Sensible wallbox in an in depth sensible take a look at

Electromobility is quickly gaining momentum, and with it the demand for environment friendly charging options for the house is rising. The Anker SOLIX V1 is a promising candidate for the good wallbox market. In our in-depth take a look at, we examine whether or not the clever charging station delivers what the producer guarantees: as much as 83% electrical energy price financial savings, seamless integration with photo voltaic programs and intuitive operation. We used the wallbox for a number of weeks in on a regular basis use and present you for whom the funding is admittedly worthwhile.

Unboxing & first impression

The Anker SOLIX V1 is delivered in sturdy cardboard packaging that securely protects all elements. The scope of supply contains the wallbox itself, a wall bracket, an RFID card for entry management and detailed working directions. Depending on the mannequin chosen, both a completely put in 5-meter charging cable with kind 2 plug is built-in or a sort 2 socket is put in.

The first impression is constantly constructive: the wallbox presents itself in a easy, trendy design with high-quality workmanship. With dimensions of round 21 × 36 × 12 cm and a weight of round 4.5 kg (model with out cable) or 5.6 kg (with cable), the gadget appears to be like compact however strong. The materials high quality makes a high-quality impression – the plastic floor is matt and scratch-resistant, whereas the end has no burrs or unclean transitions.

The revolutionary contact show on the entrance, which is provided with IntelliGesture™ know-how, is especially eye-catching. This permits the charging course of to be began, stopped or switched to quick charging with a swipe gesture – a characteristic that we are going to take a better take a look at within the sensible take a look at.

Technical specs

The Anker SOLIX V1 is on the market in numerous efficiency variants to go well with completely different necessities. Here is an summary of an important technical knowledge:

Specification	Model 7.4 kW	Model 11 kW	Model 22 kW
Nominal energy	7.4 kW	11 kW	22 kW
Nominal voltage	230V (1P+N+PE)	400V (3P+N+PE)	400V (3P+N+PE)
Nominal present	32A	16A	32A
Phases	Single-phase	Three-phase	Three-phase
Charging time (60 kWh battery)	approx. 8 hours	approx. 6 hours	approx. 3 hours
Range per hour	approx. 40-50 km	approx. 60-70 km	approx. 120 km

All fashions have the next options in widespread:

• Vehicle connection: Type 2 plug (completely put in or as a socket)
• Communication: WLAN, Ethernet/LAN, Bluetooth, RS485
• Protocol: OCPP 1.6J (open customary)
• Authentication: RFID, app, Bluetooth
• Protection class: IP65 (protected towards mud and water jets)
• Impact resistance class: IK10 (highest stage)
• Operating temperature: -30°C to +50°C
• Dimensions: approx. 21 × 36 × 12 cm
• Weight: 4.5 kg (with out cable) / 5.6 kg (with cable)

Installation & commissioning

The Anker SOLIX V1 ought to all the time be put in by a professional electrician. Anker provides an set up service through its web site; alternatively, it’s also possible to fee a trusted electrician. The set up itself is simple and follows a transparent process:

1. Select a location for the wallbox (ideally at chest top)
2. Mark and drill holes utilizing the enclosed drilling template
3. Mount the wall bracket
4. Select cable entry (backside, rear or prime)
5. Make {the electrical} connection (exhausting wiring or CEE plug)
6. Place the wallbox on the wall bracket and safe it
7. Optional: Mount the cable holder

Once the {hardware} has been put in, it’s arrange utilizing the Anker app. This routinely acknowledges the wallbox and guides you thru the setup course of. The Wi-Fi connection, firmware updates and fundamental settings are configured. Particularly sensible: You can select between auto-start, schedule and RFID card authentication for the entry settings.

Installation went easily in our take a look at. It took round 90 minutes from set up to the primary cost, with nearly all of the time required for skilled electrical set up. The app setup itself solely took round 10 minutes and was simple to grasp, even for much less technically skilled customers.

Performance within the sensible take a look at

For our take a look at, we used the 11 kW model with out a built-in cable and examined it with numerous electrical automobiles. The wallbox constantly delivered the promised charging energy and proved to be dependable even throughout longer charging processes.

Charging velocity

The measured charging speeds corresponded to the producer’s specs. We have been in a position to decide the next values for a take a look at automobile with a 77.4 kWh battery:

• Charging time from 20% to 80%: approx. 4.5 hours
• Average charging energy: 10.8 kW
• Range gained per hour: approx. 65 km

The effectivity of the wallbox is especially spectacular. With an effectivity of over 95%, little or no vitality is misplaced through the charging course of – a prime worth on this value vary.

Intelligent charging with Anker Intelligence™

A key characteristic of the SOLIX V1 is clever charging management. In conjunction with a wise meter (out there individually), the wallbox constantly analyzes energy consumption and photo voltaic manufacturing. We examined the next situations in our take a look at:

Scenario 1: Wallbox solely

Even with out a photo voltaic system, the SOLIX V1 provides benefits because of time-controlled charging. With a dynamic electrical energy tariff, financial savings of round 25% will be achieved in comparison with unscheduled charging processes, because the wallbox routinely fees throughout essentially the most favorable hours.

