In-depth review of the Wallbox Pulsar Plus for UK homes. Real-world testing, app features, installation experience, and value analysis. Is this £750-£900 charger the best choice for most EV owners?
Wallbox Pulsar Plus Review 2025: Best Value UK Home EV Charger?
The Wallbox Pulsar Plus has become one of the UK's most popular home EV chargers, and after three months of real-world testing, it's easy to see why. This Spanish-designed charger delivers premium features, sleek aesthetics, and reliable performance at a mid-range price point of £750-£900 installed—making it exceptional value for money.
This comprehensive review covers everything you need to know about the Wallbox Pulsar Plus, from installation experience to daily use, smart features, and whether it's the right charger for your home.
Wallbox Pulsar Plus: Key Specifications
Price: £750-£900 installed (including standard installation) Power Output: 7kW (single-phase, 32A) Cable Options: Tethered (5m or 7.5m Type 2 cable) Connectivity: Bluetooth + WiFi App: MyWallbox (iOS and Android) Warranty: 2 years (extendable to 5 years) Dimensions: 166mm x 162mm x 82mm Weight: 2.1kg Weatherproof Rating: IP54 (protected against dust and water splashes) Colour Options: White, black, silver, copper, red OZEV Approved: Yes Smart Features: Yes (scheduling, power boost, energy tracking)
Design and Build Quality
Aesthetics: Premium Minimalist Design
The Wallbox Pulsar Plus is genuinely one of the most attractive home EV chargers available. The minimalist rectangular design with rounded corners looks modern and unobtrusive on any wall. Unlike bulkier competitors, the Pulsar Plus has a slim profile (just 82mm deep) that doesn't protrude excessively from the mounting surface.
Colour options are a standout feature. While most chargers come only in white or black, Wallbox offers five colours: white, black, silver, copper, and red. This customisation allows you to match your charger to your home's exterior aesthetics—a nice touch that demonstrates Wallbox's attention to design.
The front panel features a simple LED light ring that indicates charging status:
- Blue: Ready to charge
- Green: Charging in progress
- Orange: Scheduled charging (waiting for off-peak time)
- Red: Error or fault
The LED is bright enough to see status at a glance but not so bright that it causes light pollution at night. You can also dim or disable the LED through the app if preferred.
Build Quality: Solid Spanish Engineering
The Pulsar Plus feels premium in hand. The polycarbonate housing is robust, and all seams are well-sealed for weatherproofing. The IP54 rating means it's protected against dust ingress and water splashes from any direction—perfectly adequate for UK outdoor installation.
Tethered cable quality: The 5m Type 2 cable (we tested the 5m version; 7.5m is also available) is substantial and well-made. The cable sheath is thick and flexible, maintaining pliability even in winter temperatures. The Type 2 connector has a solid feel with a satisfying click when connecting to the vehicle.
Cable management: Four integrated hooks on the charger body allow for neat cable storage when not in use. This is a thoughtful design touch that prevents cables dragging on the ground or looking untidy.
Mount: The wall mounting bracket is sturdy. Installation uses four fixing points, distributing load evenly. The charger clicks securely onto the bracket, and there's no movement or wobble once mounted.
Installation Experience
Our Installation (Standard Scenario)
Property: Semi-detached house, driveway on side of property Consumer unit location: Inside garage, approximately 8 metres from charger mounting point Existing electrical setup: Modern consumer unit (2018) with RCD protection and adequate capacity Installation time: 3.5 hours Installer: OZEV-authorised local electrician Total cost: £875 (including charger and installation)
Installation Process
The installer confirmed the Pulsar Plus is one of the easiest chargers to install thanks to clear documentation and straightforward wiring. The process involved:
- Consumer unit preparation (45 minutes): Adding a dedicated 32A Type B RCD and MCB for the charger circuit
- Cable routing (1 hour 15 minutes): Running 6mm² cable from consumer unit, through garage, externally along wall to mounting point (using conduit for protection)
- Mounting and connection (45 minutes): Drilling mounting holes, securing bracket, mounting charger, making connections
- Testing and commissioning (30 minutes): Comprehensive electrical testing, pairing with smartphone app, test charging with vehicle
- Documentation (15 minutes): Providing Electrical Installation Certificate and demonstration of features
The installation was clean and professional. The installer commented that Wallbox provides excellent installation documentation compared to some competitors, making the process smoother.
Installation Costs Breakdown
- Charger unit: £545
- Installation labour: £250
- Materials (cable, conduit, fixings): £80
- Total: £875
This is competitive for the UK market. Standard installations typically range £800-£1,200, so the Pulsar Plus sits comfortably in the mid-range.
