[UK] EO Charger cloud server to be shut down after devices are only 3 years old - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2025, 10:44:52 pm
content: If you purchased an EO Hub with EO Mini Pro or EO Mini Pro 2, you will have recently received an email regarding these devices becoming "dumb" chargers as of November.QuoteThe basic problem with all cloud services provided by companies who do not receive a recurring revenue stream (for instance, from a subscription or advertising data) is that the cloud service is an ongoing liability to the beancounters. The cost of providing cloud services has climbed in the last few years as AI has pushed datacenter costs up. Still, this is disgraceful in my opinion. The company has deliberately created e-waste within a short period of time of placing the product on the market. Whilst the chargers will still act as "dumb" units, they will lose many important functions that users have specifically purchased them for, such as load balancing, solar integration, schedules, and remote control. They will also not be reconfigurable after this date.The company has repeatedly declined to provide a local API or OCPP support, despite some of their later products having OCPP. I believe this behaviour would violate the UK's Consumer Rights Act, but the company will likely not experience any consequences as a result unless enough customers band together into a class action. Some estimates put around 50,000 customers as being impacted by this, so likely not big enough to make it worthwhile.Fortunately... The chargers internally contain a Raspberry Pi Zero W (which is used to provide all the smart functions), and a team of people (myself included) have been working on alternative, local-only controller than runs on this Pi:https://github.com/minceheid/openeo/If you are interested in an EV charger that can become smart, I expect as of November there will be many of these chargers for sale on eBay, ripe for modification by keen individuals. Sadly, I suspect many more will be scrapped. If you know someone with an EO charger, please let them know about this software. Our intention is to minimise waste & maximise functionality of these chargers, despite the company's intention to obsolete them.The software is still under active development, so we are looking for individuals interested in contributing to the project and to test it (obviously you will need a compatible charger).

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2025, 11:07:27 pm
content: At leastQuoteandQuoteso your still able to use it at the most basic level,unlike others who just lock it down and tell you chuck it away and buy the latest model

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2025, 11:20:46 pm
content: I recently bought a new dishwasher, because the previous one failed after c35 years. The new dishwasher has a Wi-Fi connectionI took great care to find out what would be lost if the Wi-Fi or any manufacturer's servers were switched off. The answer is nothing of any benefit to me. Good, just as it should be.Part of that investigation was a chat with sales floor staff at Currys (large electrical shed) and John Lewis (large department store chain).The Currys bloke was predictably frustratingly clueless, and I had to suppress my Victor Meldrew tendencies.The John Lewis person both answered my questions sensibly, but he was also well aware of the reasons I was asking the questions. A surprisingly pleasant experience, confirming John Lewis' reputation for decent customer service.Second thing I did with the dishwasher was to ensure the Wi-Fi was turned off. I am now forced to get up and turn it on; I can't turn it on while watching a TV programme. How will I survive?

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2025, 11:51:08 pm
content: QuoteBut i bet he tried to upgrade you to a gold plated hdmi cable to get a better washing experience and a 5 year warranty

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 05:16:42 am
content: Remote-controlled household devices are really not that far fetched.Dynamic utility prices are slowly crawling into the light; smart meters are being pushed by the government.So it's a certain thing you will have to run your large electrical consumers during low price time zones, which correspond to excess energy in the grid. So running your dryer will even help to stabilize the ernergy grid.Only possible, if your home automation decides when to start your device (if it is not a "I need it to be on right now", like an oven).However I would like a Zigbee or Bluetooth implementation way more - don't add network connected devices to the internet, when they come with 10 year old softwar bugs.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 08:45:09 am
content: Quote from: Haenk on July 21, 2025, 05:16:42 amThe company I worked for had a study on this. We concluded that only 3% of the load on the electrical grid is time variable.Which is a lot, you can save entire power plants from being built. On the other hand it's a drop in a bucket. We were even motivated to get this number higher to sell gadgets to control the load.Quote from: tom66 on July 20, 2025, 10:44:52 pmThe basic problem is that they took the agenda of "You will own nothing and be happy", implemented the first half, and realized the second half is unnecessary.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 10:33:34 am
content: Quote from: themadhippy on July 20, 2025, 11:51:08 pmNah, he was just bored and/or not competent.I'm sure he would have tried to sell a warranty. When they do that I ask the price, compare that with the purchase price, and ask them if it really is that unreliable. That shuts them up. In this case I could have mentioned the age of the one it was replacing

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 10:35:58 am
content: Quote from: Haenk on July 21, 2025, 05:16:42 amDon't need the internet + servers for that. The front panel control delaying the start of the cycle is perfectly sufficient (provided you can do alittlemental arithmetic, of course!)

