Alexa & Google Home EV Charger Voice Control UK 2025: Complete Setup Guide

"Alexa, start charging my car." It's 2025, and controlling your EV charger with voice commands is now a reality for UK homeowners.

This guide shows you exactly how to integrate your home EV charger with Amazon Alexa and Google Home—from basic setup to advanced automations that optimise charging around your smart energy tariff.

The benefit? Hands-free charging control, automated schedules, and the ability to check your car's charge status without reaching for your phone.

Which UK EV Chargers Support Voice Control?

Not all chargers work with Alexa and Google Home. Here's the complete UK compatibility breakdown:

Native Voice Assistant Support

Key: ✅ = Full support | ⚠️ = Requires workaround | ❌ = Not supported

Best Choice for Voice Control

If voice control is important to you:

1. Wallbox Pulsar Plus - Best native integration, works out of the box
2. Ohme Home Pro - Good integration plus excellent smart tariff support
3. Easee One - Growing integration capabilities
4. Andersen A2 - Alexa skill available

Setting Up Wallbox with Alexa (Step-by-Step)

Wallbox offers the most seamless voice control experience for UK EV owners.

Prerequisites

• Wallbox Pulsar Plus installed and connected to WiFi
• Wallbox app account (you created this during installation)
• Amazon Alexa device or Alexa app
• Both devices on the same WiFi network

Setup Steps

1. Enable the Wallbox Skill

Open the Alexa app → More → Skills & Games → Search "Wallbox" → Enable Skill

2. Link Your Account

Sign in with your Wallbox credentials when prompted. Authorise Alexa to access your charger.

3. Discover Devices

Alexa should automatically discover your Wallbox. If not: Alexa app → Devices → "+" → Add Device → Other → Discover

4. Test Basic Commands

Try: "Alexa, ask Wallbox to start charging"

If it works, you're all set!

Wallbox Alexa Voice Commands

Basic Commands:

• "Alexa, ask Wallbox to start charging"
• "Alexa, ask Wallbox to stop charging"
• "Alexa, ask Wallbox what's my charging status"
• "Alexa, ask Wallbox how much has been charged"

Advanced Commands:

• "Alexa, ask Wallbox to set charging to [X] amps"
• "Alexa, ask Wallbox to lock the charger"
• "Alexa, ask Wallbox to unlock the charger"

💡 Pro Tip: Create an Alexa Routine that starts charging when you say "Goodnight" as part of your bedtime routine.

Setting Up Wallbox with Google Home

Prerequisites

• Wallbox Pulsar Plus installed and connected to WiFi
• Wallbox app account
• Google Home device or Google Home app
• Google account

Setup Steps

1. Link Wallbox in Google Home

Google Home app → "+" → Set up device → "Works with Google" → Search "Wallbox" → Sign in with Wallbox credentials

2. Assign to a Room

Place your Wallbox in a "room" (e.g., Garage, Driveway)

3. Test Commands

Try: "Hey Google, start charging the car"

Google Home Wallbox Commands

• "Hey Google, start charging the car"
• "Hey Google, stop charging the car"
• "Hey Google, is the car charging?"
• "Hey Google, what's the charger status?"

Setting Up Ohme with Alexa

Ohme's integration focuses on smart charging features, working beautifully with Octopus Intelligent Go.

Prerequisites

• Ohme Home Pro installed and connected
• Ohme app account
• Alexa device or app

Setup Steps

1. Enable the Ohme Skill

Alexa app → Skills → Search "Ohme" → Enable → Link account

2. Configure in Ohme App

Ohme app → Settings → Integrations → Enable Alexa

3. Discover Devices

Alexa app → Devices → Discover

Ohme Alexa Commands

• "Alexa, ask Ohme to start charging"
• "Alexa, ask Ohme to stop charging"
• "Alexa, ask Ohme what time charging finishes"
• "Alexa, ask Ohme to boost charge now" (overrides smart schedule)

The Ohme Advantage: When linked to Octopus Intelligent Go, Ohme automatically finds the cheapest 6 hours to charge. You can use Alexa to override this for immediate charging when needed.

Setting Up Zappi with Voice Control (Advanced)

Zappi doesn't have native Alexa/Google integration, but UK owners have found workarounds.

Option 1: Homey Bridge (Recommended)

Homey is a smart home hub that bridges Zappi to voice assistants.

What You Need:

• Homey Bridge (£69) or Homey Pro (£399)
• myenergi Hub (required for Zappi connectivity anyway)

Setup:

1. Install Homey Bridge
2. Add myenergi app to Homey
3. Link Homey to Alexa/Google Home
4. Create flows in Homey for charging commands

Cost: £69-£399 + setup time Complexity: Medium-High

Option 2: IFTTT (If This Then That)

myenergi has limited IFTTT support for basic automations.

Limitations:

• Only triggers, not direct commands
• Can't start/stop charging directly
• Useful for notifications only

Recommendation: For Zappi owners wanting voice control, consider Homey or accept using the myenergi app.

Creating Smart Automations

Alexa Routines for EV Charging

Alexa Routines let you combine voice commands with automated actions.

Example 1: Bedtime Charging Routine

Trigger: Voice command "Alexa, goodnight" Actions:

1. Turn off living room lights
2. Lock front door (if smart lock)
3. Start EV charging
4. Set thermostat to night mode

How to Create: Alexa app → More → Routines → "+" → Add trigger → Add actions

Example 2: Arrival Home Routine

Trigger: Location (when you arrive home) Actions:

1. Turn on hallway lights
2. Announce "Welcome home, plug in your car to start charging"

Example 3: Cheap Rate Alert

Trigger: Schedule (11:30pm when Octopus off-peak starts) Actions:

1. Announce "Off-peak electricity has started. Good time to charge."

Google Home Automations

Example: Morning Status Check

Trigger: Voice command "Hey Google, good morning" Actions:

1. Tell you the weather
2. Read your calendar
3. Tell you car charge status

Integrating with Smart Energy Tariffs

Voice control becomes even more powerful when combined with smart EV tariffs.