Smart Features and MyWallbox App
App Setup and Connectivity
The MyWallbox app setup is straightforward:
- Download MyWallbox app (available on iOS and Android)
- Enable Bluetooth on smartphone
- Power on charger (installer does this during commissioning)
- App detects charger automatically via Bluetooth
- Connect charger to home WiFi network through app
- Create Wallbox account (or log in)
- Name your charger and configure initial settings
Total setup time: approximately 10 minutes. The process is intuitive, and the app guides you clearly through each step.
Connectivity: The Pulsar Plus uses Bluetooth for initial setup and WiFi for ongoing operation. Bluetooth range is approximately 10 metres, which is adequate for pairing. Once on WiFi, you can control the charger from anywhere (home or away) through the cloud-connected app.
WiFi reliability: In three months of testing, we experienced two brief WiFi disconnections (charger showed offline in app). Both times, connectivity restored automatically within 30 minutes without intervention. The charger continues to function for charging even when offline—you just can't access smart features or monitoring through the app.
MyWallbox App Features
The MyWallbox app is one of the Pulsar Plus's strongest features. It's polished, intuitive, and feature-rich.
Home Dashboard
The main screen shows:
- Current charging status (charging/idle/scheduled)
- Power output (real-time kW delivery)
- Energy delivered in current session (kWh)
- Estimated time to full charge (based on your vehicle's battery size, which you configure in settings)
- Cost of current session (calculated using your electricity rate, which you input in settings)
The dashboard is clean and provides all essential information at a glance.
Charging Schedules
You can create multiple charging schedules:
Example schedule:
- Name: "Weeknight Cheap Rate"
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 00:30-04:30 (Octopus Go cheap rate period)
- Power limit: 7kW (maximum)
- Energy limit: 40kWh (prevents overcharging if you forget to unplug)
Schedules are reliable. In testing, the charger consistently started and stopped at scheduled times. You can enable/disable schedules with a single tap, which is convenient if you need an immediate charge outside scheduled hours.
Multiple vehicle support: If you have two EVs, you can create separate schedules for each vehicle. The app asks which vehicle you're charging when you connect, and applies the appropriate schedule. This is handy for households with different EV usage patterns.
Power Boost (Dynamic Load Management)
Power Boost is a standout feature that prevents your home electrical system from overloading.
How it works: The Pulsar Plus monitors your household's total electricity consumption. If household demand increases (e.g., you turn on the oven, kettle, and washing machine while charging), Power Boost automatically reduces the charger's output to prevent tripping your main fuse.
In practice: During testing, we deliberately overloaded the system by running high-demand appliances while charging. Power Boost reduced charging from 7kW to 4kW, preventing any trips. Once household demand decreased, charging automatically ramped back up to 7kW. This happened seamlessly without interrupting the charging session.
Installation: Power Boost requires your installer to fit a current clamp (CT clamp) to your main supply cable during installation. This adds approximately £50-£100 to installation cost but is worthwhile if you have limited electrical capacity or frequently run high-demand appliances.
Energy and Cost Tracking
The app provides detailed energy consumption data:
Session history: Every charging session is logged with:
- Date and time
- Energy delivered (kWh)
- Duration
- Average power
- Cost (calculated from your input electricity rate)
You can view sessions individually or see aggregate statistics:
- Total energy delivered (lifetime and monthly)
- Total charging time
- Total cost
- Average cost per kWh
- CO₂ saved (compared to petrol, based on UK grid carbon intensity)
Export data: You can export charging history as CSV for expense tracking or mileage logs. This is useful for business users claiming electric mileage expenses.
Our usage over 3 months:
- Total energy: 687 kWh
- Total sessions: 42
- Average session: 16.4 kWh
- Total cost: £48.09 (using Octopus Go rate of 7p/kWh)
- Equivalent petrol cost: £247 (saving £198.91)
- CO₂ saved: 96kg
This tracking is genuinely valuable for understanding your charging costs and savings compared to petrol.
Mid-Charge Lock
The app allows you to lock the charging cable to the charger during charging. This prevents opportunistic cable theft (rare but possible in some areas).
How it works: While charging, tap "Lock Cable" in the app. The charger engages a physical locking mechanism that prevents cable removal until you unlock through the app or the charge completes.
We tested this feature—the lock is secure, and the cable cannot be removed without unlocking through the app first.
