How to Earn More Income from Free EV Charging?

Lmrno on 26/09/2025 - 13:29
Last edited 26/09/2025 - 14:29 by 1 other user

Hi, I have free charging from my workplace once a week and daily free charging at home between 12pm to 2pm.

How do I earn more money from free EV charging for a weekend job that requires me to use the car?

I'm thinking of UberEats, Didi, Uber, Amazon Flex or DoorDash. Uber and Didi would be my least preference as they require a lot of money for initial setup and high monthly running costs.

I do own an EV already.

Does anyone have any recommendations on how I can utilise this free charging to earn more income?

Automotive Electric Vehicle

Comments

  • 7ekn00 on 26/09/2025 - 13:31
    +2

    VPP
    free charge > V2G > VPP > $$
    cryptic cause it probably should not be public :P

    • mrno on 26/09/2025 - 13:37

      I think this could be the future of EV :) at the moment V2G technology is still too expensive.

      • 7ekn00 on 26/09/2025 - 15:59

        Not really, seen the resale prices of EVs?!? They even cheaper than batteries of similar size :P

    • aubh on 27/09/2025 - 16:10
      +1

      Not even V2H is available yet. V2G seems too far away.

      • 7ekn00 on 27/09/2025 - 18:53

        SigEnergy and Quasar (up to version 2 already) inverters have been able to do V2G and V2H for at least 12 months …

      • V2L on 27/09/2025 - 19:24

        as above. AGL trial for V2G is also here

    • ferry594 on 27/09/2025 - 19:50
      +7

      Incase anyone else was curious what old mate here was on about, here's the AI deciphering.

      VPP / V2G Explained
      VPP (Virtual Power Plant): A Virtual Power Plant isn't a physical building. It's a network of decentralised, small-scale energy resources (like home solar batteries, or in this case, Electric Vehicles) that are grouped together and controlled by a central operator. To the electricity grid, this network looks and acts like a single, large power plant. They are used to help stabilise the grid, especially during peak demand times (e.g., 4 pm - 8 pm) when electricity is most expensive and in short supply. People who participate in a VPP get paid for allowing their battery's energy to be used.

      V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid): This is the technology that allows an EV to participate in a VPP. Most EVs only have one-way charging (Grid-to-Vehicle). V2G requires a special bidirectional charger that allows electricity to flow both ways. This means your car can not only take power from the grid but also send power back to the grid.

      Decoding the Comment: free charge > V2G > VPP > $$
      This is the process the commenter is suggesting:

      free charge: You charge your EV battery to 100% using the free electricity from your workplace or your 12 pm-2 pm home window. The cost of the energy you've stored is $0.

      V2G > VPP: You enrol your V2G-capable EV and charger into a Virtual Power Plant program offered by an energy retailer.

      $$: During peak demand in the evening (when you're home from work), the VPP operator sends a signal to your charger. Your car then discharges a certain amount of its stored energy back to the grid. You get paid for this electricity at a very high peak rate.

      • stedmaster on 28/09/2025 - 01:40
        +1

        For a Tesla owner in suburban Australia, joining a V2G Virtual Power Plant could yield a solid net return over 10 years, though the exact outcome depends on local tariffs and event frequency. In a typical setup—exporting around 10 kWh on 200 peak-demand days each year at roughly $0.50/kWh—returns could reach about $10,000 gross, with added battery wear costing $1,500–$3,000, leaving $7,000–$8,500 net. In areas with lower payouts or fewer events, gains may fall closer to $4,000–$6,000, while in high-demand zones with stronger incentives they could exceed $12,000. Overall, V2G in Australia generally offers a meaningful income stream with only modest impact on long-term battery life.

        More ai deciphering

        • Dsiee on 28/09/2025 - 14:03

          I dint think Tesla support v2g at all though so it may just be AI misinforming rather than decoding.

  • Brick Tamland on 26/09/2025 - 13:40
    +1

    Why do you need a lot of money for initial setup? Isnt just a phone cradle and police check?

    • Jaduqimon on 26/09/2025 - 13:43
      -1

      he has free EV charging available but he doesnt have an EV yet.

      • Brick Tamland on 26/09/2025 - 13:59
        +11

        oh - look at me making assumptions that someone talking about free EV charging might already own an EV. ahaha

      • jimbobaus on 29/09/2025 - 12:54

        to do Uber and Didi is more than that

        1: you need commercial passenger registration which is a yearly fee
        2: you are required to undergo a medical (for the registration) which is not covered by medicare
        3: you need to get a RWC on your car
        4: Your car needs to be registered as a passenger carrying vehiicle (also a yearly fee)
        5: Insurance for carrying passengers is very expensive (many thousands of dollars in most cases)
        6: yearly Police Check reqyired also

        So OP is right… it is expensive to do Uber and DIDI|

        Uberets, Doordash etc are much easier and "cheaper"

  • Gunnar on 26/09/2025 - 13:49
    +6

    OnlyFans of what you can do with an EV charger

    • Indomietable on 26/09/2025 - 14:50
      +1

      electrocution fetishism might be a new niche

    • Cluster on 26/09/2025 - 15:11
      +3

      Well, EV owners regularly connect male and female together.

