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How a UK-Born EV Charger Became a Solar Hero in Australia
In this episode of the EV Charging Podcast, we speak with Pearse McHenry, Group Commercial Director at myenergi, and Shahram Shadan, Managing Director of myenergi APAC, about the rise of Zappi—a solar-aware EV charger now installed in thousands of Australian homes.
From its roots in a small English town to international expansion, Zappi’s story is one of smart design, decentralised energy, and timing. This conversation dives deep into how myenergi is redefining what it means to power your car—and your home.
Key Takeaways from the Conversation
Zappi: Charging That Talks to the Sun
Unlike most wall chargers, Zappi is built to detect and respond to solar generation. It’s the first EV charger in the world designed to use surplus renewable energy from your rooftop solar system—maximising self-consumption and minimising grid reliance. With solar so prevalent in Australia, it’s become one of the top home chargers in the market.
The Power of UK Manufacturing
While competitors outsource to cut costs, myenergi continues to manufacture its products in the UK. Pearse explains why this matters—not just for quality control, but for long-term reliability, customer trust, and innovation speed.
From Brewery to Battery: Shahram’s Unlikely Path
Shahram Shadan didn’t begin in clean tech. His background in growing a regional UK brewery taught him lessons in branding, production, and customer relationships. Those same principles are now driving his work leading myenergi’s expansion into the Australian market.
Real-World Impact: The Victorian DECA Trial
Myenergi is currently deploying 100 Zappi chargers in solar-powered Victorian homes through a co-funded trial with the Victorian Government. The goal? Demonstrate how smart charging can reduce pressure on the grid through demand-side response—automatically shifting charging away from peak times.
Not Just a Charger: A Full Smart Energy Ecosystem
Zappi is only one part of myenergi’s broader product suite:
- Eddi diverts excess solar to heat water
- Harvi simplifies installations with wireless current sensing
- Libbi, a battery system, is next—creating a fully integrated home energy solution managed through one app
Pearse and Shahram both emphasise that the future isn’t just electrified transport—it’s interconnected home energy systems that talk to each other and to the grid.
Scaling in Australia: Market Fit and Local Presence
Australia’s mature solar market gives myenergi a unique opportunity to lead. While Europe’s EV growth was often EV-first and solar second, Shahram notes that in Australia the opposite is true—many homeowners already have solar and are now looking to optimise it with the right EV tech.
To meet demand, myenergi has launched new warehousing, expanded its installer training network, and embedded local support teams to ensure quality outcomes from quote to install.
Global Momentum and Lessons from Europe
Pearse shares how markets like Ireland, Germany, and the Benelux region are providing lessons on how to scale intelligently. While policy and incentives vary, the trend is clear: self-consumption, smart charging, and home energy integration are becoming global standards.
He also highlights how myenergi is gaining early traction in Southeast Asia, where rising EV imports and energy instability are driving interest in solar-powered home charging.
Looking Ahead: Smart Tariffs, Smart Homes, and Smarter Energy Use
Both Pearse and Shahram see the evolution of Zappi not just as hardware, but as a service that integrates with future energy tariffs, vehicle-to-grid capability, and real-time grid signals.
As energy markets shift, the ability for households to store, divert, or delay energy use intelligently will become essential. myenergi is building towards that reality—one home at a time.
