As Australians switch over to electric vehicles amid the petrol price surge, they might not just save money on fuel – they could share the use of their EV charger for profit.
A handful of apps are promising to enable just that, allowing drivers in need to pay to tap into networks of private EV chargers installed at homes the same way you might book an Airbnb, at a time when Australians need more charging options than ever.
Are There Enough Public EV Chargers In Australia?
There are nearly half a million EVs on Australian roads, but as of October last year there were only 1272 fast charging locations for Australian motorists, featuring just over 4000 high-powered public charging plugs.
How Can Community Charging Help?
Most EV users typically charge their vehicles at home, either via a standard electrical socket or a dedicated EV charging system.
A handful of companies are endeavouring to unlock these private chargers for public use through sharing economy apps that connect drivers and hosts. Known as community or peer-to-peer charging networks, some even allow hosts to share the use of regular power sockets with drivers patient enough to trickle charge their way through a roadtrip.
Here’s some of the community charging apps currently available in Australia:
ChargeAway – Available in NSW, SA and Victoria, this peer-to-peer charging model offers a community focused approach to letting users list their own charger for public usage. It features user reviews and booking in advance options, similar to other sharing economy models.
Chargehound – An extension of the Parkhound service which allows users to book private parking spaces, Chargehound goes a step further to offer parking spaces with EV charging facilities. Of particular use in Australian CBDs and suburban areas, the app allows private homes and businesses to lease the spots via an airbnb style system.
Ivygo – Covering Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne & regional areas, Ivygo allows hosts to charge a recommended per-hour price or set their own, and enables drivers to book a charging session in advance.
WeVolt – With a growing national network, this Perth-based company offers a pay-as-you-go service for private, strata and commercial charging. It offers users accurate, real-time availability listings and transparent payment options. Users can list their charger for free on the app to monetise its use.
PlugShare – Australia’s most comprehensive map of public EV chargers also includes a toggleable feature to highlight nearby residential EV charging options.
A screenshot of the Ivygo EV charging app.
How Big Are The Charging Networks?
Most of the above peer-to-peer charging networks are still small compared to the major public EV charging apps, so might be just one option at an EV driver’s disposal rather than a complete replacement for a big public charger app like Chargefox or Jolt.
Hosting could be of particular interest to people with decent-sized solar power systems and home EV chargers who aren’t at home during the day, as it will put their solar and EV charger to work earning a passive income rather than sitting idle.
With Australia’s EV usage expected to increase to around 2.5 million on the roads by 2030, our charging infrastructure will require rapid expansion to keep up.
Just as Australian homes are already doing the heavy lifting on solar and battery storage, time will tell if they can take the lead on ending EV range anxiety as well.
For more on EV charging, read SolarQuotes’ guide to home EV chargers.
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