Community Charging: How You Could Earn Money From Your Home Charger

Multiple companies are stepping up and meeting the need for convenient, affordable charging options in the UK.
Here, we look at some of the innovative charging solutions available, all of which aim to provide alternatives to the public charging network and home chargers.

Charge Fairy send a mobile charging unit directly to your location whenever you need a recharge.
You can request a Charge Fairy unit through the app, and they'll arrive promptly to top up your electric car’s battery – saving you the hassle of driving to a charging station or queueing. Charge Fairy build up a profile that predicts when you’ll need your next charge by connecting to your manufacturers account via their app and monitoring your odometer, charge and location. Using this data, they work out when you’ll need another charge and get there in time to top you up. Prices start from £7.99 per week for 10kWh of charge (around 30 miles), then 79p/per additional kWh up to 50kWh per week (about 150-200 miles).

Kerbo Charge offer a home charging solution for those that don’t have a driveway.
Their package which includes an app, wall-mounted charger and a cable that runs under the pavement. The cable is housed in a self-closing duct, which opens and closes like a zip and makes it easy to insert and remove your cable in 30 seconds. You can also use the Kerbo Charge app to make your electricity supply available to others, and earn 4p per kWh every time someone does so. Kerbo Charge are currently trialling with Milton Keynes council, with further pilots planned for Durham, Reading, West Berkshire and East Lothian. As a part of their offer, they take care of Council approvals for the pavement installations.

Charge Bridge takes a unique approach by placing charging cables overhead, eliminating the need for ground-level connections. This system is similar to the pantograph system used by electric buses and trains.
There’s no more tripping over cables or dealing with rain-soaked charging ports, you simply park underneath the charging cable, and the connection is established automatically. This method reduces wear and tear on charging cables, prevents potential hazards from ground-level connections, and even offers protection against inclement weather.

Co Charger connects electric vehicle owners with available charging stations in their neighbourhood, and enables neighbours to rent out and share their home chargers.
You simply book a charging slot from a neighbour who has a home charger, or rent out your charger for a secondary bit of income. The host (the one renting out their charger) sets a price per hour of the charger, with a minimum amount per session. Prices vary, but they’re typically cheaper than public charging. Co Charger’s aim is to help maximise the use of the existing home charging infrastructure, and open it up to those who want an electric car but don’t have a driveway.

Joosup is a new destination charging app that connects drivers and private charger owners across the UK.
Ahead of your journey, you simply search nearby or nationwide to pre-book and share a privately-owned charger. The app also offers a feedback and ratings system, which helps inform your choice over how you park and top-up charge for both short and long distance journeys. Charger hosts can make extra income by renting out their charger based on preferred availability and an hourly rate. Joosup’s 0% commissions on charging sessions means hosts can price their charger competitively versus public chargers, which should translate into a bit more money in your pocket.

Plenty of companies are now pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of electric vehicles. As technology continues to advance and companies get more creative, it's exciting to see how they’ll spark the start of someone’s journey to electric.
To learn more about electric cars, including charging advice and reviews of the latest releases, head over to our electric hub.