Smart Charge Rewards FAQs

We require there to be at least 1 vehicle added. If you want to delete a vehicle and it is the only one, you will need to add a new vehicle first.

When there are multiple cars we do our best to determine which is connected using the data from any that are linked. If we’re unable to determine which car is connected we default to creating a schedule for the vehicle that needs the most energy, this way if we’ve got it wrong you’ll still get charged.

We regularly update our list of makes and models from the EV database. However some types of vehicles aren’t available just yet. If your make/model is not available chose a vehicle with similar battery size from the list. We’ll then still be able to optimise charging for your car.

To connect your vehicle to the Pod Home app, you will need to enter the log in credentials that you use for your vehicle manufacturers app when prompted.

If you are struggling to connect your vehicle, you can try the below steps:

1. Check that the login details used are correct, by signing into your vehicle manufacturers app
2. Using the same login details, retry connecting your vehicle in the Pod Home app. 

There are a few simple things you can try, to troubleshoot any charging issues you’re experiencing: 

1. Make sure your charge target is set in your car manufacturers app. This will be shown in the form of a percentage (%). 
2. Check that your charger is connected to Wi-Fi. You can view your charger’s connection status by going to the Dashboard screen in the Pod Home app. If your charger is disconnected, you will see an error message. Please select “Fix the problem” and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Check that your charger is correctly plugged in to your car.
4. Try a test charge using our Boost  option. Once your car is plugged in, you will see the Boost button highlighted on your Dashboard . If your car starts to charge using this option, please get in touch. 

If you're on an off-peak tariff, we'll only charge your car at off-peak times when your energy is cheapest.

When you plug in your vehicle, we’ll work out if we will meet your target battery percentage in your off-peak energy period. If we can’t meet your target, you will get a notification in our app.

We currently support all single or two rate energy tariffs.

If you are on a Smart Tariff such as Intelligent Octopus Go, Octopus Intelligent Drive Pack, Octopus Agile, OVO Charge Anytime, Scottish Power EV Optimise, E.ON Next Drive Smart or other similar smart electricity tariff that is not a single rate or two-rate tariff, then unfortunately you can’t subscribe. This is because the energy supplier providing your tariff will already be controlling how your vehicle charges.

If you're a Pod Drive customer you'll already be smart charging and earning cash rewards, so you're unable to sign up for Smart Charge Rewards.

Yes, you'll use the same login credentials as before.

You don’t need to delete the current Pod Point app when switching to the Pod Home app, but you’ll now manage all your home charging with the Pod Home app.

If you use our public chargers, you’ll still need the Pod Point app for that.

No, the Pod Home app is free to download.

You can download the Pod Home app by following the links on the Smart Charge Rewards webpage or by searching ‘Pod Home’ in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

No, you'll need to download the Pod Home app to sign up to Smart Charge Rewards and start earning.

Once signed up, you'll use the Pod Home app to manage your Pod Point charger.

We’re developing new features in our Pod Home app all the time, to ensure the best experience for our customers.

The majority of features available in our Pod Point app are available in the new Pod Home app, with the exception of the ability to link a charger to your account; this will still need to be done in your Pod Point app.

To be eligible for Smart Charge Rewards you need to have a stable Wi-Fi connection. This is so we can ensure your car is always charged at the cheapest times, and to send any remote firmware updates to keep your charger up to date.

The new Pod Home app includes all the home charging features you know and love — like solar settings, charging activity, and cost tracking — plus an exciting new addition: the Wallet. In your Wallet, you can easily track, manage, and withdraw your cash rewards earned from smart charging. Giving you more money back in your pocket.

The Pod Home app lets you smart charge your EV and earn cash rewards. Smart charging makes charging easier and more convenient—you’ll never need to manage a schedule again. Simply set the time you need your car ready, and we’ll handle the rest, charging your vehicle when energy is cheapest for you.

The maximum number of reward miles that can be earned per customer per year is 4,500 miles - equivalent to £103.50. Actual rewards earned is based on individual charging behaviour. 

Any user or vehicle that uses your charger can earn the subscription owner rewards. They will need to connect their vehicle to your app, enabling us to smart charge that vehicle. 

