Hive Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 Review
Key Features at a Glance
- 7.4kW (32A) single-phase — adds roughly 28 to 30 miles of range per hour
- 7.5m tethered Type 2 cable — the longest available on any UK home charger
- Wi-Fi and 4G dual connectivity — stays online even without strong home Wi-Fi
- SolarCharge — solar diversion built in as standard
- Dynamic load balancing — adjusts output based on household electrical demand
- Nine interchangeable fascia colours — swappable without tools after installation
- IP65 and IK10 — fully protected against water jets and significant physical impact
- OCPP 1.6J — compatible with third-party energy management platforms
- Power+ — British Gas customers earn 25% back on every charge session
Is It Worth It?
At £549, the Hive Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 is difficult to argue against for most UK buyers. Most smart chargers with solar diversion and load balancing cost £150 to £200 more. Most tethered chargers top out at 5m or 7.3m of cable. Most chargers do not offer interchangeable colour panels after installation. And no other charger offers the Power+ benefit that gives British Gas electricity customers 25% back on every charge.
The hardware is built by Sync Energy, the EV charging brand of Luceco PLC, a UK-listed electrical manufacturer. 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 — the longest available on any home EV charger in the UK. Most rivals offer 5m or 7.3m. 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 — one of the strongest dual-rating combinations available on any UK home charger. IP65 means it is fully protected against water jets from any direction. IK10 means it can withstand significant physical impact. For exposed driveway or outdoor wall installations, this gives it a durability edge over most competitors.
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 GPRS mobile network, providing dual connectivity. If your garage or driveway has spotty Wi-Fi, the GPRS mobile network 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). At that rate, driving 9,000 miles per year costs an estimated £185 annually in Power+ mode. For comparison, public rapid charging currently averages around 81p per kWh.
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.
TariffSense Scheduling
TariffSense aligns charging to your energy tariff’s off-peak window and is compatible with most standard UK EV tariffs including British Gas EV Tariff and Octopus Go. For dynamic tariffs like Octopus Agile — where cheapest slots shift every 30 minutes — TariffSense’s 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
Hive uses its own employed installers across the UK. A standard installation takes approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Full installation costs from £1,019 through Hive’s network. Third-party installation by an approved electrician typically adds £300 to £600 to the unit price.
For eligible renters and flat owners, the OZEV grant covers up to £500 off the installation cost and runs until March 2027.
A virtual home check via video call assesses your setup before installation day. DNO approval is required prior to 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. At approximately £535, it costs around £15 less than the Sync Energy. For buyers on a standard overnight tariff or British Gas EV Power, the Sync Energy matches or exceeds the Ohme on features (longer cable, 4G, interchangeable fascia, IP65 plus IK10) while delivering the Power+ benefit no Ohme can access.
Hive Sync Energy 2 vs Masterplug
Both are Luceco PLC products. The Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 is significantly more capable: 7.5m cable vs 5m, Wi-Fi plus 4G vs Wi-Fi only, IP65 and IK10 vs IP55 and IK08, nine interchangeable fascia colours, and the Power+ benefit. The Masterplug costs less upfront. For buyers who can stretch the budget by £100 to £200, the Sync Energy is better value overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
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? Yes. The Sync Energy Wall Charger 2 is OZEV approved. Eligible renters and flat owners can claim up to £500 off the installation cost through the OZEV grant, which runs until March 2027.
Can I change the colour after installation? Yes. The front fascia plate clips off and can be swapped for any of the nine available colour options without tools or electrical work.
Does it work with Octopus Energy? The charger is compatible with Octopus Go and similar fixed-window tariffs through TariffSense 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.
