6 amps to activate. We score this 2 points out of 5 due to its limitation with Fronius smart meter which is required to be purchased separately.
  • Functionality: The Fronius EV charger is untethered so does not come with a cable which can be purchased separately. It does also have dynamic load management but will require the Fronius smart meter to be installed. The chargers are OCPP 1.6 compliant and have a comparatively high environmental protection rating of IP65. We score the EV charger 3 out of 5 for functionality.

Overall 3 out of 5 is a mid-range score for a EV Charger in our scoring system, which is fitting of their mid-range price. It should be noted that the costs for a user would increase if they don’t already have a Fronius smart meter installed with their solar system.

Company Overview

Fronius is an Austrian-based company specializing in energy solutions. They were founded back in the 1940’s and began its solar division making solar inverters in 1992 making them one of the longest-standing inverter manufacturers in the industry. 

Fronius launched their EV charging products in Australia in early 2023 and they have been gaining traction quickly. 

Their main local Australia office is based in Tullamarine near the airport in Melbourne. They also have a support office in Perth. It is good to see they have local staff to help their customers with technical issues, warranty support and servicing.

Fronius offers the Wattpilot series of EV chargers. These chargers come in two main categories: Home and Go, each available in 11 kW and 22 kW power configurations. Designed for both home and on-the-go charging, these chargers are versatile and intelligent

Product NameWattpilot Go 22 J AUSWattpilot Home 22 J
Product Image
Product variantGo 22 J 2.0 AUSHome 22 J
Price (Approx. AUD price RRP inc. GST)$1,750$1,750
Rating7.36kW 1-phase or 22kW 3-phase7.36kW 1-phase or 22kW 3-phase
Country of manufactureAustriaAustria
EV compatibilityAll EVsAll EVs
Enclosure dimensions155 x 287 x 109 mm155 x 287 x 109 mm
Weight2 kg2.3 kg
Operating Temperature-25 to +40 °C-25 to +40 °C
Charge cable length
Solar self-consumption optimisation?Yes – requires Fronius smart meterYes – requires Fronius smart meter
Internet connection?Wifi OnlyWifi Only
App controlFronius AppFronius App
Weather resistanceIndoor & Outdoor RatedIndoor & Outdoor Rated
IP ratingIP-65IP-65
Warranty (years)2 years, extendable to 10 years2 years, extendable to 10 years
DatasheetWattpilot DatasheetWattpilot Datasheet

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Key Features of Fronius Wattpilot EV Chargers

RFID Integration: The Fronius Wattpilot ensures secure access through an approved RFID chip or card, which means it can be installed in home or business locations.

Intelligent Charging: The Wattpilot is not just a charger; it’s a smart device. It can automatically toggle between 1 and 3-phase charging and fine-tune its output in small increments. This ensures you make the most out of any surplus solar energy, while also avoiding any load peaks, ensuring a stable power supply to your home.

Take it With You: The Fronius Wattpilot GO model which plugs into 3-phase socket is one of the only options on the market for an EV charger you can take with you on a road trip.

Solar and EV Charging In One App: For those who like to keep tabs on their energy usage, the Wattpilot seamlessly integrates with the Fronius Solar.web app. This provides a comprehensive overview of your PV system and allows for real-time monitoring of your self-generated solar energy.

How Much Does the Fronius Wattpilot Charger Cost?

The base price of the Fronius Wattpilot 22kW Go model and the Home model is around $1,750.

Please note that this excludes:

  1. Installation which will usually start around $800 to $1,000 for a single phase system
  2. The Fronius smart meter which will cost around $200 single phase or $500 3 phase
  3. A type 2 to type 2 cable which will cost you around $200.

SOLAR.WATTPILOT Charging App

  • Clearly displays all charging data
  • Change charging modes remotely
  • Apple users 2.3 / 5 for 5 reviews

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Very reputable company known for premium long-lasting products, with great local support in Australia
  • One of the only EV chargers that you can take with you (Wattpilot Go). Great option to boost charging speeds on longer journeys where you can find access to a 3-phase plug point.
  • Integrates with the Fronius app meaning if you have a Fronius solar inverter – its all in one place

Cons

  • More expensive EV charger, particularly if you need to buy a cable and the Fronius smart meter along with the charger
  • The Fronius Wattpilot only connects via Wifi, and requires Wifi for most functions. No option for an ethernet cable which could provide a more stable connection in some garages.
  • No physical LED or LCD display on the charger so customer must rely on the app or car to confirm charging status.

Installation

Installation should be performed by a qualified electrician and typically takes a few hours. If you opt for the portable “GO” model, you will get a 3-phase plug wired into the charger. You will need to ensure you have a suitable wall socket in your premises to plug this into and a 3-phase power connection. 

If you opt for the home option, the charger will be mounted and hardwired to the wall.

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Warranty & Service

Fronius offers a standard 2-year warranty, extendable up to 10 years upon registration. For support, customers can contact Fronius directly by visiting their website or contacting their Australia office via (03) 8340 2900.

Should I Buy a Fronius Wattpilot Charger?

One of the main attractions of the Fronius EV Chargers is the Fronius brand and reputation. If their solar inverters are any indication these EV chargers will be built to last. That said, they do come with an average warranty of 2 years.

If you already have a Fronius inverter and smart meter installed, then the case for Fronius gets even better as you will be able to monitor / configure solar and EV charging through one app.

For homeowners that don’t have a Fronius solar system, there are quite a bit of extra costs to get all the functionality of this EV charger working. Additionally if you don’t have great wifi strength in your garage then you may need to find an EV charger with an ethernet port or a 4g sim.

Read more of Solar Choice’s EV Charger reviews.

Jeff Sykes

Reviews from Australians who have installed Fronius EV Chargers

Rated 5.00 from 3 reviews
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Showing 3 of 3 Reviews

26th October 2024
Venkata
VIC - 3152
system

Review left 10 years after system installed

5.00

Ok but needs to be tuned to australian usage requirements. Cannot input my agl ev charger plan.

17th January 2024
Darren
QLD - 4500
system
5.00

Great ,Fronius ticked all the boxes for us, as we have three phase power at home and have two different EV vehicles , which one can be charged by three phase and the other only one phase power

26th December 2024
Matthew
WA - 6167
system
5.00

Compliments my Fronius inverter.

Showing 3 of 3 Reviews