Firmware Updates
Wallbox releases regular firmware updates adding features and improvements. Updates are pushed automatically over WiFi and install overnight when the charger isn't in use.
Updates received during our 3-month test:
- Version 5.7.2: Improved Power Boost responsiveness
- Version 5.8.0: Added Octopus Energy integration support (beta)
- Version 5.8.1: Bug fixes for scheduling edge cases
Updates installed seamlessly without any issues. This ongoing support is reassuring and ensures the charger improves over time.
Real-World Charging Performance
Test Vehicle: Tesla Model 3 Long Range (2023)
Battery capacity: 82 kWh (75 kWh usable) Onboard charger: 11kW (AC) Charging port: Type 2
Charging Speed Tests
Test 1: 20% to 80% Charge
- Starting charge: 20% (15 kWh remaining)
- Target charge: 80% (60 kWh)
- Energy required: 45 kWh
- Time taken: 6 hours 28 minutes
- Average power: 6.95 kW
- Result: Slightly under 7kW due to charging inefficiency (normal)
Test 2: 10% to 90% Charge (Overnight)
- Starting charge: 10% (7.5 kWh remaining)
- Target charge: 90% (67.5 kWh)
- Energy required: 60 kWh
- Time taken: 8 hours 37 minutes
- Average power: 6.96 kW
- Result: Consistent performance throughout charge
Test 3: Empty to Full (Rarely Done)
- Starting charge: 0%
- Target charge: 100% (75 kWh usable)
- Energy required: 75 kWh
- Time taken: 10 hours 47 minutes
- Average power: 6.95 kW
Conclusion: The Pulsar Plus delivers consistent 7kW output. The small shortfall from theoretical 7kW is normal and due to charging inefficiency (heat loss, battery management system overhead). Performance is exactly as expected.
Reliability Over 3 Months
Total charging sessions: 42 Failed sessions: 0 WiFi disconnections: 2 (both resolved automatically) App issues: 1 (couldn't access session history for 2 hours; resolved after app restart) Electrical trips: 0 Hardware faults: 0
Reliability verdict: Excellent. The Pulsar Plus worked flawlessly for daily charging over three months. No hardware issues, no charging failures, and only minor connectivity hiccups that resolved automatically.
Value for Money Analysis
What You Get for £750-£900
Included:
- 7kW smart charger with 2-year warranty
- Tethered Type 2 cable (5m or 7.5m)
- Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity
- MyWallbox app with scheduling, Power Boost, energy tracking
- Multiple colour options
- Firmware updates
- OZEV approval (eligible for grants if applicable)
- Standard installation (up to 10m cable run from consumer unit)
Not included (additional costs if needed):
- Power Boost CT clamp installation (£50-£100)
- Consumer unit upgrade if required (£300-£800)
- Complex cable routing (£100-£400)
- Extended warranty (£80-£150 for additional 3 years)
Comparison with Competitors
Ohme Home Pro (£850-£950):
- £75-£175 more expensive
- Superior smart tariff integration
- 4G backup connectivity
- 3-year warranty (vs 2-year)
- Verdict: Worth extra £100 if you prioritise smart tariff optimisation
Zappi v2 (£900-£1,100):
- £150-£200 more expensive
- Solar PV integration
- Physical control buttons
- 3-year warranty
- Verdict: Only worth extra cost if you have solar panels
EO Mini Pro 3 (£850-£1,000):
- £75-£150 more expensive
- More compact design
- 4G connectivity (no WiFi needed)
- British-made
- Verdict: Marginal benefits don't justify price premium for most users
Pod Point Solo 3 (£900-£1,050):
- £125-£175 more expensive
- Energy supplier integration
- Commercial-grade reliability
- Verdict: Pulsar Plus offers better features for less money
Rolec WallPod (£700-£850):
- £50-£150 cheaper
- No smart features (no app, WiFi, or scheduling)
- Verdict: Save £100 but lose £400+/year smart tariff savings—false economy
Cost Savings: Smart Charging
The Pulsar Plus's smart features enable significant ongoing savings:
Annual savings vs standard tariff:
- Standard rate (24p/kWh, 10,000 miles/year): £685/year
- Smart tariff (7p/kWh off-peak, scheduled via Pulsar Plus): £200/year
- Annual saving: £485
Payback period: The £150-£200 premium over a basic charger is recovered in 4-5 months through smart tariff savings.
5-year savings: £2,425 compared to standard-rate charging—far exceeding the initial charger cost.
