Aqara
Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version)
- Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA
- Local control
- Zigbee
Prices verified September 2026
See more blinds & curtains picks on our Amazon storefront →Our verdict
Same driver electronics as the Rod version we already list, but clipped to a U-rail/I-rail track instead of dragging fabric on a pole — pick this one if your curtains run on the boxy plastic track common in UK new-builds. It clips onto U-rail track with a bottom slot under 8mm (needs wheeled gliders), or I-rail track with a bottom width of 10mm or more — check yours before ordering, since curved or special-shaped rails aren't supported. At 145.7 × 96 × 46mm it's a chunky unit that sits visibly at the track end. Cheaper than the rod version too, though pairing outside the official Aqara hub varies by coordinator.
What can Home Assistant control on the Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version)?
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Cover (0-100%) | Read from the driver's onboard rotation encoder rather than time-based estimation; only trustworthy after running calibration, which in practice needs the Aqara app. |
| Motor state | Sensor | Stopped/opening/closing/pause. Pause instead of a clean stop is the tell that the rail carriage is binding or overloaded. |
| Hooks lock | Lock + sensor | Locks or releases the plastic hooks that grip the U-rail/I-rail carriage — worth watching during install, as detaching mid-cycle can strand the carriage on the track. |
| Illuminance | Sensor | Built-in lux sensor, identical to the Rod version — usable in automations without a separate light sensor. |
| Manual action | Event | Fires manual_open/manual_close when the carriage is pulled by hand. |
Zigbee2MQTT identifies this unit under the exact same model as the Rod version — it isn't a separate device profile, so every quirk already logged for the Rod driver applies unchanged here: the motor-state sticking bug, calibration that only reliably completes through the Aqara app, and manual open/close action events firing on hand-pulls. Aqara's own spec sheet lists the same 12kg max load for both mount types, so there's no lighter-duty variant to plan around despite the cheaper price. The one real mechanical difference is that position comes from the driver's internal rotation encoder rather than a time-based estimate, so a stiff or binding track tends to surface as a stuck running flag or a paused motor state rather than silent position drift — worth alerting on instead of assuming the reported position stays accurate.
Specs
| battery | 6000mAh rechargeable, roughly 1 year runtime |
|---|---|
| charging | USB-C (cable included in box); Aqara doesn't publish a charge time |
| mount type | Track (U-rail ≤8mm bottom slot with wheeled gliders, or I-rail ≥10mm bottom width, straight only) |
| max load kg | 12 |
| dimensions mm | 145.7 x 96 x 46 |
| protocol version | Zigbee 3.0 (IEEE 802.15.4) |
How does the Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version) compare?
| Product | From | Protocol | Local control | Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version) (this product) | £80.99 | Zigbee | Yes | Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA |
| Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Rod) | £89.99 | Zigbee | Yes | Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA |
| Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1 | £49.99 | Zigbee | Yes | Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA |
| Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit for Roller Blinds | £179.95 | Matter, Thread | Yes | Native |
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version) work with Home Assistant locally?
- Yes. The Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version) is controlled locally in Home Assistant through Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, so it keeps working if your internet connection or the Aqara cloud goes down. Control and state updates stay on your own network.
- Which protocol does the Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version) use, and do I need a hub?
- The Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version) uses Zigbee. To pair it with Home Assistant you need a Zigbee coordinator (for example a SkyConnect/ZBT-1 or Sonoff dongle) attached to your Home Assistant host. Aqara's own hub is not required when you integrate through Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA.
- How much does the Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version) cost in the UK?
- The lowest price we have listed for the Aqara Curtain Driver E1 (Track Version) is £80.99 at Aqara UK Shop. Prices were last checked in September 2026 and change often, so confirm on the retailer's page before buying.