Not necessarily. While having a battery or EV unlocks the full potential (by providing more storage for excess solar and flexibility), Jousto can deliver great value even with just rooftop solar and some smart appliances. It will still manage your hot water system, pool pump, air conditioning, etc. to maximise solar self-use and minimise peak grid use.

Many customers start with Jousto on solar-only; the system is ready to integrate a battery or EV whenever you add one. Plus, Jousto's smart control can help you determine the optimal battery size if you decide to get one – you'll clearly see how much surplus solar you have to store.

Think of those as pieces of the puzzle, while Jousto is the glue that brings it all together. A typical inverter or battery app might show you basic status and allow some limited scheduling, but they operate in silos. For example, your inverter can't know when your EV is plugged in, and your battery might not know your time-of-use tariff schedule – so they can't coordinate.

Jousto, on the other hand, monitors everything and can control multiple devices in concert. It's the difference between having isolated smart devices vs. a truly smart home energy system. Also, many built-in inverter "smart" functions are quite rudimentary or inflexible. Jousto's logic is far more advanced and customisable.

In all likelihood, yes! Jousto is built on Home Assistant which has thousands of integrations. We specifically support popular Australian inverter brands like Fronius, SolarEdge, SMA, Enphase, GoodWe, Sungrow, Growatt, etc., as well as Tesla Powerwall, LG Chem, Sonnen and many other battery systems. EV chargers such as Zappi, Wallbox, Tesla, ChargePoint and others can interface too.

Even if a device isn't directly integrated, we can often communicate via open standards (Modbus, MQTT, WiFi APIs) or add an intermediary smart switch. The philosophy is: if there's a way to get data from it or send commands to it, Jousto will make it work.

You'll receive a small hardware hub (the size of a TV box) that runs the Home Assistant-based Jousto software. It comes pre-loaded with our Jousto Energy Automation profile and pre-configured for your setup (we discuss your devices and programs beforehand).

The package includes remote onboarding support – an expert will help you connect the hub to your home network and link your inverter, battery, etc., typically via a secure cloud link. You also get our Tier 1 Smart Automation Service included, which means we set up 3–5 core automations tailored to your needs and provide ongoing chat/email support to adjust things.

Essentially, it's a turnkey solution: hardware + software + configuration service. You can self-install the hub in minutes (it's basically plug in power and Ethernet), or opt for a professional install if you want hands-off.

No – Jousto operates non-invasively. We integrate via the standard communication interfaces provided by your devices (for example, reading data via Ethernet/WiFi APIs, sending commands through official channels). We don't "hack" or alter your inverter's internal settings in any unsupported way.

In fact, the automations we perform (like adjusting a battery's charge/discharge setpoint or turning an EV charger on/off) are analogous to what a user might do manually with the manufacturer's app – just automated and smarter. This means it preserves compliance and warranty.

Absolutely. We designed Jousto for regular homeowners, not just gadget geeks. If you can use a smartphone, you can use Jousto. The beauty is that after installation, you don't have to actively do much at all – that's the point of automation!

The interface you'll see is a clean dashboard with intuitive icons for solar, home, battery, grid, etc., and simple controls like on/off toggles or mode selections (e.g., "Max Savings mode" vs "Comfort mode"). And remember, our team is here to support you. We will handle all the complex configuration in the background.