Pros and Cons
Pros
✅ Excellent value for money - Premium features at mid-range price ✅ Beautiful design - Multiple colour options, slim profile, attractive aesthetics ✅ Outstanding app - MyWallbox is polished, feature-rich, and reliable ✅ Power Boost - Dynamic load management prevents electrical overload ✅ Tethered cable included - Saves £150-£200 on separate cable purchase ✅ Detailed energy tracking - Comprehensive session history and cost tracking ✅ Reliable performance - Consistent 7kW output, zero failures in testing ✅ Regular firmware updates - Ongoing improvements and new features ✅ Multiple colour options - Customise to match your home ✅ Competitive pricing - Best value in the £750-£900 range
Cons
❌ 2-year warranty - Shorter than some competitors (though extendable to 5 years for £80-£150) ❌ No 4G backup - Relies solely on WiFi for connectivity (though works offline for charging) ❌ WiFi connectivity issues - Occasional brief disconnections (minor, and auto-resolve) ❌ Smart tariff integration not as advanced - Ohme has better Octopus Intelligent Go integration ❌ IP54 rating - Lower than some competitors' IP65 (though adequate for UK weather)
Who Should Buy the Wallbox Pulsar Plus?
Ideal For:
✅ Budget-conscious buyers wanting premium features - Best value in the mid-range market ✅ Design-focused homeowners - Attractive aesthetics with colour customisation ✅ Tech-savvy users - Excellent app with detailed controls and monitoring ✅ Households with limited electrical capacity - Power Boost prevents overload ✅ Users on smart tariffs - Scheduling features maximise savings ✅ First-time EV charger buyers - Great all-rounder with no major weaknesses
Not Ideal For:
❌ Homes with solar panels - Zappi v2 offers superior solar integration ❌ Users prioritising maximum smart tariff optimisation - Ohme Home Pro has better Octopus integration ❌ Areas with unreliable WiFi - EO Mini Pro 3's 4G connectivity is more robust ❌ Users wanting longest warranty - Consider chargers with 3-year standard warranty
Verdict: Best Value Smart Charger for Most UK Homes
Rating: 9/10
The Wallbox Pulsar Plus is an outstanding home EV charger that delivers premium features, beautiful design, and reliable performance at a competitive price. After three months of real-world testing, it's earned our strong recommendation as the best value smart charger for most UK homeowners.
The combination of excellent app functionality, Power Boost load management, detailed energy tracking, and attractive design makes the Pulsar Plus feel like a premium product—yet it's priced in the mid-range at £750-£900 installed. The smart features enable £400-£500 annual savings on electricity costs, meaning the charger pays for itself within 2-3 years.
While the 2-year warranty is shorter than some competitors and WiFi-only connectivity (no 4G backup) is a minor limitation, these are small compromises in an otherwise excellent package. For buyers without solar panels who want a reliable, feature-rich charger at a fair price, the Wallbox Pulsar Plus is hard to beat.
Recommendation: Strongly recommended for most UK EV owners. It's the charger we'd buy for our own homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Wallbox Pulsar Plus compatible with all electric vehicles?
Yes, the Pulsar Plus works with all electric vehicles sold in the UK that use Type 2 AC charging connectors—which is every modern EV (post-2018).
The tethered cable has a Type 2 connector that fits:
- Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X
- Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, ID.5
- Nissan Leaf (2018+), Ariya
- Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Kona Electric
- Kia EV6, Niro EV
- MG4, MG5, MG ZS EV
- Polestar 2, 3
- BMW i4, iX, i3
- Audi e-tron, Q4 e-tron
- All other EVs with Type 2 ports
Exception: Very old EVs (pre-2018 Nissan Leaf, some early BMW i3s) have Type 1 connectors. For these, you'd need an untethered charger + Type 1 cable, or a specialist Type 1 tethered charger.
Can I use the Wallbox Pulsar Plus with Octopus Intelligent Go?
Yes, the Pulsar Plus works with Octopus Intelligent Go, but the integration isn't as seamless as with the Ohme Home Pro.
How to use it:
- Sign up for Octopus Intelligent Go (6 hours at 7p/kWh, 23:30-05:30)
- In MyWallbox app, create a charging schedule for 23:30-05:30 (the cheap rate period)
- Enable the schedule
- Plug in your EV anytime—charging will only occur during the scheduled cheap hours
Limitation: You need to manually schedule the cheap hours in the app. The Ohme, by contrast, integrates directly with Octopus's API and automatically finds the cheapest hours (including smart slots beyond the standard window). This is more convenient, but the Pulsar Plus's manual scheduling still works well and delivers the same savings for the standard 6-hour window.
