How the Wattpilot works
The Wattpilot is a Type 2 EV charger with a built-in 6-metre lead, designed to lean on your solar first. In Eco Mode it watches the surplus your home is exporting and sends it to the car, lifting the charging rate as the roof produces more and easing off when the house uses it. If the sun fades, it can automatically drop from three phases to one to keep charging rather than stopping, then step back up when generation lifts.
For days when you need a definite amount of range by a set time, Next Trip Mode calculates the charge and picks the best time to deliver it. Monitoring and control run through the Fronius app, over LAN or WLAN.
Which Wattpilot suits your home
Start with your supply. If you have three-phase, you can choose either model: the 22 kW version will charge roughly twice as fast when you draw from the grid, and still throttles down to match solar when you’re in Eco Mode.
Next, think about how you’ll actually use it. If the car is parked at home most days and you want it topped up from solar, the real benefit is the variable 1.38 kW to 11 kW (or 22 kW) range: it means a modest 2 to 3 kW of solar surplus mid-morning still goes into the car rather than being exported.
For example, a home with a 6.6 kW array using around 1 kW of background load through the day would have 3 to 5 kW of surplus available in the middle of a sunny day, which the Wattpilot can hand straight to the car.
If most of your driving is predictable (a set commute, a weekend trip), lean on Next Trip Mode to schedule the required charge. If it’s more open-ended, leave it in Eco Mode and let solar lead. The 22 kW model is worth it if you have three-phase and you occasionally need a quick grid-charged top-up; if you almost always charge from solar, the extra speed matters less because the surplus is the limit, not the charger.
Wattpilot models
Wattpilot 11 kW
Wattpilot 22 kW
Wattpilot at a glance
What installation involves
Site assessment
We visit the property and inspect the existing solar system and the switchboard. We talk through how your household uses power and recommend a location that keeps the charger accessible.
Switchboard check
We check the switchboard’s condition, its available space and how far it sits from the proposed location. Any change needed is raised at the assessment, so it is not a surprise on installation day.
Installation day
Our technicians mount the unit, install isolators and route the cabling to the switchboard. Every connection is tested before commissioning begins.
Network approval
The installation is documented and connected to meet Australian standards and the requirements of Western Power, the network operator in the Perth metropolitan area. Isolators, testing and documentation are provided for meter approval.
App walkthrough
Before leaving, we show you how to read the monitoring app, explain the display and the aftercare tips, and answer your questions so you understand how the system works day to day.
Things to know before you buy
Pros
Charges from your own solar. Eco Mode prioritises surplus solar power for the car, so most daytime charging happens without pulling from the grid.
Variable charging rate. The current adjusts between 1.38 kW and the model’s maximum, so the car can use whatever surplus the roof produces.
Automatic 1-to-3 phase switching. It keeps charging going on weaker solar by dropping to one phase, then steps back up to three when the sun is strong.
Suits indoor or outdoor mounting. The IP66 rating and compact size (325 x 195 x 105 mm) give flexibility on where it goes.
Next Trip Mode for planned drives. You can tell it how much range you need and when you need it, and it works out the timing.
Things to consider
The 22 kW model needs three-phase power. If your home is single-phase, the 11 kW version is your option. Check your supply before deciding on a model.
Solar charging isn’t just the charger. Eco Mode needs the system to see your home’s surplus, which usually means extra components alongside the Wattpilot. Confirm the full install requirements for your setup at quote stage.
Cable length is fixed at 6 metres. The Type 2 lead is 6 m, so position the charger close enough that the plug reaches whichever side the car’s socket is on, without crossing walkways.
Needs network connectivity to get the most from it. LAN or WLAN is required for monitoring and solar-aware charging. Make sure the mount location has reliable Wi-Fi coverage or a cable run.
Fronius Wattpilot questions Perth drivers ask
How does the Fronius Wattpilot charge from solar?
In Eco Mode the Wattpilot prioritises surplus solar power for the car, so it only pulls from the grid when you ask it to. It modulates the charging current between 1.38 kW and the model’s maximum, so it can use whatever surplus the roof is producing at the time rather than switching on and off. Getting the solar signal to the charger needs the right setup at the switchboard, so confirm the components with your installer.
What is the charging speed of the Fronius Wattpilot Flex?
The Wattpilot comes in two maximum speeds: 11 kW or 22 kW. With PV optimisation it can also charge at any point between 1.38 kW and that maximum, matching the surplus your home is exporting.
Does the Fronius Wattpilot need a Fronius inverter?
Solar-optimised charging relies on more than just the charger: it needs the system to measure your home’s surplus and talk to the Wattpilot. That usually involves additional components alongside the charger, so confirm the full install requirements for your existing system before you commit.
What is Eco Mode on the Fronius Wattpilot?
Eco Mode is the setting that tells the Wattpilot to prioritise surplus solar for the car rather than drawing from the grid. It works with the charger’s variable current, so as your solar export rises and falls through the day the car’s charging rate follows it.
Can the Fronius Wattpilot charge on 3 phase?
Yes, the 22 kW version runs on three-phase power. The Wattpilot also switches automatically between one and three phases to match the solar available, so weaker generation can still charge the car on a single phase rather than cutting out. A single-phase home is limited to the 11 kW version.
Get a Fronius Wattpilot quote
Sources
Last updated November 2026.