New app to provide access to more car charging points

Want to earn money by renting your electric car charging point? Get in touch and find out how

Socialcharge™ is the name of a new app which offers a solution to a key problem for electric car users – a lack of charging points.

As the Managing Director of Socialcharge™, Lawrence Graham, explained, there are not only a limited number of public charging points – especially in rural areas – but also those that are available often put money back into large companies and bring no benefits to local enterprises or individuals.

And yet, so many people have charging points at their home or small business which may not be used for large parts of the day. This is where the new app comes into its own. Socialcharge™ is a way to connect drivers with existing power sources – and for those who own an electric vehicle charging point to rent it out – making money and helping to promote the use of electric cars.

Register your interest now and we will let you know when our new app is ready to use

So how does it work? We put some questions to Lawrence to find out more about what the app can do and how it works.

Why is this needed?

Research by the AA shows that nearly seven in 10 consumers are reluctant to buy an EV due to a lack of charging points. Currently, there is only one public charging location for every 43 plug-in vehicles on the road in the UK (based on data from Zap Map and SMMT). Also research from Field Dynamics shows that 24.6% of households across Great Britain have no access to off-street parking – so that’s 6,642,000 homes that would rely on public charging points.*

How does it help an EV driver?

Having the Socialcharge™ app means cutting out the worry of running out of charge. The app gives instant access to the largest power network in the UK, with potentially over 20 million charging points offered at competitive prices in ultra-convenient locations.

What if I have a charging point to rent?

You can easily become a host and earn passive income by renting out your own charger, set your price and seamlessly accept secure in-app payments from drivers, in return for your electricity. All you need is a parking space with access to power.

How does this help the community?

As a host, you are supporting those around you who have made the switch to an electric vehicle. In addition to the environmental benefits, Socialcharge™ supports the local economy too, as the transactions between hosts and drivers will result in money remaining within the community rather than going to large companies - as is the case with some public on-street chargers.

Who is behind the app?

Socialcharge™ has received support from several organisations, with the technical development of the app being part of a student project at the University of Northampton, led by Oliver Moore, a third-year computer science student.

What area does it cover?

The app works nationwide and covers all of the UK.

How much will I be charged as a driver?

The app facilitates very competitive pricing: we expect the cost to charge to be below, or similarly priced to, public charge points.

How much could I earn as a host?

Hosts who have chargers in popular locations can expect to passively earn hundreds of pounds per month. Socialcharge™ has worked hard to create a balanced financial ecosystem where hosts earn the right amount, and drivers also pay competitive prices, while at the same time keeping the business viable.

Will the chargers offered fit my vehicle’s charging point?

One of the unique features of Socialcharge™ is the ability to enter your vehicle make and model, which will automatically filter results on the charger map to show compatible chargers.

How do I know if the charger is vacant when I want to use it?

With Socialcharge™, you will only be able to book a charging point if it is vacant at the intended time you want to visit. The booking system reserves the space for you, unlike public charge points where you may have to turn up and wait.

As a host can you set times when it’s not available?

As a host, if a booking is inconvenient you can decline. Hosts have full control over when they would like their charger to be available to book, and accept or decline requests to charge.

What are the next steps for Socialcharge™?

In the short term, the business will seek support from local and national government. Local authorities will see the benefit of the Socialcharge™ business model, which enables an area to have a large number of charging points, without the need for taxpayer funded additional infrastructure, benefiting the local economy.

The app will be available to download on Android and Apple devices during autumn 2022. To register your interest and be notified as soon as it is ready, as well as get the latest updates, click here.