Electronics stalwart Humax, a familiar name in millions of UK homes for its set-top boxes and AV equipment, is making a significant entry into the burgeoning electric vehicle charging market. The company's new MX7 home EV charger is poised to challenge established players with a potent combination of cutting-edge technology, practical user features, and surprisingly competitive pricing when it hits the UK market this June. WhichEV editor James Morris talked to Humax's Retail Business Director Simon Humphries at Everything Electric 2025.
The standout headline feature of the MX7 is its integrated Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capability. Speaking at the show, Humphries positioned the unit as a pioneer in bringing this advanced functionality to homeowners. “We're the first brand to market with the vehicle to grid charger,” he stated, emphasizing the MX7’s future-proof design.
V2G technology transforms the relationship between an EV and the home's energy system. While standard chargers only draw power from the grid to the car, V2G allows the vehicle's battery to act as a power source, exporting energy back to the home or potentially even selling it back to the wider electricity grid. Humphries anticipates that the ecosystem enabling users to actively sell energy back will mature soon, suggesting users could be “in a position where the end user will be able to actually sell energy back to the grid… probably at some point next year.”
Crucially, this turns the connected EV into “additional battery storage on site using the vehicle,” Humphries explained. For homeowners, especially those with solar panels (the MX7 is fully “solar compatible”), this presents a compelling proposition. Free solar energy generated during the day can be stored in the car's battery for later use in the home, reducing reliance on grid electricity. Furthermore, users can leverage off-peak electricity tariffs, storing cheap energy overnight and potentially discharging it during expensive peak periods or selling it back if market mechanisms allow. Humphries described this capability as a “very big selling point,” effectively offering home battery functionality without necessarily requiring a separate, costly static battery installation.
Beyond the game-changing V2G, the MX7 incorporates Humax’s proprietary “Intelligent Charging” system. This goes significantly beyond the simple start/stop scheduling found on many chargers. Users can specify a target state of charge (e.g., 100%) and a required completion time (e.g., 4:00 AM). The MX7 then intelligently calculates the optimal charging schedule, determining precisely when to begin charging and modulating the power output (kilowatt rate) throughout the session. The aim is to meet the user's deadline while automatically maximising the use of the cheapest available electricity within that window, adding convenience and enhancing cost savings. Standard “instant charging” is also available.
Addressing the practicalities of modern households, which may include multiple EVs or specific billing requirements, the MX7 features a sophisticated multi-user management system accessible via a dedicated smartphone app. New users – be they family members, tenants, or even neighbours participating in charger sharing – can register their details. The primary account holder (administrator) approves these users. The system then employs vehicle recognition technology to identify which specific registered car is connected.
This enables detailed, itemised reporting of energy consumption per user and vehicle. At the end of a defined period (e.g., monthly), the app can generate reports detailing the date, time, kilowatt-hours consumed, and associated costs for each charging session linked to a specific user. Humphries highlighted key applications: simplifying expense claims for company car drivers charging at home by providing accurate invoices; enabling fair cost allocation between household members or for billing tenants; and facilitating charger sharing schemes with neighbours, ensuring precise tracking of consumed energy. “You can pinpoint exactly how much energy he's using,” Humphries noted regarding tracking a lodger's usage.
Despite packing in V2G and advanced smart features, Humax is positioning the MX7 very competitively on price. “No, absolutely not [expensive]. I think it's very reasonably priced,” Humphries countered when asked about cost. The socket-only version is priced at £600, a 5-metre tethered cable version at £670, and a longer 7.5-metre tethered option at £700. These prices are further supported by a substantial 5-year warranty, signalling Humax's confidence in the product's reliability.
Humax is leveraging its established reputation for quality, built since 1989 in the consumer electronics sector, and a structured distribution strategy. The chargers will reach installers via electrical wholesalers, supplied by distribution partner Kelvelec. Humax is also launching an incentive program for wholesalers to encourage broad support for the product launch.
Finally, recognising that aesthetics matter for devices mounted prominently on homes, Humax has focused on the MX7’s design. Likened by Humphries to sleek wall-mounted audio equipment, the unit features easily swappable front faceplates. This allows homeowners to change the colour to better match their property's exterior or even potentially commission custom designs, addressing a common desire for tech that complements home aesthetics.
With its launch scheduled for June in the UK, the Humax MX7 enters the market as a compelling package. Its blend of future-proof V2G technology, intelligent charging optimisation, practical multi-user billing capabilities, considered design, and aggressive pricing, all backed by a strong warranty, suggests it could significantly disrupt the current home EV charging landscape and become a popular choice for discerning EV owners.
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