The Problem: Wallbox Apps That Drive You Crazy

You have an EV and a wallbox, but you’re frustrated with clunky manufacturer apps and terrible smart home integration? The app is slow, confusing, and sends all your data to the cloud?

There’s a better way! With EVCC, you get a fully local solution for intelligent control of your EV charging – no cloud, no dependency, maximum control.

In the new video, I’ll show you my complete setup and how I saved over €2,500 with it!

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What Is EVCC?

EVCC stands for “Electric Vehicle Charge Controller” and is an open-source software for intelligent wallbox control. What makes it special:

• ✅ Completely local – no cloud connection required
• ✅ Open source – transparent code, active community
• ✅ Manufacturer-independent – works with almost any wallbox
• ✅ Professional UI – more polished than any manufacturer app
• ✅ Smart Home integration – works perfectly with Home Assistant & more

With or Without a PV System

The brilliant part: EVCC works with AND without a PV system!

• With PV: Intelligent surplus charging – make the most of your solar energy
• Without PV: Charge on a schedule or with dynamic electricity prices

In the video, I’ll show you both scenarios!

My Setup in Detail

In my setup, I use:

• PV system on the roof (optional!)
• Home battery storage in the basement (optional!)
• Wallbox in the garage (required)
• EV (hopefully you have one 😊)
• Raspberry Pi 4 running EVCC as a Docker container

My wallbox is connected to the Raspberry Pi via a Modbus cable (20 meters through the basement!). But don’t worry: depending on the wallbox model, this can also work over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

The best part: You don’t need my complete setup! A single wallbox is enough to get started.

In the video, I’ll show you my complete installation including the wiring!

The EVCC Dashboard: A Dream!

Does this brilliant user interface look like a “hacky” open-source tool to you? I was completely blown away when I first launched it!

What You See at a Glance:

Top: Energy flows

• Where is the power coming from? (PV, battery, grid)
• Where is it going? (house, car, battery, grid)
• Live updates every 10 seconds

Middle: Charging modes

• PV: Surplus charging – solar power only
• Min+PV: Minimum load + solar
• Fast: Full power – regardless of source

Bottom: Details

• Current charging power
• Battery state of charge
• Estimated charging time
• Cost overview

Make sure to watch the video to see the display change in real time!

Live Demo: How Surplus Charging Works

In the video, I’ll walk you through three live scenarios:

Scenario 1: No Sun, No Car

• PV system produces little (November fog)
• Home battery covers household consumption
• No charging possible

Scenario 2: Lots of Sun, No Car

• PV system produces a decent amount
• Home battery is full
• Surplus is exported to the grid (wasted)

Scenario 3: Sun + Car Plugged In 🎉

• PV system is producing
• Household consumption is covered
• Surplus flows into the car!
• EVCC adjusts automatically every 10 seconds

The dynamic adjustment is impressive – check it out in the video!

Dynamic Electricity Prices: Saving Money on Autopilot

For me, this is the killer feature: EVCC supports dynamic electricity prices!

How It Works:

1. Create a charging plan

   • When do you need the car? (departure time)
   • How full should it be? (target state of charge)

2. EVCC automatically calculates

   • When is electricity cheapest?
   • How long does charging take?
   • What will it likely cost?

3. Car charges automatically at the best time

   • No manual intervention needed
   • Maximum savings
   • Ready on time for departure

In the video, I’ll show you the charging plan in action!

My Experience With Tibber

I’ve been using Tibber for two years – essentially the pioneer of dynamic electricity tariffs in Germany.

What Makes Tibber Special?

• ✅ Price changes every 15 minutes
• ✅ No smart meter required – works with a standard meter
• ✅ Perfect EVCC integration
• ✅ Transparent pricing

Making Use of Price Dynamics

In the video, I’ll show you the Tibber app:

You can see the price curve for the next 24 hours. The dynamics are impressive:

• 🟢 Cheap times: Often at night, when there’s a lot of wind/solar on the grid
• 🔴 Expensive times: Usually in the evening during peak grid load

EVCC automatically charges during the green phases!

The Result: €2,500 Saved!

EVCC logs all charging sessions and calculates your savings. In my case, it’s now over €2,500 euros!

Installation: Easier Than You Think

EVCC runs as a Docker container on a Raspberry Pi 4 at my place. The installation is surprisingly straightforward:

Option 1: Docker (My Choice)

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# Download and start the container
docker run -d \
  --name evcc \
  -p 7070:7070 \
  -v $(pwd)/evcc.yaml:/etc/evcc.yaml \
  evcc/evcc:latest

Advantages:

• ✅ Quick to set up
• ✅ Other services can run in parallel
• ✅ Easy updates

Option 2: Home Assistant Add-on

If you’re using Home Assistant OS, there’s an official add-on!

