Andersen A3 vs GivEnergy EV Charger
The Andersen A3 wins on higher rated, longer warranty, smart tariff integration, while the GivEnergy EV Charger excels at more affordable.
Quick Stats
Full Specs Comparison
| Specification | Andersen A3 | GivEnergy EV Charger |
|---|---|---|
| Max Power Output | 7.4kW (single-phase only) | 7kW (single-phase only) |
| Cable Length | 5.5 metres (hidden cable system) | 5 metres |
| Connector | Type 2 (tethered) | Type 2 (tethered) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions | 388mm × 183mm × 122mm | 320mm × 220mm × 115mm |
| Weight | ~7.5 kg | ~4.5 kg |
| IP Rating | IP54 (weatherproof) | IP65 (fully weatherproof) |
| Certification | OLEV/OZEV approved | OLEV/OZEV approved |
Price & Value
The GivEnergy EV Charger is £517 cheaper at £478 compared to the Andersen A3 at £995.
When you factor in professional installation (typically £400–£600), the total installed cost for the Andersen A3 is approximately £1395–£1595, while the GivEnergy EV Charger comes in at around £878–£1078. Fully installed, the GivEnergy EV Charger remains the more affordable option.
If you're eligible for the OZEV grant (available to renters and flat owners), you can claim £350 off the installation cost. That would bring the effective unit-plus-install price down to roughly £1045–£1245 for the Andersen A3 and £528–£728 for the GivEnergy EV Charger. Both chargers are OZEV-approved, so eligibility depends on your living situation rather than the charger itself.
Looking at overall value, the GivEnergy EV Charger offers a compelling combination of price and features at £478. The Andersen A3 at £995 may still be the better buy if its specific feature set — such as andersen app — is important for your setup. The best value depends on which features you'll actually use day-to-day.
Power & Charging Speed
Both the Andersen A3 (7.4kW) and GivEnergy EV Charger (7kW) are single-phase chargers, delivering around 7–7.4kW on a standard UK home supply.
On a standard UK single-phase supply, both will charge a Tesla Model 3 Long Range (75kWh battery) from 20% to 80% in approximately 5–6 hours overnight. Even a Tesla Model Y with its larger battery completes a typical daily top-up well within an overnight window. For the vast majority of UK Tesla owners, single-phase 7kW charging is more than sufficient — you'll wake up to a full battery every morning.
Cable length is an often-overlooked consideration. The Andersen A3 comes with a 5.5 metres (hidden cable system) cable, while the GivEnergy EV Charger has a 5 metres cable. A longer cable gives you more flexibility for driveway positioning — particularly useful if your charger is mounted on a side wall but your Tesla's charge port is on the rear left. Measure your likely cable run before buying to ensure the cable reaches comfortably without being fully stretched.
For most Tesla owners who plug in when they get home, both chargers provide more than enough power for a full overnight charge. The real-world difference between 7kW and 7.4kW is negligible — roughly 20 minutes over a full charge cycle. Unless you have a three-phase supply and regularly need rapid top-ups during the day, charging speed should not be the deciding factor between these two chargers.
Smart Features
The Andersen A3 offers: Andersen app, Smart tariff support, Solar integration, Scheduled charging, Hidden cable system, Wi-Fi connected. The GivEnergy EV Charger offers: GivEnergy monitoring portal, Scheduled charging, Solar divert mode, Battery-to-EV charging, RFID access, Wi-Fi connected.
Breaking these down by category: for connectivity, the Andersen A3 uses Wi-Fi connected, while the GivEnergy EV Charger uses Wi-Fi connected. For energy management, the Andersen A3 provides basic monitoring, compared to the GivEnergy EV Charger's GivEnergy monitoring portal. Solar and scheduling features are covered in the dedicated sections below.
The most meaningful differentiators: the Andersen A3 uniquely offers Andersen app, Smart tariff support, Solar integration, Hidden cable system, while the GivEnergy EV Charger exclusively provides GivEnergy monitoring portal, Solar divert mode, Battery-to-EV charging, RFID access. These unique features often determine which charger is the better fit — if a feature on one charger's exclusive list is a must-have for you, that should heavily influence your decision.
The app experience matters as much as the feature list — you'll use it daily. The Andersen EV app provides standard charging management features. The GivEnergy app provides standard charging management features. Both apps are available on iOS and Android, but user reviews suggest the day-to-day experience can vary significantly between brands.
Solar Compatibility
Both the Andersen A3 and GivEnergy EV Charger support solar integration, allowing you to charge your Tesla using surplus solar energy rather than drawing from the grid. The implementation and sophistication of solar diversion differs between the two, which can significantly affect how much free charging you actually get.
The Andersen A3 supports solar diversion through its energy management system. The GivEnergy EV Charger integrates directly with GivEnergy inverters and batteries for seamless solar-to-EV charging within the GivEnergy ecosystem. The key difference is how precisely each charger tracks surplus generation — CT clamp-based systems typically offer more responsive diversion than those relying on smart meter data, which can have a slight delay.
