Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) vs GivEnergy EV Charger
The Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) wins on more affordable, higher rated, longer warranty, three-phase support, while the GivEnergy EV Charger excels at solar compatibility.
Quick Stats
Full Specs Comparison
| Specification | Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) | GivEnergy EV Charger |
|---|---|---|
| Max Power Output | 7.4kW (single-phase) / 22kW (three-phase) | 7kW (single-phase only) |
| Cable Length | 7.3 metres | 5 metres |
| Connector | Type 2 (tethered) | Type 2 (tethered) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions | 353mm × 152mm × 124mm | 320mm × 220mm × 115mm |
| Weight | 5.3 kg | ~4.5 kg |
| IP Rating | IP44 (indoor/outdoor) | IP65 (fully weatherproof) |
| Certification | OLEV/OZEV approved | OLEV/OZEV approved |
Price & Value
The Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) is £3 cheaper at £475 compared to the GivEnergy EV Charger at £478.
When you factor in professional installation (typically £400–£600), the total installed cost for the Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) is approximately £875–£1075, while the GivEnergy EV Charger comes in at around £878–£1078. Fully installed, the Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) 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 £525–£725 for the Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) 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.
While the GivEnergy EV Charger costs more up front, it comes with 6 smart features compared to the Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3)'s 5. The extra £3 buys you additional functionality that could save money long-term — particularly if features like smart tariff integration or solar diverting apply to your setup. Whether the premium is justified depends on how many of those extra features you'll actually use.
Power & Charging Speed
The Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) (7.4kW / 22kW) supports three-phase charging at up to 22kW, while the GivEnergy EV Charger is single-phase only at 7kW. On the standard UK single-phase supply (95% of homes), both charge at roughly the same speed. Three-phase is only relevant if your property has a three-phase electrical 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 Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) comes with a 7.3 metres 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 Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) offers: Tesla app integration, Scheduled charging, Power sharing (up to 6 units), Wi-Fi connected, OTA updates. 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 Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) uses Wi-Fi connected, while the GivEnergy EV Charger uses Wi-Fi connected. For energy management, the Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) provides Power sharing (up to 6 units), 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 Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) uniquely offers Tesla app integration, Power sharing (up to 6 units), OTA updates, 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. Tesla's app is polished and familiar to Tesla owners, providing a seamless experience alongside vehicle controls. 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
The GivEnergy EV Charger supports solar integration, allowing you to divert surplus solar energy to charge your Tesla. The Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) does not have built-in solar diverting. If you have solar panels (or plan to install them), this is a significant advantage for the GivEnergy EV Charger.
The GivEnergy EV Charger integrates directly with GivEnergy inverters and batteries for seamless solar-to-EV charging within the GivEnergy ecosystem. This means it can dynamically adjust the charge rate to match your available solar surplus, minimising grid import. Without built-in solar support, the other charger would need a separate solar diverter or manual scheduling to take advantage of solar generation.
The GivEnergy EV Charger integrates natively with GivEnergy batteries, enabling you to store daytime solar and charge your EV overnight. A home battery effectively removes the limitation of only being able to solar-charge while the sun is shining — you generate during the day, store it, and charge your Tesla overnight for free.
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.
Warranty & Build Quality
The Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) comes with a 4 years warranty, while the GivEnergy EV Charger offers 3 years. The Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) offers 1 year 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 Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) is rated IP44 (indoor/outdoor) (protected against solid objects over 1mm and water splashes from all directions), 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 Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) weighs 5.3 kg with dimensions of 353mm × 152mm × 124mm, 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 Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) has one of the longest standard warranties at 4 years, and Tesla's track record for honouring warranty claims is generally well-regarded. 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 Tesla Wall Connector (Gen 3) if you want the best value for money, or overall quality and user satisfaction matter most, or long-term peace of mind is a priority, or you have or plan to install a three-phase electrical supply, or official tesla charger.
Buy the GivEnergy EV Charger if you have solar panels or plan to install them, or you want the best for battery storage.
Our Verdicts
The Tesla Wall Connector is the no-brainer choice if you want the cleanest integration with your Tesla. It's competitively priced, has the longest warranty, and the Tesla app experience is unmatched. The only reason to look elsewhere is if you specifically want smart tariff integration (look at the Ohme) or solar diverting (Wallbox Eco-Smart).
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.