Scenario 2: With photo voltaic system

In mixture with a photo voltaic system, the financial savings elevated considerably. The wallbox prioritized solar energy and solely supplemented with grid energy when wanted.

The financial savings of as much as 58% (with out storage) and 83% (with storage) marketed by Anker seem fairly reasonable in accordance with our assessments, however rely closely on particular person components comparable to the dimensions of the photo voltaic system, driving profile and electrical energy tariff.

Functions & operation

IntelliGesture™ contact management

The revolutionary gesture management of the SOLIX V1 works surprisingly nicely in on a regular basis use. A easy swipe gesture to the proper begins the charging course of, a swipe gesture to the left stops it. Particularly sensible: swiping upwards prompts quick charging mode. The gestures are reliably acknowledged and provide an intuitive various to app management.

Anker app

The Anker app impresses with its clear design and wide selection of capabilities:

• Real-time monitoring of the charging course of
• Detailed statistics on vitality consumption and prices
• Individual time schedules for charging
• Setting the utmost charging energy (6A to 32A)
• Integration of electrical energy tariffs for price calculations
• Management of RFID playing cards for entry
• Firmware updates

In our take a look at, the app was steady and responded rapidly. The connection to the wallbox through Wi-Fi was dependable, and the Bluetooth connection additionally labored easily as a backup within the occasion of a Wi-Fi failure.

Operating modes

The SOLIX V1 provides numerous working modes that may be flexibly tailored to completely different necessities:

Auto-start

The charging course of begins routinely as quickly because the automobile is related – preferrred for uncomplicated use.

Schedule charging

Charging processes will be scheduled for particular time slots, for instance for low night-time electrical energy tariffs.

Solar mode

The wallbox fees completely or primarily with solar energy and thus maximizes using self-generated vitality.

Particularly spectacular is the clever charging mode, by which the Anker Intelligence™ routinely determines the optimum charging time primarily based on photo voltaic manufacturing, electrical energy costs and driving habits. In our take a look at, this optimization labored surprisingly nicely and rapidly tailored to our utilization habits.

Integration into the vitality system

A specific benefit of the SOLIX V1 is its seamless integration into current or deliberate vitality programs. We examined numerous situations:

Standalone operation

Even with out different Anker merchandise, the wallbox works completely and already provides benefits over typical charging stations because of its clever management system.

With Anker SOLIX Solarbank

In mixture with the Anker SOLIX Solarbank Powerdock Multisystem or the X1 house storage system, the SOLIX V1 unfolds its full potential. The system acknowledges extra photo voltaic vitality and directs it particularly to cost the electrical automobile. In our take a look at, this integration labored easily – the elements communicated reliably with one another and routinely optimized the vitality flows.

Compatibility with third-party programs

Thanks to the open OCPP 1.6J protocol, the SOLIX V1 will also be built-in into many third-party programs. We efficiently coupled the wallbox with a Shelly Pro 3EM good meter, which enabled fundamental load management. However, the total performance solely unfolds within the Anker ecosystem.

Prices & availability

The Anker SOLIX V1 is on the market in six variants, which differ by way of efficiency and options. Anker is at present providing a reduction on all fashions:

Model	Regular value (RRP)	Special provide value
7.4 kW with out cable	619 €	399,00 €
7.4 kW with cable	689 €	449,00 €
11 kW with out cable	719 €	479,00 €
11 kW with cable	789 €	529,00 €
22 kW with out cable	749 €	519,00 €
22 kW with cable	819 €	549,00 €

Our tip: The 11 kW variant is the only option for many households with a regular connection. It provides an excellent compromise between charging velocity and price. The model with cable is considerably costlier, so it could be worthwhile merely shopping for an extra cable. This additionally offers you extra flexibility.

Conclusion: For whom is the Anker SOLIX V1 worthwhile?

The Anker SOLIX V1 is a high-quality wallbox that impresses with its clever capabilities, strong workmanship and future-proof know-how. Although the worth is greater in comparison with easy charging stations, the extra prices are amortized by the potential financial savings in electrical energy prices.

The SOLIX V1 is especially really helpful for:

• Owners of photovoltaic programs who wish to make optimum use of their self-generated electrical energy to cost their e-car
• Users of dynamic electrical energy tariffs who wish to profit from clever charging management
• Tech-savvy customers who worth good capabilities and detailed evaluations
• Customers who already use different Anker SOLIX merchandise or are planning to take a position on this ecosystem

The funding makes much less sense for customers who solely cost sometimes or haven’t any alternative to profit from the good capabilities. An easier wallbox may be enough right here.

In our take a look at, the Anker SOLIX V1 impressed throughout the board and proved to be a dependable, clever charging accomplice for on a regular basis use. The revolutionary gesture management, the subtle app and the seamless integration into current vitality programs clearly set the wallbox aside from the competitors. With the present low cost, the SOLIX V1 additionally provides a horny price-performance ratio.