Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Autel Energy vs British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating
Where Autel Energy and British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating differ
| Compare |  Autel Energy |  British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating |
|---|---|---|
| Charger price | $599 | £999 |
| Installation included | No | YesHas it |
| Charging power (kW) | 12Higher | 7.4 |
| Tethered cable | YesHas it | No |
| Markets | US | GB |
| Installation price | Not confirmed | £999 |
| Tariff integration | Not confirmed | British Gas, British Gas EV Power |
Same on both: Mobile app (Yes), Warranty (3 years).
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Key differences
- Autel Energy scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.6.
- Installation included: only British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating.
- Charging power (kW) is higher at Autel Energy: 12 vs 7.4.
- Tethered cable: only Autel Energy.
- Support channels: only Autel Energy offers Email.
- Support channels: only British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating offers Chat, Help centre.
- Founded is lower at Autel Energy: 2004 vs 2013.
- Markets: only Autel Energy offers US.
- Markets: only British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating offers GB.
Our verdict on each
Autel Energy
Autel Energy suits US drivers who want a tethered, hardwired home charger with app control and a solid warranty. The MaxiCharger AC unit costs $599 and installation is separate, so the real outlay runs higher than the headline price.
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating
British Gas Hive suits households already on a British Gas supply who want a home charger ordered alongside their energy account, and it prices at £999 with installation included. The trade-off is 7.4 kW of output and an untethered cable, so drivers who need quicker top-ups should look wider.
Score breakdown
| Area | Autel Energy | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7HigherCharger price of $599 sits mid-field, and installation is not included, so buyers budget a second sum. | 8.2Charging at £999 with installation at £999 and fitting included keeps the entry cost to a single hardware purchase. |
| Offer | 8.9HigherHardwired unit delivers 12 kW, comes tethered, has a mobile app and a 3 years warranty. | 8.8Installation is included, a mobile app handles control, and British Gas and British Gas EV Power tie charging to an existing British Gas account. |
| Trust | 10.0HigherEstablished in 2004 with support by email and phone, plus a 3 years warranty on the unit. | 9.0Centrica Hive Limited has traded since 2013, and chat, phone and help centre give buyers a clear route to help. |
Which one suits you
Pick Autel Energy if charging power (kw) and tethered cable matter most.
Pick British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating if installation included matter most.
How the counts compare
| Fact | Autel Energy | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating |
|---|---|---|
| Charging power (kW) | 12 | 7.4 |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Autel Energy | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
Additional countries for Autel Energy: 1. Additional countries for British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating: 1.
A third option
Endesa has charging power (kw) at 7.4 to 22, against 12 for Autel Energy and 7.4 for British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating.
Endesa reviewWhat we checked
Autel Energy
- autelenergy.us: 9 facts, checked September 30, 2026
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating
- hivehome.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Autel Energy | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating |
|---|---|---|
| EV tariffs and home chargers | 7 of 27 | 18 of 27 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Autel Energy | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Centrica Hive Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2004Lower | 2013 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Autel Energy | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging power (kW) | 12below the median | 7.4lowest quarter | 22 |
| Warranty | 3 yearsat the median | 3 yearsat the median | 3 years |
Median across 15 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Autel Energy
Pros
- Tethered cable means one fixed unit on the wall, so no cable to buy, store or plug in each time ($599 covers the box alone)
- 12 kW output matches the top of the site range for home AC units
- Mobile app included, so charging sessions and status sit on a phone
Cons
- Installation is not included, so the buyer's total is the $599 unit plus a separate fitting job
- DRBO Greenenergy lists a lower charger price at €499
- Availability is limited to US, so it is not an option for UK or EU buyers
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating
Pros
- Installation is included with the unit, so a fitter does not have to be arranged separately, and the charger price of £999 is the figure most buyers start from.
- Support covers chat, phone and help centre, giving a phone line and live chat alongside written help once the box is on the wall.
- The charger works with British Gas and British Gas EV Power, so charging can follow the tariff the household already holds.
Cons
- The unit is untethered, so there is no permanently attached cable and drivers bring or pick their own lead.
- Output of 7.4 kW places the unit at 12 of 18 on our charger power table, so it suits overnight charging rather than quick turnarounds.
- The £999 charger price sits above DRBO Greenenergy at €499, though the two are quoted in different currencies.
Who each suits
Autel Energy
Who it suits
- US households with a driveway or garage who want a permanent tethered cable point
- Drivers who charge overnight and want a 12 kW unit they rarely outgrow
- People who want setup and monitoring in a mobile app rather than on a wall display
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers in the UK or EU, since US does not include those regions
- Anyone wanting a turnkey quote, as installation is not included in the $599 price
- Price-first shoppers, since DRBO Greenenergy charges less at €499
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating
Who it suits
- Households already on a British Gas supply who want the charger ordered alongside the energy account.
- Drivers who charge on the drive overnight and can live with 7.4 kW of output and an untethered cable.
- Buyers who put aftercare first: 3 years of warranty and support across chat, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for shoppers comparing sticker prices alone: DRBO Greenenergy lists its charger at €499 and Endesa at €1,099, so both belong next to the £999 here.
- Not for anyone outside GB, and for drivers who need a cable fixed to the box. Where the fitting cost decides it, EVSE - Enphase at $1,000 is the figure to weigh against £999.
Country by country
| Country | Autel Energy | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Autel Energy
How much does an Autel Energy home charger cost?+
The hardwired MaxiCharger AC unit is listed at $599. That figure covers the charger hardware itself. Installation is not included, so the fitting cost sits on top of the purchase price and needs separate arranging.
Does installation come with the charger?+
No. Installation is listed as not included for the residential range. Buyers should budget for an electrician separately from the $599 hardware charge, and the fitting quote can move the total a long way from the headline price.
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating
What does the Hive EV charger cost, and what is the fitting on top?+
The charger is priced at £999 and the listing states installation at £999. Both are hardware figures quoted at the point of order, not subscription charges, so there is no renewal to weigh once the box is on the wall. Compare the two lines separately against any alternative, because a cheaper unit can carry a higher fitting cost.
Does the price cover installation?+
Installation is marked as included with the unit, so a fitter does not have to be arranged separately. The listing still gives an installation figure of £999, so it is worth checking which parts of the fitting that covers before ordering. The unit itself is £999.