Start a small EV charging site (1 to 4 chargers)

Electric vehicle drivers who are travelling, visiting nearby shops or stays, or living without home charging, such as apartment residents.

You set a price per kWh or per session and keep what is left after electricity, network platform fees and payment fees. Some owners also gain extra customers for a nearby cafe, shop or accommodation while drivers wait.

• Basic budgeting and pricing
• Organising contractors and approvals
• Customer service when a charger has a fault
• Comfortable with apps and online dashboards

• Electrical work must be done by a suitably licensed electrician, check your state's licensing and wiring standards
• Your site may need a switchboard or grid connection upgrade, which can add a lot to costs
• Check whether selling electricity by the kWh needs any energy retail authorisation or exemption, and ask the Australian Energy Regulator or an adviser
• Check council planning approval, signage and accessibility rules for your site
• Public liability and property insurance, and who is responsible if a charger is damaged or a vehicle is harmed
• Margins can be thin after power costs and fees, so work out your break-even before buying
• Faulty chargers frustrate drivers, so check warranty, support and repair arrangements

Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $75,000, depending on the number of chargers and whether your site needs a switchboard or grid connection upgrade. These are estimates, so get electrician quotes before buying equipment.

Monthly revenue is typically around $400 to $2,000, depending on your location, pricing and how many drivers use the chargers. Margins can be thin after power costs and fees, so work out your break-even first.

Check that a suitably licensed electrician does the work under your state's wiring standards. Also check whether selling electricity by the kWh needs energy retail authorisation or an exemption, council planning and signage rules, and insurance for your site.