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 02:58:09 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on July 20, 2025, 11:20:46 pmA big no no...QuotePlease do find out whether it emits a signal because I'd like to know.If it does that'd be a cause for concern.If the wifi is there as an option and small part that don't depend on nothing then fine.If the basic functions now require, a phone, working internet, an account, a stupid "app" store & an "app" to get the package then I'd demand it's not fit for purpose and they pick it up.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 03:05:55 am
content: Quote from: Haenk on July 21, 2025, 05:16:42 amThe problem when scheduling or remotely running certain things when out of the house are the fire risks and I read certain washing machines/tumbler drier manufactures were notorious for it in the past that which was Hoover, Hotpoint, Indesit (whatever is owned by the Whirlpool group).

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 06:08:42 am
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on July 31, 2025, 03:05:55 amLife is not without risks. So you certainly power down your house at the main breaker when leaving it for more than a couple of minutes?I fully understand the risks of electrical installations and devices - but I'm willing to accept these risks.As per statistics, extension cords are more risky than washing mashines and experts do find more faults in the external wiring, than inside the machines, so a fire could happen, even if the machines are "off".And "being around" does not protect you anyway.The last two fires "around" were:- electrical wiring for lighting in the ceiling caught fire; both inhabitants were in the house and noticed smoke- fridge caught fire in a carport; neighbour noticed smokeIn both cases the firefighters were present within a few minutes, both houses were destroyed - one burned down to the walls, one burned down half way, but had to be torn down due to toxic substances in the walls.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 09:04:43 am
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on July 31, 2025, 02:58:09 amSee my message. As I stated, I lose nothing of any value to me.

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 09:19:12 am
content: Quote from: tom66 on July 20, 2025, 10:44:52 pmThat's the huge advantage from fully vertically integrated ecosystems, the beans are peanuts compared to high end sheen of lasting support. With a non vertically integrated ecosystem the benefits doesn't usually end up with those bearing the costs, so companies can't afford high end support.There will be only Apple (if the apocalypse wasn't around the corner).

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 11:03:04 am
content: Quote from: Marco on July 31, 2025, 09:19:12 amWell, the cost of long time service is not suprising, when developing a product with cloud access. So it really is a matter of your business model:Do I have the users pay upfront (for the expected lifetime plus some extra), or do I implement a frequent payment model.The third option: Request a medium price and hope for the best just does not work. Maybe to gain market share or hope to sell the whole company including the customers data, but that's a non-working business model in the long run.However, nothing stops a company to sell products, that are reasonably priced and offer offline functionality or home server integration and full API access. Then offer functionality like remote access for a little monthly payment, to cover your costs and service. The buyer now has the choice of setting up his own server, or just buy that service without own equipment or knowledge. This would make everybody happy.Unhappy customers have good memories - if tricked, they will in the future avoid that brand as the plague and the company earns *nothing*. Happy customers *will* return some day.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 11:46:05 am
content: The MBA attitude is, infamously, that if your customers are too satisfied then you are leaving money on the table.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2025, 08:18:18 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on July 31, 2025, 09:04:43 amNor do I connect my washer-dryer; I switch it on at the socket when I want to use it, otherwise it is completely unpowered.Worth pointing out that the wiffy settings may well default after power cycling, and some devices have been known to phone home via unsecured networks.

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2025, 02:31:38 pm
content: Quote from: Haenk on July 31, 2025, 11:03:04 amIf the service ties them to a complete ecosystem where they are nearly guaranteed to make lots of independent transactions, you need neither. You simply tax the independent transactions and pay for support out of general revenue.

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2025, 05:19:21 pm
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on July 31, 2025, 03:05:55 amHotpoint dryer. I have one. It was inspected and has a green sticker on it. I still think it's a fire hazard. Especially now that mine has a hole in the fluff filter. Everytime I use it, I expect it to go on fire now. Yet it surprises me by not going on fire.It is in an outbuilding that bare concrete walls and floors and not adjoined the main building.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 11:09:26 pm
content: There is nothing BETTER than owning IT and the SOFTWARE where it operates independently outright regardless to what happens to them and their company.It sounds a bit selfish to me... "oh if we go out of business you'll loose too... not me, NOT YOU!"I once brought these things off Ebay cheap in 2013, called BlueNode, a Bluetooth to ethernet bridge, £5 I think. The seller sent two. I let the seller know and they were trying it out as a "social experiment". He was giving them away en mass for parts (didn't list it like that though) as he thought there was not a lot you could do with them as the software to configure them seemed tied to an expensive license (per unit if I remember correctly). I'll see if I could find them one day.I find that subscription worse. At least with that one you still have the rights to use it if you own the kit.https://www.eocharging.com/stories/important-service-update-eo-mini-pro-2QuoteNot as bad as I thought it would be and for a good reason.*Not selfish after all. They are unlocking the device so it can charge the car but removing the scheduling automatic control to comply with regulations.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 09:03:18 pm
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on August 16, 2025, 11:09:26 pmExcept their excuse is nonsense. The device was sold after the Smart Charge regulations went into force, so either it was never fully compliant and they have only just come to realise it (in which case it was sold to customers under false pretenses), OR they are providing a vaguely plausible reason for why they do not want to support a product they don't sell any more and is an ongoing liability.