British Gas offers free EV charging for a year with purchase of Hive EV charger

14 November 2023

Sustainability

Media Relations

Market-leading offer of 8,000 miles[i] of free home charging has launched if you order a Hive EV charger and use or switch to British Gas for electricity.
British Gas provides 12 months of free charging with FreeCharge to help customers with their bills and cut carbon by charging at off-peak times.

British Gas has today announced it is offering electric vehicle (EV) owners a year’s worth of free home charging available to new customers of its Hive chargers[ii]. Customers will benefit from up to 8,000 miles of free EV charging, all you need to do set your ‘Ready By’ time and plug in!

"Electric vehicle uptake is a key part of the UK’s drive to net zero. Our FreeCharge proposition not only supports this uptake but, by shifting charging to when demand on the grid is at its lowest, we’re accelerating the journey towards a greener future."

Gav Murray, Director of Hive at British Gas

The offer is available to new and existing British Gas electricity customers who have a smart meter and purchase one of Hive’s EV Chargers[iii]. Customers don’t need a specific tariff and chargers can be ordered with or without installation by British Gas, either through Hive or one of its partners. For customers that don’t yet have a smart meter, British Gas will even install one for free.

Gav Murray, Director of Hive at British Gas, says: “We are on a mission to do all we can to make greener home solutions more affordable and accessible. As more electric vehicles hit the road, we want to make sure the right products are available for those who are able to make the switch and encourage as many people to do so as possible.

“Electric vehicle uptake is a key part of the UK’s drive to net zero. Our FreeCharge proposition not only supports this uptake but, by shifting charging to when demand on the grid is at its lowest, we’re accelerating the journey towards a greener future.”

FreeCharge can be activated in the Hive app and British Gas will reimburse customers for electricity used in this mode on their energy bill, with savings tracked through the Hive app. Charging works by using British Gas’ technology to schedule charging, usually overnight, when electricity demand is quietest.

The offer comes as the demand for EVs continues to grow in the UK with households looking to make greener choices. Research by British Gas recently revealed that almost four in five people (78%) say that they are willing to make changes in their own homes to tackle climate change, and more than one in three (35%) said they would install a home charger to power an EV.

For more details on eligibility and usage conditions, please read our FreeCharge Terms & Conditions and FAQs.

NOTES

[i] Year's free charging claim and 8,000 miles fair usage cap are based on gov.uk National Travel Survey (NTS 0901), showing average UK driver annual mileage of 6,600 miles in 2022. 8,000 miles fair usage cap is approximate, based on an actual consumption cap of 2,290kWh and an assumed EV efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh. Efficiency differs depending on multiple factors, such as vehicle model, driving conditions and vehicle configuration.

[ii] Offer limited up to 5,000 FreeCharge-eligible sales

[iii] Alfen or EO

About British Gas 

British Gas is Britain’s leading supplier of energy and services and the country’s biggest retailer of zero carbon electricity. We are part of Centrica, a company founded on a 200-year heritage of serving people. We provide energy, products and services to over 10 million UK homes and businesses, supported by around 7,500 highly trained engineers and technicians. We also offer a range of innovative products and services, including Hive and our on-demand digital trades service, Local Heroes. Our purpose of helping Our purpose of helping customers live sustainably, simply and affordably drives our strategy and our People and Planet Plan. 

About Hive

Hive launched in 2013 and is one of the top smart thermostat providers in the UK. With 2 million thermostat customers and counting, it is part of British Gas, one of Britain’s leading suppliers of energy and services. Our Hive smart thermostat and other services help our customers manage their energy use, enabling them to lower their carbon footprint. Hive focusses on making everyday life a little easier, freeing people up to spend time doing the things they love. The range of Hive products and services are designed to work together, to offer affordable, easy to use solutions and make a difference in people’s lives.