Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating vs EVSE - Enphase
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating vs EVSE - Enphase: the differences
| Compare |  British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating |  EVSE - Enphase |
|---|---|---|
| Installation price | £999 | $1,000 |
| Installation included | YesHas it | No |
| Charging power (kW) | 7.4 | 11.5Higher |
| Tethered cable | No | YesHas it |
| Warranty | 3 years | 5 yearsHigher |
| Charger price | £999 | Not confirmed |
| Solar divert | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Tariff integration | British Gas, British Gas EV Power | Not confirmed |
| OCPP support | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Markets | GB | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Mobile app (Yes).
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Key differences
- EVSE - Enphase scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.6.
- Installation included: only British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating.
- Charging power (kW) is higher at EVSE - Enphase: 11.5 vs 7.4.
- Tethered cable: only EVSE - Enphase.
- Warranty is higher at EVSE - Enphase: 5 years vs 3 years.
- Support channels: only British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating offers Chat, Help centre.
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.
EVSE - Enphase
EVSE - Enphase suits households with a solar array and a phone-first setup, pairing 11.5 kW of charging power with solar divert, OCPP and a mobile app. Installation is not included and carries $1,000, which ranks 2 of 6 on that measure, while support runs on phone only.
Score breakdown
| Area | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | EVSE - Enphase |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Charging at £999 with installation at £999 and fitting included keeps the entry cost to a single hardware purchase. | 10.0HigherInstallation is not included and carries $1,000, ranking 2 of 6 brands in our data. |
| 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. | 9.0HigherSolar divert, OCPP and a mobile app are supported, with a tethered cable and warranty running 5 years at 11.5 kW of output. |
| Trust | 9.0Centrica Hive Limited has traded since 2013, and chat, phone and help centre give buyers a clear route to help. | Not confirmed |
Licences and countries
| Country | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | EVSE - Enphase |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
What we checked
British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating
- hivehome.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
EVSE - Enphase
- enphase.com: 9 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | EVSE - Enphase |
|---|---|---|
| EV tariffs and home chargers | 18 of 27 | 1 of 27 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | EVSE - Enphase |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Centrica Hive Limited | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | EVSE - Enphase | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging power (kW) | 7.4lowest quarter | 11.5below the median | 22 |
| Warranty | 3 yearsat the median | 5 yearsabove the median | 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.
EVSE - Enphase
Pros
- Solar divert is supported, so charging can follow power the home generates.
- OCPP is supported, which lets the charger join open control software.
- A mobile app is included for sessions, status and settings.
Cons
- Installation is not included, and the charge of $1,000 ranks 2 of 6 brands in our data.
- Support runs on phone only, so questions are handled by phone rather than written or live channels.
- Charging power of 11.5 kW ranks 9 of 18 on our data, below Autel Energy at 12 kW.
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.
EVSE - Enphase
Who it suits
- Households with solar generation that want charging to follow the array rather than the grid.
- Drivers who want sessions and settings handled from a phone, with OCPP for outside control software.
Who should look elsewhere
- Endesa buyers who want installation folded into the price of the unit.
- Autel Energy buyers who want more charging power than 11.5 kW.
- DRBO Greenenergy buyers who prefer a lower power rating at 11 kW.
Country by country
| Country | British Gas - Hive - Smart Home & Heating | EVSE - Enphase |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
EVSE - Enphase
How much does installation cost with this charger?+
Installation is not included with the Enphase charger, and the listed charge for fitting is $1,000. That sits on top of the hardware rather than being folded into the price of the unit, so budget for the box and the work as two separate commitments. Endesa, by contrast, includes installation with the charger it sells.
How powerful is the charger?+
Output is 11.5 kW, which places the unit in the middle of this group: DRBO Greenenergy offers 11 kW and Autel Energy offers 12 kW on the power rating. On our data this charger sits at 9 of 18 brands on that measure, so it is a solid home rating rather than a high-output one.