diff --git a/charger/smaevcharger.go b/charger/smaevcharger.go
index 4511bab17..34b109cbc 100644
--- a/charger/smaevcharger.go
+++ b/charger/smaevcharger.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/provider"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util/request"
+	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util/sponsor"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-version"
 	"golang.org/x/oauth2"
 )
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ func init() {
 // NewSmaevchargerFromConfig creates a SMA EV Charger from generic config
 func NewSmaevchargerFromConfig(other map[string]interface{}) (api.Charger, error) {
 	cc := struct {
-		Host     string
+		Uri      string
 		User     string
 		Password string
 		Cache    time.Duration
@@ -63,8 +64,8 @@ func NewSmaevchargerFromConfig(other map[string]interface{}) (api.Charger, error
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	if cc.Host == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("missing host")
+	if cc.Uri == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New("missing uri")
 	}
 
 	if cc.User == "" || cc.Password == "" {
@@ -72,25 +73,27 @@ func NewSmaevchargerFromConfig(other map[string]interface{}) (api.Charger, error
 	}
 
 	if cc.User == "admin" {
-		return nil, errors.New("user admin not allowed, create new user")
+		return nil, errors.New(`user "admin" not allowed, create new user`)
 	}
 
-	return NewSmaevcharger(cc.Host, cc.User, cc.Password, cc.Cache)
+	return NewSmaevcharger(cc.Uri, cc.User, cc.Password, cc.Cache)
 }
 
 // NewSmaevcharger creates an SMA EV Charger
-func NewSmaevcharger(host string, user string, password string, cache time.Duration) (api.Charger, error) {
+func NewSmaevcharger(uri string, user string, password string, cache time.Duration) (api.Charger, error) {
 	log := util.NewLogger("smaevcharger").Redact(user, password)
 
-	baseUri := "http://" + host
-
 	wb := &Smaevcharger{
 		Helper: request.NewHelper(log),
 		log:    log,
-		uri:    baseUri + "/api/v1",
+		uri:    util.DefaultScheme(strings.TrimRight(uri, "/"), "http") + "/api/v1",
 		cache:  cache,
 	}
 
+	if !sponsor.IsAuthorized() {
+		return nil, api.ErrSponsorRequired
+	}
+
 	// setup cached values
 	wb.reset()
 
@@ -119,9 +122,10 @@ func NewSmaevcharger(host string, user string, password string, cache time.Durat
 	}
 
 	if err == nil {
-		// Prepare Charger for EVCC Control:
-		// - disable App Lock functionality, this Option have been introduced with 1.2.23 and will lock the Charger until unlocked via SMA App
-		// unfortunately this Lock option will overwrite the status of the charger and prevent ev detection
+		// Prepare charger: disable App Lock functionality.
+		// This option have been introduced with 1.2.23 and will lock the charger
+		// until unlocked via SMA App. Unfortunately this Lock option will overwrite
+		// the status of the charger and prevent ev detection
 		err = wb.Send(
 			value("Parameter.Chrg.ChrgLok", smaevcharger.ChargerAppLockDisabled),
 			value("Parameter.Chrg.ChrgApv", smaevcharger.ChargerManualLockEnabled),
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/smaevcharger.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/smaevcharger.yaml
index 9b7ce6b0b..0a5946424 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/smaevcharger.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/smaevcharger.yaml
@@ -6,10 +6,9 @@ products:
 capabilities: ["mA"]
 requirements:
   description:
-    de: Die Wallbox muss sich im Modus "Fast" befinden.
+    de: Der EV Charger muss sich im Modus "Fast" befinden.
     en: The charger must be switched to "Fast" charging mode.
 params:
-  - name: title
   - name: host
     required: true
   - name: user
@@ -19,6 +18,6 @@ params:
     mask: true
 render: |
   type: smaevcharger
-  host: {{ .host }}
+  uri: http://{{ .host }}
   user: {{ .user }}
   password: {{ .password }}
diff --git a/templates/docs/charger/smaevcharger_0.yaml b/templates/docs/charger/smaevcharger_0.yaml
index f018b58f9..f21ec5226 100644
--- a/templates/docs/charger/smaevcharger_0.yaml
+++ b/templates/docs/charger/smaevcharger_0.yaml
@@ -3,12 +3,11 @@ product:
   description: EV Charger
 capabilities: ["mA"]
 description: |
-  Die Wallbox muss sich im Modus "Fast" befinden.
+  Der EV Charger muss sich im Modus "Fast" befinden.
 render:
   - default: |
       type: template
       template: smaevcharger
-      title: # Wird in der Benutzeroberfläche angezeigt # Optional
       host: 192.0.2.2 # IP-Adresse oder Hostname
       user: # Benutzerkonto (bspw. E-Mail Adresse, User Id, etc.)
       password: # Passwort des Benutzerkontos (bei führenden Nullen bitte in einfache Hochkommata setzen)