SWTCH’s program allows Canadians to opt in to generating carbon credits and earn money from home EV charging under the national Clean Fuels Regulation

SWTCH Energy has launched a new home charging program that offers single-family homeowners a free charger and the opportunity to earn money every time they charge their electric vehicle at home.

The program, in partnership with Plug’n Drive, will give participants 3 cents for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) used to charge their EV at home. SWTCH says this could amount to $100 to $150 a year for the average driver.

This is all possible by leveraging Canada’s federal Clean Fuels Regulation (CFR). The CFR allows carbon credits to be generated from low-carbon technologies such as electric-vehicle charging. SWTCH sells those credits to gasoline and diesel producers that need them to meet federally mandated emissions-intensity targets.

SWTCH has been generating credits this way since the regulations took effect in July 2023 through chargers installed in multi-residential and commercial buildings.

The new program extends that model to single-family homes by aggregating home-charging data, converting it into eligible credits to sell and then sharing the revenue generated with customers.

“By building the infrastructure and business model to turn home charging into carbon credits, we’re giving homeowners a way to earn money while helping accelerate EV adoption nationwide,” said Carter Li, CEO of SWTCH, in a press release.

How to join the program

There are two options to participate in the SWTCH home charging program.

The first is the no-cost entry point, where participants can select the free charger option, which requires a refundable $300 deposit. SWTCH returns the deposit in full once the Level 2 charger has logged about 1,500 kWh of charging. The company says it typically takes three to five months of average EV use.

From there, the program participant continues earning at the 3-cent-per-kWh rate for the duration of the carbon credit program.

For heavy charging users, SWTCH offers the option to purchase the charger outright and earn 5 cents per kWh instead.

The charger costs $499 and is eligible for some provincial incentives, including BC Hydro rebates and Quebec’s Roulez Vert program.

To get started in the program, participants must:

• Order a Level 2 home charger via the SWTCH online store. Customers have the option to either get a NEMA plug-in version, ideal for garages already equipped with a plug, or a hardwired option that requires an electrician but delivers higher power.
• Install the charger at home, either by plugging into an existing outlet or hiring a licensed electrician.
• Connect the charger to the SWTCH Home Charging Program app, which links the device to home Wi-Fi and the SWTCH network. This step enables real-time tracking of charging activity and credit generation.

Once connected, the charger begins accumulating carbon credits. For every $100 earned, SWTCH will issue a direct deposit payment to the participant.