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Hive Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 Review
Key Features at a Glance
- 7.4kW (32A) single-phase, adding roughly 28 to 30 miles of range per hour
- 7.5m tethered Type 2 cable, longer than most home chargers supply as standard
- Wi-Fi and 4G dual connectivity, staying online even without strong home Wi-Fi
- SolarCharge solar diversion built in as standard
- Load balancing that adjusts output based on household electrical demand
- Nine interchangeable fascia colours, swappable after installation
- IP65 and IK10 protection against water jets and physical impact
- OCPP 1.6J for compatibility with third-party energy management platforms
- Power+ giving British Gas electricity customers 25% back on Power+ mode charging
Is It Worth It?
The Hive Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 is keenly priced for a smart charger with solar diversion and load balancing included. Many tethered chargers come with a 5m cable, and few offer interchangeable colour panels after installation. On top of that, the Power+ scheme gives British Gas electricity customers 25% back on charging done in Power+ mode.
The hardware is built by Sync Energy, a member of the Luceco plc group of companies. The Hive partnership wraps that hardware in British Gas’s installation network and the Hive smart home app.
Charging Performance
Power Output and Cable Length
The Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 delivers 7.4kW (32A) single-phase output, adding roughly 28 to 30 miles of range per hour. The tethered cable is 7.5 metres, noticeably longer than the 5m supplied with many rivals. If your charge port is at the rear of the car and your charger is mounted on a side wall, 7.5m removes the need to estimate reach.
A socketed (untethered) version with a Type 2 socket is also available for households with multiple EVs or those who prefer cable flexibility.
Weatherproofing and Durability
The Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 carries IP65 weatherproofing and an IK10 impact resistance rating. IP65 means it is protected against water jets from any direction. IK10 means it can withstand significant physical impact. For exposed driveway or outdoor wall installations, that is a robust combination.
Built-in PEN protection eliminates the need for an external earth rod. Integrated load management technology automatically adjusts power output based on your household’s electrical demand.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi and 4G
The Hive EV charger connects via both home Wi-Fi and a 4G mobile network, providing dual connectivity. If your garage or driveway has spotty Wi-Fi, the mobile connection acts as a backup, keeping the charger online for remote monitoring, scheduling, and firmware updates. Several competing chargers at this price point offer Wi-Fi only.
Smart Features and Power+ Integration
Hive App
The Hive app integrates EV charging alongside heating, hot water, and other Hive smart home devices. You can see live charging status, access your full charging history, view spend in pounds and pence, and set charging schedules. The app allows you to sync with your electricity tariff and set peak and off-peak windows manually; the charger then schedules charging into the cheaper window automatically.
One honest limitation: tariff setup requires you to input peak and off-peak times manually rather than pulling them from the tariff automatically. This is a one-time process, but it is less seamless than chargers with direct supplier APIs.
Power+ for British Gas Customers
For British Gas electricity customers, Power+ mode is the standout commercial advantage. Switch it on in the Hive app with a compatible British Gas electricity tariff and a working smart meter in credit mode, and Hive automatically charges your EV when energy is cheapest and greenest, crediting 25% of the charging cost back to your energy bill each month.
British Gas’s EV Power tariff runs at 9p per kWh overnight (midnight to 5am). Hive’s own example puts the cost of driving 9,000 miles per year at an estimated £185 annually in Power+ mode, assuming off-peak charging on that tariff and around 3.3 miles per kWh. Public rapid charging typically costs many times the off-peak home rate.
You do not need to be a British Gas electricity customer to have a Hive EV charger installed. However, Power+ is only available to customers on a compatible British Gas electricity tariff with a smart meter in credit mode.
Tariff Scheduling
The charger’s tariff scheduling aligns charging to your energy tariff’s off-peak window and works with standard fixed-window UK EV tariffs such as British Gas’s EV tariffs and Octopus Go. For dynamic tariffs like Octopus Agile, where the cheapest slots shift every 30 minutes, the schedule-based approach does not automatically optimise in real time.
Solar Charging
The Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 includes SolarCharge solar diversion as standard. With a CT clamp fitted to your meter tails, the charger detects surplus solar generation and diverts it to your EV automatically. Confirm with your installer whether a CT clamp is included in the box or needs to be sourced separately, as this was not confirmed for all configurations in our research.
SolarCharge is not as granular as the Zappi’s three-mode solar system, but for most household solar setups the approach is practical and straightforward.
Installation and Price
Installations through Hive are carried out by British Gas engineers across the UK. Hive quotes a single price for the charger with full installation. Alternatively, the unit can be bought standalone and fitted by an approved third-party electrician, with installation quoted separately. Check current pricing with Hive before ordering.
For eligible renters and flat owners, the EV chargepoint grant covers up to £500 off the cost of buying and installing a chargepoint under the scheme rules in force from 1 April 2026.
Hive assesses your setup before installation day, including a consultation with a British Gas EV engineer. Your installer handles any DNO (Distribution Network Operator) notification or approval needed for the installation.
How It Compares
Hive Sync Energy 2 vs Ohme Home Pro
The Ohme Home Pro is the stronger option if fully automated Octopus Intelligent Go savings are your priority. Its direct API enables automatic half-hourly optimisation that fixed-window scheduling cannot access, and the two chargers sit at a similar price. For buyers on a standard overnight tariff or British Gas EV Power, the Sync Energy counters with a longer cable, 4G backup, interchangeable fascias, and the Power+ benefit, which is tied to chargers sold through Hive.
Hive Sync Energy 2 vs Masterplug
Both come from the Luceco plc group. The Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 is the more capable unit, with a longer cable, Wi-Fi plus 4G connectivity, stronger ingress and impact ratings, nine interchangeable fascia colours, and the Power+ benefit. The Masterplug costs less upfront. For buyers who can stretch the budget, the Sync Energy offers considerably more for the money.
FAQs
Do I need to be a British Gas customer to get a Hive EV charger?
No. Hive's installation service is open to all UK households regardless of energy supplier. However, the Power+ benefit is only available to customers on a compatible British Gas electricity tariff with a smart meter in credit mode.
Is the Hive EV charger OZEV approved?
Eligible renters and flat owners can claim up to £500 off the cost of buying and installing a chargepoint through the EV chargepoint grant (the higher rate applies from 1 April 2026); check the gov.uk eligible chargepoint model list and scheme dates before applying.
Can I change the colour after installation?
Yes. The front fascia plate can be swapped for any of the nine available colour options without electrical work; replacement faceplates come with a fixing screw.
Does it work with Octopus Energy?
The charger is compatible with Octopus Go and similar fixed-window tariffs through its tariff scheduling. It does not have a direct API connection to Octopus Intelligent Go, so it cannot automatically claim additional off-peak slots the way the Ohme Home Pro can.
