Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating vs Elli
Where British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating and Elli differ
| Compare |  British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating |  Elli |
|---|---|---|
| Charger price | £999 | €759 to €1,499 |
| Installation included | YesHas it | No |
| Charging power (kW) | 7.4 | 22Higher |
| Tethered cable | No | YesHas it |
| Tariff integration | British Gas, British Gas EV Power | Volkswagen Naturstrom Flex |
| Installation price | £999 | Not confirmed |
| Solar divert | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Warranty | 3 years | Not confirmed |
| Markets | GB | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Mobile app (Yes).
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Key differences
- Elli scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.6.
- Installation included: only British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating.
- Charging power (kW) is higher at Elli: 22 vs 7.4.
- Tethered cable: only Elli.
- Support channels: only British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Elli offers Email.
- Founded is lower at British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating: 2013 vs 2018.
- Tariff integration: only British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating offers British Gas, British Gas EV Power.
- Tariff integration: only Elli offers Volkswagen Naturstrom Flex.
Our verdict on each
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.
Elli
Elli pairs a tethered wallbox with an electricity tariff in a single place, and it suits German households who want a single provider for home power and charging. The unit delivers 22 kW, connects to Volkswagen Naturstrom Flex and diverts solar, though installation is not included in the price.
Score breakdown
| Area | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | Elli |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Charging at £999 with installation at £999 and fitting included keeps the entry cost to a single hardware purchase. | 9.0HigherCharger price of €759 to €1,499 with installation not included, so the box is mid-table while the fitting is extra. |
| Offer | 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. | 9.2HigherTethered lead, solar divert and an app on 22 kW of power, plus fixed, dynamic and green in the same account. |
| Trust | 9.0HigherCentrica Hive Limited has traded since 2013, and chat, phone and help centre give buyers a clear route to help. | 8.5Backed by Volkswagen Group Charging GmbH in DE, trading since 2018, with support on email, phone and help centre. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | Elli |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Germany |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | Elli |
|---|---|---|
| EV tariffs and home chargers | 18 of 27 | 10 of 27 |
Which one suits you
Pick British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating if trust and installation included matter most.
Pick Elli if cost, offer, charging power (kw), and tethered cable matter most.
What we checked
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating
- hivehome.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Elli
- elli.eco: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- shop.elli.eco: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | Elli |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Centrica Hive Limited | Volkswagen Group Charging GmbH |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Germany |
| Founded | 2013Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Energy suppliers
| Fact | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | Elli |
|---|---|---|
| Tariff types | Not confirmed | Fixed, Dynamic, Green, Ev |
| Fixed terms | Not confirmed | 12, 24, 1 |
| Fuels | Not confirmed | Electricity |
| Renewable share | Not confirmed | 100% |
| Renewable basis | Not confirmed | Certificates |
| Smart meter required | Not confirmed | No |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | Elli | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging power (kW) | 7.4lowest quarter | 22at the median | 22 |
| Warranty | 3 yearsat the median | Not confirmed | 3 years |
Median across 15 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Elli
Pros
- Charging at 22 kW, with a tethered cable, solar divert and a mobile app on the same unit.
- Tariff choice covers fixed, dynamic and green alongside the wallbox, so power and charging sit with one provider.
- Renewable electricity at 100% on a certificates basis, with no smart meter needed.
Cons
- Installation is not included, so the €759 to €1,499 box is only part of the outlay and the fitting is a separate cost.
- The €759 to €1,499 charger price runs above the €804 median charger price on the site, and above DRBO Greenenergy at €499.
- The charger plugs into Volkswagen Naturstrom Flex only, so the tariff pairing is narrower than the range of fixed, dynamic and green on offer.
Who each suits
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.
Elli
Who it suits
- German households with rooftop solar who want charging and electricity from one provider, since solar divert is supported.
- Drivers with a home charge point who would rather have a fixed cable and app control than carry a lead to the car.
- Households weighing fixed against dynamic rates, since tariff choice covers fixed, dynamic and green on the same account as the wallbox.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers shopping on hardware budget: DRBO Greenenergy lists its charger at €499, below Elli's €759 to €1,499.
- Anyone after a lower-power unit: EVSE - Enphase lists 11.5 kW where Elli offers 22 kW.
- Households wanting a settled all-in figure: Endesa lists its charger at €1,099 as a single price, where Elli's €759 to €1,499 spreads wider.
Country by country
| Country | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | Elli |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Elli
How much does the Elli wallbox cost?+
The Elli wallbox is priced at €759 to €1,499. Installation is not included in that figure, so the fitting is a separate line and the real outlay is higher than the box alone. Budget for the hardware and the installation as two separate costs rather than assuming the sticker price covers the job.
How fast does the Elli wallbox charge?+
The unit delivers 22 kW of power, and the lead is tethered, so it stays joined to the car rather than being carried around. A fixed cable removes the awkward part of nightly charging, at the cost of routing a longer run from the charge point to where the car stands.