Frequently asked questions

Easily share your charging station with other electric vehicle drivers. This allows you to generate additional income while making a positive impact.

How it works

1. Download the free Voltbee app
   Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Create an account in just a few steps and get started right away.
2. Register your home charging station
   Add your charging station in the app. Set your own availability and price per kWh.
3. Activate your home charging station
   EV drivers can now find and book your charging station. There are no fixed fees or long-term contracts.

Charge easily and more affordably at other EV drivers' home charging stations. Download the free Voltbee app, find a charging station nearby, and start charging right away.

How it works

1. Download the free Voltbee app
   Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Create an account in just a few steps and get started right away.
2. Find a home charging station near you
   Explore available home charging stations on the map. Easily compare prices and available times.
3. Book and charge your car
   Choose a convenient time and book your charging spot through the app. Charge your car and pay easily through Voltbee.

The calculation is based on the example case of Mileu Centraal with 10 solar panels, after the abolition of the net metering scheme.

Suppose you charge an electric car at your charging station six times a month. Each charging session averages 20 kWh, for which you charge €0.40 per kWh. We assume 30% solar power and 70% grid power.

Shared power: 1,440 kWh per year.
Solar power yield (30% = 432 kWh): 432 × $0.34 = $147 per year.
Grid power yield (70% = 1,008 kWh): 1,008 × ($0.34 − $0.25) = $91 per year.

Total additional yield: €238 per year.

Without Voltbee, the annual income from the solar panels is approximately €230. With Voltbee, €238 is added to that. Your return thus increases from 6% to 12% per year. That is a doubling of your return and therefore well over a 40% increase. Simply by opening up your charging station a few times a month.

Of course, the actual return depends on the number of charging sessions, the rates, and the ratio between solar power and grid power.

With just a few charging sessions per month, you will recoup the cost of your charging station more quickly and contribute to the energy transition.

Yes, even without solar panels, sharing your charging station is financially attractive. As long as your own electricity rate is lower than the rate you charge via Voltbee, you will make a profit. In addition, you do not need to make any additional investments, such as a home battery.

On average, the charging rate on the platform is around €0.40 per kWh. If, for example, you pay €0.25 per kWh yourself, you still have a margin of around 25%. With a dynamic energy contract, you can further increase this benefit by only opening your charging station when your electricity rate is low.

You will achieve the highest return if you generate your own sustainable energy, for example with solar panels and a home battery. In that case, your costs are often around €0.07 per kWh, while the EV driver still pays €0.40. That can add up to a margin of as much as 67%.

In short: even without solar panels, sharing your charging station is profitable, but with your own generation, you get the maximum benefit.

OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is an international standard. It ensures that charging stations can communicate with different platforms and apps, such as Voltbee. A charging station with OCPP offers several advantages. You can manage charging sessions, measure consumption in kWh, and apply smart charging, for example during off-peak hours. This allows you to get more out of your charging station and offer users extra convenience.

Charging stations without OCPP can also be registered with Voltbee. In that case, power consumption is not measured, and the charging session is calculated based on time and charging capacity.

Safety and reliability are central to Voltbee. Together, we are building a smart and sustainable platform that everyone can use with confidence. All users are verified, and we work with reviews. Payments are processed via Stripe, a specialized and highly secure payment service that processes and stores all financial data. Voltbee does not store any payment details.

Personal safety during any meetings is the responsibility of the user. As with any physical meeting, you decide which precautions are appropriate for your situation. We actively monitor our values and mission. If any reports of inappropriate behavior are received, the user in question will be immediately removed from the platform.

Liability and insurance when charging are clear and fall under existing liability legislation. The charging station owner is responsible for ensuring the charging station is safe, just as they would be for their own use. EV drivers must use the charging station with care and prevent damage, as if it were their own property. Be aware, respectful, and contribute to a pleasant community.

Damage or theft during charging is usually covered by car insurance, just as it is on public roads. The charging station owner's home insurance usually covers damage to the charging station or the location. This can vary from insurer to insurer, so it is wise to check this for extra certainty.

Voltbee is not liable for damage or loss, as stated in our terms and conditions. Taking out insurance is the responsibility of the user. Similar charging platforms have been operating in other countries for years. Damage claims are rare and experiences are overwhelmingly positive. Other sharing platforms, where (even) cars and homes are shared, also show that sharing can work extremely well.

