Anyone looking to purchase a home energy storage system like the Zendure SolarFlow 2400 Pro (€ 738.99 *) or the SolarFlow 2400 AC (Price not available *), isn’t just buying a battery with an inverter—they’re purchasing a system that makes decisions on its own and helps users save electricity. Zendure calls its AI control system ZENKI and promises savings of up to 73 percent compared to uncontrolled operation. It sounds good on paper—but how does the whole thing perform when you run it in your own home for days on end? That’s exactly what we looked into, with a special focus on the three available control modes: ZENKI, Auto, and Expert.
One System, Three Control Philosophies
Zendure doesn’t just offer users an automatic mode; it provides three different approaches to organizing energy management in the home. Compared to many competitors, this is already a plus, because not every household has the same needs.
ZENKI Mode: Here, the AI handles all optimization. It takes into account real-time electricity prices, weather forecasts, and the household’s individual consumption habits, and uses this information to decide when to charge, discharge, or draw power from the grid. Green electricity is given priority. Those with a dynamic electricity rate plan naturally benefit the most here. Zendure stands out with connections to 870 electricity providers across 32 European markets.
Auto Mode: Slightly more conservative than ZENKI, but still automated. Auto Mode adapts in real time to current system conditions and is therefore suitable for virtually any setup—even for households without a dynamic rate plan or a smart meter.
Expert Mode: For anyone who prefers to take matters into their own hands. Here, you can define fixed time windows and custom rules, such as “charge between 2 and 5 a.m.” or “prioritize the heat pump starting at 6 p.m.” Those who know their consumption patterns well or have specific requirements can use this mode to intervene with much greater precision than an automatic control system ever could.
ZENKI Mode in Everyday Life: How Well Does the AI Make Its Decisions?
In everyday life, this was exactly the aspect that intrigued us the most. After all, this is where Zendure promises the greatest convenience. You should be able to just let the system run without having to check the app every day. And in fact, it mostly works as it should. As soon as the smart meter and dynamic rate plan are integrated, the system visibly begins to operate proactively.
On sunny days, the battery is consistently charged using surplus PV power; on cloudy days with predictably low solar output, the system instead charges the battery specifically during off-peak nighttime hours. You can see all of this very clearly in the charging curves in the app. It’s worth noting that the system reacts to changing weather conditions.
Instead of rigidly sticking to a predefined schedule, the AI adjusts its forecast multiple times throughout the day as needed if actual PV generation differs from the prediction. This feels less like a fixed timer with a weather bonus and more like a control system that actually thinks for itself.
The limits of this system sometimes become apparent during very short-term, spontaneous load spikes. This is the case, for example, when several large consumers suddenly start up at the same time. Here, the system reacts reliably, but reactively rather than proactively—which is hardly surprising for an AI control system. If you plan to schedule very specific loads on an ad hoc basis, you’re better off using Expert Mode.
It’s worth noting that at IFA 2026, Zendure already announced a step in this direction with its Agentic HEMS. The system is meant to go beyond pure AI scheduling: using the ZenPulse forecasting model and autonomously acting ZENKI AI agents, Zendure aims to move from merely reacting to proactively planning and acting independently—for example, cushioning an expensive load spike ahead of time using stored energy. Whether this also handles spontaneous load spikes of the kind we tested here more reliably is something we couldn’t verify during our test period, since the feature wasn’t yet available to us.
Auto Mode: The Pragmatic Middle Ground
Without a smart meter or dynamic rate plan, Auto Mode remains the obvious choice. This is precisely where it becomes clear that Zendure has also taken simpler setups into account. The control system responds to current generation and consumption values without relying on ZENKI’s price forecasts. In practice, this works seamlessly and reliably.
While this may all be less “intelligent” than ZENKI mode, it’s also significantly less complicated to set up. For households that primarily want to maximize self-consumption without having to deal with rate structures, this is a solid and pragmatic solution.
Expert Mode: Full Control for Those Who Want to Know Exactly What’s Going On
Expert Mode is clearly aimed at a different target audience. For those who want to define their own time windows, this mode provides a tool for fine-tuning. This is advisable, for example, when a specific electricity rate is only affordable at fixed times or when individual appliances need to be prioritized. The dynamic price display is helpful here. It’s updated at 15-minute intervals, which helps ensure that the system’s rules aren’t set on a whim.
However, Expert Mode does require more effort. To use Expert Mode effectively, you must do more than just analyze your own consumption patterns. You also need to be aware that the rules should be adjusted in response to changes in your household (a new electric car, different work schedules, seasonal fluctuations). For anyone who wants exactly that—full control instead of a black box—this is actually a strong argument in favor of the system, not against it.
Switching Between Modes: It’s Not All-or-Nothing
One positive feature is that you can switch between the three modes at any time in the app without losing any settings. If you start out in Auto mode and later realize that a dynamic rate plan is worth it, you can seamlessly switch to ZENKI. Similarly, Expert mode can be used selectively for specific cases without permanently giving up automatic control.
Voice Control and an Open Ecosystem as Added Benefits
In addition to the basic charging and discharging logic, the system also includes a voice assistant that enables hands-free operation and provides audio status updates. While this may not be a core feature, it could certainly offer additional convenience for some users in everyday life.
However, the openness of the ecosystem is far more important for the practical relevance of AI control. The integration of smart-home platforms, wallboxes, and—among other things—Tesla vehicles (Model 3/Y) means that ZENKI does not operate in isolation but can increasingly incorporate larger power consumers in the home as well.
Conclusion: How good is the AI control system really?
The short answer: surprisingly good! However, realizing its full potential depends on certain prerequisites. The ZENKI mode only truly taps into its immense savings potential when used in conjunction with a smart meter and a dynamic rate plan. These are the foundation for proactive decisions that go beyond simply reacting to events. Without these additional components, much of this potential remains untapped, and Auto Mode then takes over control in a reliable but significantly less spectacular manner.
For tech enthusiasts who want to understand exactly what their system is doing and when, and who are willing to get hands-on, Expert Mode offers a level of control that’s missing from many competing systems. Ultimately, it becomes clear that the three modes aren’t just a marketing gimmick—they actually cater to three different types of users, ranging from “just let it run” to “I want to make every decision myself.” It’s precisely this flexibility that makes ZENKI so appealing for everyday use.
Images: Zendure