Installation:

1. Open the Add-on Store
2. Search for “EVCC”
3. Install & start

Even easier than Docker!

In the video, I’ll show you both options!

Configuration: YAML or Web UI

For initial configuration, you have two paths:

Classic: YAML File

This is how I did it. You edit a text file:

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site:
  title: My EVCC
  meters:
    grid: ...
    pv: ...
  
chargers:
  - name: Garage Wallbox
    type: ...

For: Tinkerers who enjoy writing code Against: Slightly steeper learning curve

Modern: Web UI

Since a few versions back, there’s a graphical configuration interface!

For: Beginners who prefer simplicity Against: (None, really 😊)

In the video, I’ll show you the Web UI – super intuitive!

Wallbox Compatibility: A Huge Selection

My wallbox is connected via Modbus cable. But EVCC supports an incredibly wide range of wallboxes:

Supported Connection Types:

• Modbus (my setup)
• Wi-Fi
• Ethernet
• Cloud (if necessary)

Supported Manufacturers:

The list is impressively long:

• ABL
• EVSE WiFi
• go-eCharger
• KEBA
• Mennekes
• Phoenix Contact
• Wallbe
• … and many, many more!

Check the EVCC documentation – I haven’t found a wallbox yet that isn’t supported!

Link to the full list in the video and description!

Manufacturer Independence: The Big Advantage

What makes EVCC truly special: you can mix and match manufacturers freely!

In my setup:

• Wallbox: Manufacturer A
• PV inverter: Manufacturer B
• Home battery storage: Manufacturer C (added just recently!)

All from different manufacturers who normally don’t work together. With EVCC? No problem!

In the video, I’ll tell you how seamlessly my new home battery storage was integrated!

5 Reasons Why EVCC Impresses Me

1. Completely Local

No cloud, no dependencies. Your data stays with you. Even during an internet outage, local control keeps working!

2. Open Source With a Professional UI

The code is public, the community is active. But the user interface looks like it came from a professional team!

3. Massive Hardware Support

Almost every wallbox, almost every inverter, almost every EV is supported. The community keeps growing.

4. Intelligent Charging Control

With a PV system and/or dynamic electricity prices, you save real money. In my case: over €2,500!

5. Manufacturer Independence

You’re not locked in. Switching wallbox? No problem. New battery storage? Works!

Even my in-laws are now using EVCC – and without any issues!

Who Is EVCC For?

✅ Perfect if you:

• Have an EV and a wallbox
• Want control over your data
• Like saving money (PV or dynamic tariffs)
• Are familiar with Raspberry Pi or Home Assistant
• Value manufacturer independence

⚠️ Less suitable if you:

• Have no technical interest
• Need everything “out of the box”
• Have no time for setup

But honestly: The setup is easier than you’d think!

Frequently Asked Questions

“Do I need a PV system?”

No! EVCC works without one too. You can:

• Charge on a schedule
• Use dynamic electricity prices
• Simply enjoy the better UI

“Does my wallbox work with it?”

Very likely! Check: https://docs.evcc.io/docs/devices/chargers

The list is impressive. In the video, I’ll show you where to look!

“Is the installation complicated?”

No! If you’ve used Docker or Home Assistant before, it’s a breeze.

“How much does EVCC cost?”

EVCC is free! Open source, no license fees. You only pay for the hardware (Raspberry Pi, wallbox).

Your Path to EVCC

Step 1: Check your hardware

• Do you have a supported wallbox?
• Do you have a Raspberry Pi or NAS?

Step 2: Installation

• Docker or Home Assistant add-on
• Download and start EVCC

Step 3: Configuration

• Connect the wallbox
• Optional: PV system, battery storage, electricity meter

Step 4: Enjoy!

• Open the dashboard
• Try out the charging modes
• Save money 😊

I’ll walk you through all the steps in detail in the video!

Your Experiences?

Write me in the comments:

• How do you charge your EV at home?
• Are you already using EVCC?
• Did I spark your curiosity?
• Which wallbox do you have?

Be sure to watch the video – there you’ll see the dashboard live, the charging modes in action, and my complete installation!

Further Reading

EVCC Documentation:

• Official site: https://evcc.io
• Documentation: https://docs.evcc.io
• GitHub: https://github.com/evcc-io/evcc