Any remaining miles that are not earned before the end of your 12-month anniversary will not be rolled over or available to earn during the following year. The miles available to earn as rewards resets each year, with a fixed maximum rewards amount each year, equivalent to £103.50.

You will still be able to charge your vehicle if you've reached the maximum rewards limit within a 12-month period, but you won't receive any further cash rewards during that time. Your maximum rewards limit will reset again on the anniversary of the date you signed up to Smart Charge Rewards.

By signing up to Smart Charge Rewards, you will be able to earn rewards in the form of miles which can be withdrawn as cash. You'll have a maximum amount of rewards you can earn each year, this begins from the day you sign up, and resets at the year anniversary of the date you signed up.

Each time you successfully complete a smart charge, you will earn miles. Miles used can be tracked in our app in your Wallet and withdrawn to your bank account once your balance is above £10.

You will still need to pay your energy supplier for your electricity as normal.

Each smart charged mile is paid at 2.3p per mile. A Mile is not equivalent to a real world driving mile. Smart Charge Reward miles are earned at a rate of 0.875 miles per kWh charged. Maximum £103.50 reward per customer, per year, based on individual charging behaviour.

Some car manufacturers, such as Mini and older models of the Nissan Leaf, don’t provide an option to change the target battery percentage (%). In these cases, we will always aim to charge your car to 100%. If you’re on an off-peak tariff, we will charge your car as much as possible during those hours.

Yes! Once you have connected your first vehicle, simply go to your Account settings > My EVs to add another vehicle. There is no limit to the number of vehicles you can add.

You can override any smart charging schedule using our 'Boost' feature, which will charge your car straight away.

Any charging sessions completed using the 'Boost' feature aren't smart charged and therefore won’t earn rewards or be eligible for cashing out.

If you have connected to your car 

You will see in the Pod Home app that this information is greyed out. You will need to update your target battery percentage (%) in your car manufacturers app. Once updated in your car manufacturers app, it will update the Pod Home app too. 

If you haven’t connected to your car 

You can update the amount of energy you would like to add to your car each time you plug in (e.g. +20%), directly in the Pod Home app using the Top Up Battery module on the Homescreen. 

We’ve simplified the way you schedule your car charging. Simply let us know when you need your car charged by and plug in. We’ll then create a custom schedule to charge your car when energy is cheapest for you.

We can connect to your car and calculate how much energy is needed to ensure you reach the charge target set in your car manufacturers app. 

If we can't connect to your car, you can set a fixed amount of charge (a percentage %) to put into your battery. 

This provides you with the same "cheaper charging" benefits as your previous scheduled charging but allows us the flexibility to optimise your charging within the off-peak window, maximising the benefit to the grid.

As the use of renewable energy in our energy system increases, we can help balance demands on the grid by adjusting energy usage to match the peaks and troughs of wind and solar generation.

All you have to do is plug in your car and we’ll do the rest - ensuring your car is always charged when your energy prices are cheapest.

Whenever you smart charge, you'll be earning rewards that can be withdrawn as cash.

The subscription owner will be the first user linked to a Pod Point charger, to sign up for a subscription. The subscription owner can:

• See the total rewards that can be earned
• View the transactions associated with the charger linked to smart charge events and any miles earned towards the maximum rewards total. 
• View and manage the bank accounts used to pay out miles into as cash

Smart Charge Rewards is a cost-free subscription, you’ll be subscribing to our smart charging services - for which there is no charge. 

Instead you agree to use our Pod Home app to smart charge your EV or EVs via your existing Pod Point home charger and earn rewards in return. 

Any user linked to your Pod Point home charger can choose to subscribe, but there can only be one subscription owner.

Nothing. Smart Charge Rewards is a cost-free subscription and there’s no charge for signing up.

Your Smart Charge Rewards contract is a cost-free subscription which you can opt-out from at any time by contacting us. By opting out, you will be removed from the Pod Home app and returned back to the Pod Point app. You will not be able to accrue any further miles. Once you've opted out you won’t be able to withdraw any miles you’ve previously accrued as cash.