Since Canada's Clean Fuel Regulations took effect in 2022, a handful of electric vehicle charging providers have launched programs to help drivers get paid to charge their vehicles at home.

One Canadian company that is helping EV drivers do this is Toronto-based SWTCH Energy, which operates one of the largest EV charging networks in the country. SWTCH's program gives free chargers to homeowners and aggregates charging data across its network, then sells carbon credits en masse and redistributes the revenue.

Some other companies, like The Grizzl-E Club, have also developed a system to aggregate residential charging and also supply a free charger in exchange for a deposit, much like SWTCH.

The system helps homeowners benefit from the credit trading system set up under the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR), which are not open to individual residential EV owners.

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In an interview with Electric Autonomy Canada in 2024, David Meyer, director of transportation markets at 3Degrees, explained that residential EV owners typically sign away their rights to charger data when they get one installed. Moreover, home chargers usually are not smart chargers that can meter the energy consumption in a way that complies with federal credit regulation.

SWTCH launched its Canada Home Charging Program on Dec. 11. It offers single-family homeowners in Canada a free Level 2 EV charger in exchange for a $300 deposit, which is refunded after it is used for 1,500 kilowatt-hours of EV charging. SWTCH says it will take an average driver three to five months to hit that threshold.

After installing the charger, homeowners can scan a QR code to download the SWTCH program and create an account. Once it's set up, the company can track the user's charging and aggregate it with others linked through the network.

SWTCH then uses the aggregated charging total to sell carbon credits through Canada's national carbon credit program under the CFR. SWTCH then reimburses network members at a rate of 3 cents per kilowatt-hour, paid out every time a member's account accumulates $100. CBC reports that the company expects members will make $100 to $150 per year through the program.

Starting Jan. 1, EV owners will also be able to buy a charger through SWTCH for $499 and receive $0.05 cents per kWh, without paying any deposit.

Grizzl-E's program also pays drivers 3 cents per kilowatt-hour and offers a range of chargers that require deposits ranging from $300 to $500, which are paid back after charging 4,000, 5,000, or 10,000 kWh, depending on the device.

SWTCH's program offers two options for chargers: either a NEMA 14-50 plug-in charger or a hardwired charger. The plug-in charges more slowly, but the plug will fit the same outlet type that many houses already have for large electronic appliances like washers and dryers.

SWTCH encourages EV owners who already have a NEMA 14-50 outlet-or those who intend to move and want to bring their charger with them-to use the plug-in model, while those who want the fastest possible charge and are interested in installing a new circuit should choose the hardwired model. Hiring an electrician and paying any installation charges is the responsibility of the homeowner, and ordering the charger involves a $30 shipping fee.

Either charger can be equipped with either a standard SAE J1772 plug or a NACS connector. Across those two plug types, homeowners will be able to select an option that is compatible with most EV models in North America.

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Source: The Energy Mix