For home battery pairing, the Andersen A3 can work alongside a home battery system, though the integration may require additional configuration. The GivEnergy EV Charger integrates natively with GivEnergy batteries for a complete solar storage and EV charging solution. A home battery lets you store daytime solar surplus and charge your EV overnight at zero cost — effectively eliminating the limitation of only being able to solar-charge while the sun is shining.
A typical 4kW solar array in the UK can provide approximately 1,400–1,700 kWh of free EV charging per year, worth £390–£475 at standard electricity rates (around 28p/kWh). For context, the average UK Tesla owner drives around 8,000 miles per year, requiring roughly 2,400 kWh — so solar could cover 60–70% of your annual charging needs. Over the charger's lifetime, solar diversion can save thousands of pounds and significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Smart Tariff Support
The Andersen A3 integrates with smart energy tariffs, automatically charging at the cheapest off-peak rates. The GivEnergy EV Charger doesn't have built-in smart tariff integration — you'd need to set manual charging schedules or rely on your car's built-in timer. If you're on (or considering) a smart tariff, this gives the Andersen A3 a meaningful advantage in running costs.
The Andersen A3 supports smart tariff scheduling with popular EV tariffs including Octopus Go (~8.5p/kWh) and similar time-of-use plans. The most popular UK EV tariffs include Octopus Intelligent Go (~7p/kWh), Octopus Go (~8.5p/kWh), OVO Charge Anytime (~14p/kWh), and British Gas EV Power+ (~7.9p/kWh). Check compatibility with your specific energy provider before making a decision.
The Andersen A3 integrates with smart tariffs to schedule charging during off-peak windows, reducing your per-kWh cost significantly. Without this integration, the GivEnergy EV Charger can still charge off-peak using manual schedules or your Tesla's built-in timer — but you lose the automatic optimisation and any extended off-peak windows that provider integration unlocks.
The financial impact is substantial. Switching from a standard variable tariff (~28p/kWh) to Octopus Intelligent Go (~7p/kWh) saves approximately £400–£600 per year for a typical Tesla owner driving 8,000–10,000 miles annually. Even moving to Octopus Go (~8.5p/kWh) or British Gas EV Power+ (~7.9p/kWh) delivers savings of £350–£500 per year. A charger with smart tariff integration ensures you capture these savings automatically, every single night, without having to remember to set timers.
Warranty & Build Quality
The Andersen A3 comes with a 7 years warranty, while the GivEnergy EV Charger offers 3 years. The Andersen A3 offers 4 years more coverage, giving you added peace of mind. Both are OZEV-approved and suitable for outdoor installation — a longer warranty provides more peace of mind for a product that lives outside year-round and is exposed to British weather.
For weatherproofing, the Andersen A3 is rated IP54 (weatherproof) (splash-proof — protected against splashing water from any direction), while the GivEnergy EV Charger is rated IP65 (fully weatherproof) (jet-proof — protected against water jets from any direction). A higher IP rating means better protection against rain, hose water, and dust. In practical terms, any rating of IP54 or above is suitable for a UK outdoor installation, but a higher rating provides extra confidence in extreme weather — particularly relevant if your charger is exposed rather than sheltered under a car port.
Build quality is reflected in the materials and construction. The Andersen A3 weighs ~7.5 kg with dimensions of 388mm × 183mm × 122mm, while the GivEnergy EV Charger weighs ~4.5 kg with dimensions of 320mm × 220mm × 115mm. A heavier charger typically indicates more robust construction, though modern chargers use high-quality polycarbonate housings that are both lightweight and impact-resistant. If your charger is in a location where it might get bumped by car doors or footballs, look for IK10 impact resistance in the specs — this is the highest rating and means it can withstand 20 joules of impact (equivalent to a 5kg weight dropped from 40cm).
For extended protection: the Andersen A3 comes with a standard 7 years warranty from Andersen EV. The GivEnergy EV Charger comes with a standard 3 years warranty from GivEnergy. When comparing warranties, also check what's covered — most warranties cover manufacturing defects and component failure, but may not cover damage from incorrect installation or extreme weather events. Having your charger installed by an OZEV-approved installer typically ensures the warranty remains valid.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Andersen A3 if overall quality and user satisfaction matter most, or long-term peace of mind is a priority, or you're on a smart energy tariff like Octopus Intelligent Go, or you want the best design.
Buy the GivEnergy EV Charger if you want the best value for money, or you want the best for battery storage.
Our Verdicts
The Andersen A3 is the only charger where design is genuinely the primary selling point. The hidden cable system is unique, the finish options are extraordinary, and the 7-year warranty shows real confidence. But you are paying a hefty premium for aesthetics — the Tesla Wall Connector does the same job electrically for less than half the price. Buy the Andersen if your charger is prominently visible and you want it to look like it belongs there.
The GivEnergy EV Charger is a no-brainer if you have a GivEnergy home battery. Charging your Tesla from stored solar energy is a game-changer that most chargers simply can't match. Without a home battery, it's a decent budget charger but you'd be better served by the Easee One (cheaper) or the Ohme Home Pro (smarter). This is a specialist tool — brilliant for the right setup, average for everyone else.