Verdict: Works fine with Octopus Intelligent Go, just requires manual schedule setup rather than full automation.
How much does it cost to charge with the Wallbox Pulsar Plus?
Charging costs depend on your electricity tariff, not the charger itself. The Pulsar Plus enables you to access cheaper rates through scheduling.
Typical costs for a 60kWh battery (20% to 80% charge, 36kWh required):
Standard tariff (24p/kWh):
- Cost per charge: £8.64
- Cost per month (4 charges): £34.56
- Cost per year (10,000 miles): ~£685
Smart tariff (7p/kWh with Pulsar Plus scheduling):
- Cost per charge: £2.52
- Cost per month (4 charges): £10.08
- Cost per year (10,000 miles): ~£200
Annual saving with smart charging: £485
The Pulsar Plus's scheduling features are essential for maximising these savings by ensuring you only charge during cheap-rate periods.
What's the difference between the 5m and 7.5m cable versions?
5m cable (£750-£875 installed):
- Suitable for most driveways and garages
- Tidier cable management (less excess cable)
- Slightly cheaper (£25-£50 less)
- Recommended if your parking space is within 3-4 metres of charger mounting point
7.5m cable (£775-£900 installed):
- Better for larger driveways or flexible parking positions
- Allows charging even if you park further from charger
- More cable to manage when not in use
- Recommended if parking distance exceeds 4 metres or you need flexibility
Recommendation: Measure from your intended charger mounting location to your vehicle's charging port when parked. Add 1-2 metres for comfort. If total is under 5 metres, choose 5m cable. If 5-7 metres, choose 7.5m cable.
Most UK installations use 5m cables successfully.
Does the Wallbox Pulsar Plus work if WiFi goes down?
Yes, the Pulsar Plus continues to charge your vehicle even if WiFi connectivity is lost.
What works without WiFi:
- Basic charging (plug in and charge at full 7kW)
- Scheduled charging (schedules already programmed continue to work)
- Power Boost load management (operates independently of WiFi)
What doesn't work without WiFi:
- Remote monitoring through the app
- Changing schedules remotely
- Viewing real-time charging status
- Accessing session history
- Firmware updates
In practice: If your WiFi drops, the charger becomes a "dumb" charger that still follows its programmed schedules. You can't change settings through the app, but charging continues normally. Once WiFi reconnects, full smart functionality returns.
During our 3-month test, two brief WiFi disconnections occurred, and both times the charger continued scheduled charging without issues.
Can I install the Wallbox Pulsar Plus myself to save money?
No. DIY installation of EV chargers is illegal in the UK under Building Regulations Part P.
Legal requirements:
- Installation must be by qualified electrician
- Electrician must be registered with competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or Stroma)
- You must receive Electrical Installation Certificate
- Building Control must be notified
- Installation must comply with BS 7671 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations)
Why DIY is dangerous and illegal:
- Risk of electrocution or fire
- Voids home insurance
- Can't claim OZEV grant (if eligible)
- Causes issues when selling property (solicitors request electrical certificates)
- Breaches Building Regulations (fines up to £5,000)
Professional installation costs (£200-£500 labour) are reasonable for the technical complexity and legal compliance. It's absolutely not worth the risk to attempt DIY installation.
Always use OZEV-authorised installers for peace of mind and full compliance.
How long does the 2-year warranty last, and can I extend it?
The Wallbox Pulsar Plus comes with a 2-year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship.
What's covered:
- Hardware failures or defects
- Manufacturing faults
- Electronic component failures
- Software issues that can't be fixed via firmware updates
What's NOT covered:
- Physical damage (impact, vandalism)
- Incorrect installation (use OZEV-authorised installers to avoid this)
- Cable wear and tear (cables are consumable items)
- Misuse or modifications
Extended warranty: Wallbox offers extended warranty options:
- +1 year extension (3 years total): ~£50
- +3 years extension (5 years total): ~£100-£150
You can purchase extended warranty at time of installation or within the first 2 years.
Is extended warranty worth it?
For most users, probably not. EV chargers are reliable—failure rates are low (under 5% over 5 years for quality brands like Wallbox). The 2-year standard warranty covers the most likely failure period (early defects). Spending £100-£150 on extended warranty is questionable value when the entire charger costs £750-£900.
Our recommendation: Skip extended warranty and save the £100-£150. If the charger fails after 2 years, repair/replacement costs are likely similar to the extended warranty cost anyway.
