How to Make Money Charging Electric Scooters
In cities such as Washington, D.C, San Francisco and Los Angeles, electric scooters are becoming more common by the day.
Scooter-sharing companies usually depend on independent contractors who look for scooters that need charging and charge them through the night. They then release the scooters before 7 a.m. This is an easy gig if you think about it.
How Charging Works
In the cities where scooters are legal, you will probably find scooter startups such as Lime and Bird. To begin, you apply to be a Lime juicer or Bird charger. You have to be living in a city where the companies operate.
The process of signing up is quite simple. Download the same app that you would if you were a consumer and fill out your bank account and personal information. When your city has too many chargers, your application may not be approved instantly. It will go to the waiting list.
If you are approved, you will receive charging supplies (three sets) from the company. They include a power brick and a wall plug. These supplies may limit you when starting because the more you have, the more you will make.
You can always buy more once you establish yourself as a reliable and consistent charger.
Most scooter chargers go out at around 9 p.m. because this is when companies like Bird release their scooters. You can collect both Lime and Birds.
The app has a map through which you can locate nearby scooters. They are usually valued from $3 to $5. Once you locate them, move in their direction until you are on top of one. Black scooters are hard to spot at night because you will not find them parked in open places.
While this sounds like a fun treasure hunt, there is a challenge: you will not be the only scooter charger out there. A scooter can disappear from the app just when you are about to get to it. This happens when there are other hunters. It is a competitive gig; but in a friendly way.
After getting a scooter, scan the QR code on its handle bar to capture it. Next, load it onto your car. The type of car you have determines how many scooters you can pick. If you decide you have picked enough scooters, take them to your house for charging.
Some of the costs you will incur include gas for getting around in your car and, of course, electricity.
It takes about four to six hours for one scooter to charge fully. You can, however, let them charge overnight. In the morning, deliver the scooters to the “nests”. These are designated release spots. You are paid full price if you drop them 100% charged before 7 a.m.
The amount you make depends on how many scooters you can charge in a night.
Pro Tips
- Get a person (or people) to help you.
- Buy the right gear.
- Go scooter hunting at the right time.