Octopus Intelligent Go + Ohme + Alexa

This is the ultimate UK smart charging setup:

1. Octopus Intelligent Go provides 6 hours of 7p/kWh electricity
2. Ohme automatically schedules charging during cheapest periods
3. Alexa lets you override with voice when you need immediate charging

Commands:

• "Alexa, ask Ohme to charge now" - Overrides smart schedule for immediate charge
• "Alexa, ask Ohme when will my car be ready" - Checks completion time

OVO Charge Anytime + Wallbox + Google

1. OVO Charge Anytime optimises charging automatically
2. Wallbox provides reliable charging hardware
3. Google Home gives voice control and status updates

Commands:

• "Hey Google, start the car charger" - Begins charging
• "Hey Google, is my car charging?" - Status check

Troubleshooting Voice Control Issues

"Alexa can't find that skill"

Solutions:

1. Check your Amazon account region is set to UK
2. Search for the exact skill name (e.g., "Wallbox" not "Wall box")
3. Try the Alexa web interface instead of the app

"Device is not responding"

Solutions:

1. Check charger WiFi connection in the manufacturer's app
2. Re-link the skill (disable and re-enable)
3. Restart your Alexa device
4. Check charger firmware is up to date

Commands work inconsistently

Solutions:

1. Use the exact phrase—voice assistants are picky
2. Create a custom Routine with a simpler trigger phrase
3. Check your internet connection speed

Google Home shows charger offline

Solutions:

1. Unlink and re-link in Google Home app
2. Check charger cloud connectivity (not just local WiFi)
3. Update the charger's firmware

Voice Control Without Smart Speaker

No Alexa or Google device? You can still use voice control:

Phone-Based Voice Control

iPhone:

• Siri Shortcuts can trigger some charger actions
• Limited to chargers with iOS Shortcuts support

Android:

• Google Assistant on your phone works the same as a smart speaker
• Samsung Bixby has limited EV charger support

Car Voice Assistants

Some EVs have built-in voice control for charging:

• Tesla: "Start charging" / "Stop charging"
• Hyundai/Kia: Limited charging commands via voice
• BMW: Connected services include charging voice commands

Privacy and Security Considerations

What Data Is Shared?

When you link your charger to Alexa/Google:

• Charging status (on/off, percentage)
• Energy consumption data
• Charger location (general area)
• Account details (email, name)

Security Best Practices

1. Use strong, unique passwords for your charger account
2. Enable two-factor authentication where available
3. Review connected apps periodically and remove unused ones
4. Don't share voice assistant access with untrusted individuals
5. Consider guest mode if others use your smart speakers

⚠️ Important: Anyone with voice access to your Alexa/Google can control your charger. Consider this if you have frequent visitors or children who might accidentally start/stop charging.

Advanced: HomeKit Integration via HomeBridge

Apple HomeKit users can integrate EV chargers using HomeBridge.

What You Need

• Raspberry Pi or always-on computer
• HomeBridge software (free)
• Charger-specific HomeBridge plugin

Supported Chargers via HomeBridge

• Wallbox (excellent plugin available)
• myenergi/Zappi (community plugin)
• Ohme (community plugin)

Basic Setup

1. Install HomeBridge on Raspberry Pi
2. Search HomeBridge plugins for your charger brand
3. Configure with your account credentials
4. Add to Apple Home app
5. Use Siri: "Hey Siri, start charging the car"

Complexity: High (requires some technical knowledge) Cost: £50-£100 for Raspberry Pi setup

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I control my EV charger when I'm away from home?

Yes, as long as your charger has cloud connectivity. Voice commands work anywhere—you can tell Alexa to stop charging from your office. This is useful if you forgot to unplug before a scheduled departure.

Does voice control work during power cuts?

No. Voice assistants require internet and power to function. However, most chargers have physical controls or app control that work on mobile data if your phone has signal.

Will voice control affect my smart tariff scheduling?

It depends on the charger. With Ohme, voice commands can override smart scheduling temporarily. With Wallbox, starting charging manually may bypass any scheduled preferences. Check your specific charger's behaviour.

Can multiple people control the charger with voice?

Yes, anyone with access to your Alexa or Google Home can use voice commands. This is convenient for households where multiple people use the EV but consider security implications.

Does voice control use extra electricity?

Negligible. Smart speakers use 2-4 watts when idle. The convenience typically outweighs this minor energy use.

Which voice assistant is better for EV charging—Alexa or Google?

Both work well. Alexa has slightly more charger skills available and better Routine support. Google Home has better natural language understanding. Choose based on your existing smart home ecosystem.

Recommended Smart Home Setup for EV Owners

Budget Setup (£100-£200):

• Amazon Echo Dot (£50) or Google Nest Mini (£50)
• Ohme Home Pro charger (with Intelligent Go)
• Smart plug for garage lights

Mid-Range Setup (£300-£500):

• Amazon Echo Show or Google Nest Hub (for visual feedback)
• Wallbox Pulsar Plus charger
• Smart energy monitor (Sense or Emporia)
• Smart garage door opener

Premium Setup (£500+):

• Homey Pro hub (for advanced automations)
• Zappi + myenergi Hub (for solar integration)
• Whole-home voice control
• Smart home energy management system

Related Guides

• Best Smart Energy Tariffs for EV Charging UK 2025
• Home Battery Storage and EV Charging Integration UK 2025
• EV Charging Schedule Optimization UK 2025
• Apple HomeKit EV Charger Integration UK 2025