First, there was Uber and Lyft, now there’s another innovative ride-sharing service on the scene called e-scooters. You may have seen people riding them around your neighborhood already. Or perhaps you came across a scooter lying on the sidewalk with no rider in sight.
These e-scooters have become
If you’d like to make money in a socially responsible way, then charging e-scooters could be worth looking into. Sure, they’re not as energy efficient as say, electric cars or solar panels, but e-scooters are still viable options for reducing the number of cars on the road.
Are you ready to literally make money while you sleep? Here’s how charging e-scooters can supplement your income.
How to Make Money Recharging Scooters
What Do You Need First?
In order to successfully charge e-scooters for Lime or Bird, there are a few requirements you must fulfill first.
- Be 18 years or older
- Have reliable access to a car, truck or SUV recommended
- Live in or near an area where Lime and/or Bird operates
- Be able to charge at least three scooters at a time. This only applies to Bird scooters, Lime doesn’t specify a minimum
It’s also recommended that you check electricity rates in your area to make sure the costs of charging e-scooters is worth the potential payout.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports the average cost of electricity in residential areas is 12.9 cents per kilowatt hour, so it’s important to check the math first before making the leap into your next e-scooter charging gig.
Collect Scooters, Charge Overnight
So, how does charging e-scooters actually work? Unfortunately, it’s not as though e-scooter riders will be delivering the scooters right to your doorstep. You need to locate them on a map through the Lime or Bird apps and go pick them up yourself.
On the Bird app, you simply go to “Find Birds.” This will show you color-coded Birds on a map with different dollar values assigned, depending on how difficult it will be to access and charge them. Green = easiest, red = hardest.
When you’re ready to drop off the scooters in the morning, you must return them to any designated “Bird’s Nest” between the hours of 4-7am to qualify for a full payment.
On the Lime app, you first sign up as a rider, then go to “Become a Juicer” on the main menu. Once you review the lessons and complete a knowledge assessment, Lime will have four chargers sent to your home. You may begin charging scooters after 9pm local time, and you must return the scooters to a designated LimeHub before 7am the following morning to receive your payout.
Scooters take approximately 4-6 hours to charge, so it’s a pretty easy way to earn money while you’re at home, asleep in bed. You won’t be rolling in dough any time soon, but you can make enough to supplement your current salary or income from other side gigs.
Are There Any Downsides?
E-scooter apps pay their chargers daily, but you need to follow every step to get the full payment. If you under-charge a scooter, don’t leave the scooters at their designated drop-off points, or drop the fully-charged scooters off after the early morning deadline, you could miss out on a few bucks each time.
If you like sleeping in, have a small car, or don’t like driving around during rush hour, then charging e-scooters might not be a great fit for you.
Some chargers for Bird and Lime have also complained about the difficulty of accessing e-scooters in traffic-congested areas, especially during rush hour. because a vast majority of e-scooters are available for pick-up in the late afternoon or evening hours.
Additionally, you’ll need to acquire more chargers for the e-scooters on your own because you only receive four chargers when you’re first starting out.
How Much Could Your Potentially Earn?
According to Bird, you could earn as much as $100 per night by charging scooters with low batteries. You get approximately $5 per battery charged, and you can get up to 20 Bird scooters per night.
The pay is similar
There’s also a sign-up bonus for Lime chargers of $150 if you charge 30+ scooters within your first two weeks as a Lime Juicer.
Should You Charge E-Scooters for Extra Cash?
If you own a truck or SUV, live near the main hub of your local city, have easy access to electrical outlets in a garage or side yard, and want to make money while you’re sleeping, then charging Lime and Bird scooter0s could be a great way to generate some extra income on the side.
You get paid daily and don’t have to drive around for several hours like you would as an Uber, Lyft, or Postmates driver.
Like any money-making opportunity, becoming an e-scooter charger isn’t without its downsides. However, it’s one of the least effort-intensive side gigs out there today. W
At worst, you could walk away with Lime’s $150 bonus if you charge at least 30 scooters in those first few weeks.