  • Cluster on 26/09/2025 - 13:58
    +4

    Charge EV for free. Take power home and plug in crypto mining rigs using V2G. Profit*

    *it will probably be very small and not worth the battery usage

  • 87percent on 26/09/2025 - 14:23
    +17

    This is a ridiculous post

    • MS Paint on 26/09/2025 - 15:20
      +34

      OP trying to join "council BBQ dude" status but failed.

  • ccrap on 26/09/2025 - 15:54
    -1

    Step 1: Charge EV for free
    Step 2: Buy TV and change username
    Step 3: Watch TV for free using V2L
    Step 4: profit ?!

  • ihbh on 26/09/2025 - 17:50
    +3

    If you live near a park you can do a public service - run an extension cord and see if you can get an adapter to power the public BBQs during the free charging periods from home.

  • GordonD on 26/09/2025 - 19:01
    +1

    Charge your EV up during the free electricity use time at the middle of the day.

    Discharge your EV battery into the grid at peak power usage time.

    Your electricity company will love you, because you'll be helping them even their load. And they'll only have to pay you a miniscule FiT for the power you discharge into the grid when they need it. Your EV will pay for itself in about 200 years of doing that. If its battery lasts that long.

    PS: don't tell your EV company you are doing it because discharging and recharging its battery every day will accelerate its wear out time and void your battery warranty.

    • JIMB0 on 27/09/2025 - 10:08
      +6

      You mean one that doesn’t hurt your fragile ego and deep insecurity.

      • Stealtho on 27/09/2025 - 18:04
        -7

        Enjoy your 20 year old fuel sucking Camry lol

        • JIMB0 on 27/09/2025 - 19:08
          +4

          Mine is a hybrid.

          • Stealtho on 27/09/2025 - 19:16
            -6

            @JIMB0: lol hard to believe people still buy Camry’s. Boomer?

            • JIMB0 on 27/09/2025 - 20:30
              +4

              @Stealtho: It's an import with a V6 and RWD. I'm not even 40 btw.

              • Stealtho on 27/09/2025 - 20:59
                -3

                @JIMB0: Time to stop wasting your life on here then

              • andyfc on 27/09/2025 - 21:28

                @JIMB0: So not hybrid then?

                • JIMB0 on 27/09/2025 - 21:54
                  +3

                  @andyfc: It's a hybrid. Rather quick with the V6.

    • MS Paint on 27/09/2025 - 19:27
      +2

      I thought we didn't take car advice from ozbargainers.

  • Euphemistic on 27/09/2025 - 11:30

    You wont earn money from free charging. You might get some cheaper electricity if you can power stuff from your car.

    Going out of your way to drive more for ubereats, uber etc seems more like a way to add to the bottom line for uber rather than to make money for you. Yes, youll bring in more money than someome paying for petrol, but it wouldnt surprise me that uber will soon work out that your costs are lower and youll get paid less for wear and tear on the car 'because EV cheap to run'.

  • Mungulz on 27/09/2025 - 13:52

    I was in the same situation, and I was going to use V2L to run a heater overnight in my bedroom to save on heating costs. However it didn't actually work out, because my commute was so long I was using 80-85% range on the return. I decided the range was better left in the car, incase I needed to detour on the way home or something.

    • 7ekn00 on 27/09/2025 - 19:58

      Resale on EVs are dirt cheap, use a 2nd hand one for the heater :P

  • TrumpisKing on 27/09/2025 - 15:50
    -8

    Delete this post. It's not too late to save yourself the embarrassment. I bet you're a bicycle rider.

  • LFO on 27/09/2025 - 18:47

    Australian EV drivers to get paid thanks to game-changing V2G tech.
    https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/australian-ev-drivers-…

    Probably yet another pie in the sky …

    • 7ekn00 on 27/09/2025 - 19:59
      +3

      Probably yet another pie in the sky …

      Nope, been doing it for over 12 months ;)

      Was part of the original Quasar inverter trial with a couple of Kia EV6's with a VPP FiT @ 16c/kWh!

  • Clickbait on 28/09/2025 - 09:54
    +1

    Is this just another climate change fantasy?

  • IcySpicyStew on 28/09/2025 - 12:55
    +1

    No free tires, no free battery, no free brake pads, no free wheel bearings

    it's better roi to sell energy services rather than transport services

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