- Renault’s France-based Plug Inn EV charging app – which has been coined the ‘The Airbnb for plugs’ – currently allows private individuals to list their private EV charging spots onto the app, allowing owners to make money on the side.
- The service has proven to be a success in France, which is one of the most rural countries in Europe.
- Renault has now expanded the service, allowing businesses to also rent out their EV charging spots to all drivers – but for now, the app is only available within France.
Renault expands its EV charging rental service
The extension of a ‘for business’ section of the Plug Inn app means that everything from hotels, offices, and shops will be able to list their charging spots online. This could be a particularly attractive proposition for offices in car-heavy locations, which would otherwise have their charging bays sitting empty during weekends or holidays. That’s just one example though, with some money making opportunities for a wide range of businesses. And, just like the private side of the app, availability of the chargers is decided by the owner, allowing the charge spots to be available when needed.
The layout of the Renault Plug Inn app looks like the whole process is pretty seamless. Each EV charging ‘host’ gets given a review score, while charging speed, and any height or width restrictions are clearly listed. There’s the option to book a charging spot instantly, if you’re caught short, or reserve and pay for a charging spot at a future time – making those EV road trips even easier.
