How To Get A Free EV Charger (Then Get Paid To Use It)
(Photo: SWTCH)
What if every time you charged your electric vehicle, you earned a little bit of money? That’s the promise of a new program from SWTCH, a Toronto-based company that runs a network of 20,000 commercial EV chargers across North America. Launched in December, this is its first foray into home chargers. I talked to Greg Overmonds, the head of marketing at SWTCH, to find out how it works.
Wait, seriously—a free charger?
Under the program, EV drivers can get a free Level 2 charger for their home—read on for what those are and how they work—then make $0.03/kilowatt hour (kWh) of charging. (Two caveats: you have to pay a $300 deposit, which you get back after 1500 kWH of charging, plus a $30 shipping charge).
If you’re willing to pay $499 upfront for the charger (plus shipping), you can make $0.05/kWh of charging.
Either way, it’s a good deal: Overmonds says chargers of this type typically cost $500 to $900.
But how is it free—and how does it pay me?
SWTCH turns your home EV charging into a sellable credit via the Canada's Clean Fuel Regulations, a federal program that creates credits for reducing fossil fuel use (gasoline and diesel). “We created this new program to allow residential customers to participate in this national carbon program, because as one human, one house, you can't make a fraction of a carbon credit and then sell it—you need somebody who's bringing them together,” Overmonds says.
You'll need to install the SWTCH Home Charging Program app on your phone and create an account to get going. You’ll get a deposit directly to your bank account for each $100 you earn from the program.
Is that a good rate? How much does electricity usually cost per kWh?
Of course, electricity rates vary province to province. In Ontario, many customers take advantage of an ultra-low overnight electricity rate—$0.039/kWh. So if you charge overnight and don't own your charger, the $0.03/kWh credit means you’d be paying only $0.009/kWh to charge; if you own your charger, you'd be making $0.011/kWh after the cost to charge.
Are there any other incentives to sweeten the deal?
B.C. offers an incentive of up to half the cost of an at-home EV charger. Yukon covers half of the purchase and installation costs of a home EV charger. Quebec offers an incentive program too, offering $600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV charger and its installation (as long as the purchase and installation cost $600 or more).
What is a Level 2 charger—and what kind of plugs do these come with?
Level 2 chargers are the typical home EV chargers—faster than an extension cord but slower than a fast commercial charger, meaning you can fully charge most EVs overnight. (Fast commercial chargers can vary from 15 to 60 minutes for a full charge, depending on the type.) The SWTCH chargers come with either a J1772 plug—the old standard—or a NACS/Tesla plug, the newer one.
So how much does a typical EV driver make under the SWTCH program?
Overmonds says most participants will make $150 to $300 a year, and some are on pace to make more than $500 annually. (Typically, these are people who have two EVs, share a charger and are also rideshare drivers or other people who drive for work.) “So essentially that offsets a large part of the cost to run your car, which is wild. And I know the question is always: Well, there must be a catch.”
Okay, so is there a catch?
Unless you count the risk that the clean fuel regulations could be discontinued under any future federal government—they're currently locked in until 2030—no.
How hard is it to install the charger?
If you already have a NEMA plug from a previous charger, you’re all good. Otherwise, you'll have to call an electrician; Overmonds says it’s usually about $500-$1500 for the installation.
Do you need to have a garage?
You need, at the very least, a driveway where you park your car and a place to install the charger, but it can be outside. “It can weather the elements just fine,” Overmonds says.
What has the reaction been like?
“It’s been wild,” Overmonds says. SWTCH sold out in eight hours after its launch, and now has a waitlist, but is expecting to clear that backlog as new devices arrive in February.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that the credits are earned under Canada's Clean Fuel Regulations, not the carbon market.
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Born in London, Ont., Gillian was Chatelaine’s former deputy editor, digital. She has also worked at Toronto Life and the National Post. Gillian cares deeply about fighting climate change and loves birds, sad lady singers, bikes, baking and wide-legged denim. She lives in Toronto's east end with her partner, two children and Rosie, her very exuberant Bouvier des Flandres.