The app and our systems have been designed from the outset to meet the strictest security standards and are hosted on a reliable and secure infrastructure. We only store the basic data necessary for the app to function, such as your contact details and charging data. All data is stored in encrypted form, and extra sensitive data, such as passwords, is stored with more than ten layers of encryption. This allows us to guarantee the protection of stored data.

All payment details and sensitive documents are processed exclusively by Stripe, a reputable payment processor. We do not store any copies of this data ourselves. This ensures that your data remains fully protected.

Easily share your home charger with other electric drivers and earn extra income.

You can earn up to several hundred euros per year without any additional investment. The app is free to use, and the EV driver pays a small commission. This increases the return on your solar panels while making a positive impact.

How it works

1. Download the free Voltbee app
   Available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
2. Register your charging station
   Set your own availability and price per kWh. You'll receive a notification when someone requests a booking, which you can confirm with just one tap. You can change your availability and pricing at any time.
3. Start earning
   Once you confirm a booking, the EV driver can charge their car. Your earnings are paid out through Stripe, usually within 2 business days. Your first payout may take longer, up to 14 business days, due to Stripe's risk management procedures. This timeframe is determined by Stripe and cannot be changed by Voltbee.

There are no additional fees, and you can stop sharing your charging station at any time.

On average, a home charger is only used around 5% of the time. If you share your home charger six times a month at €0.35 per kWh, you could earn around €252 per year. This can be significantly more valuable than exporting surplus solar power to the grid and is comparable to the annual return from 10 solar panels.

In a favourable scenario, where you can directly share more of your solar power and your home charger is used once a day, your additional income could rise to more than €1,500 per year. Even then, your home charger would only be used for sharing around 15% of the time, leaving it available for your own use approximately 85% of the time.

Base scenario calculation

Suppose you allow another EV driver to use your home charger six times per month. Each charging session averages 20 kWh, for which you charge €0.35 per kWh. We assume that 30% of the electricity comes directly from your solar panels and 70% from the grid.

Electricity shared: 1,440 kWh per year.
Income from solar power (30% = 432 kWh): 432 × €0.35 = €151 per year.
Income from grid electricity (70% = 1,008 kWh): 1,008 × (€0.35 − €0.25) = €101 per year.

Total additional income: €252 per year.

The actual financial benefit of using your solar power directly depends on local electricity prices, feed-in tariffs, taxes and regulations, which vary between European countries.

Favourable scenario calculation

Suppose you have 16 solar panels of 400 Wp each and facilitate an average of one charging session per day. Charging sessions mainly take place during the daytime, when your solar panels are generating electricity. Each charging session averages 20 kWh, for which you charge €0.35 per kWh. We assume that 43% comes directly from your solar panels and 57% from the grid.

You reduce the charging power of your 11 kW home charger to 5.5 kW and clearly communicate the available charging power in the Voltbee app.

Electricity shared: 7,300 kWh per year.
Income from solar power (43% = 3,139 kWh): 3,139 × €0.35 = €1,099 per year.
Income from grid electricity (57% = 4,161 kWh): 4,161 × (€0.35 − €0.25) = €416 per year.

Total additional income: €1,515 per year.

In this scenario, your home charger is used for sharing only around 15% of the time, meaning it remains available for your own use approximately 85% of the time.

What determines how much you can earn?

Your actual earnings depend on the number of charging sessions, the price you set per kWh, your electricity costs, the type and charging speed of your home charger, your solar generation and any home battery storage.

Electricity prices, feed-in tariffs, taxes and regulations vary across Europe, so your actual earnings may differ by country.

You can share almost any charger, but the best experience comes with a charger that supports OCPP. OCPP is the standard language modern chargers use to communicate. You can easily check in your charger’s (online) manual whether your model supports this standard. OCPP chargers can be connected directly to our app, allowing charging sessions to be recorded automatically. Brands such as Voltime and Zaptec promote an open ecosystem and are therefore especially well suited.

You can remove the OCPP connection at any time, after which your charger will immediately switch back to the manufacturer’s default app. We’ll let you know as soon as this feature goes live.

You always have full control over who you share your charger with, whether that’s everyone or just your neighbours. You can manually approve reservation requests, so you always know who will be charging. In the app, you also set your own rate and availability.

Do you have an OCPP-compatible charger? We’re working on an integration that will allow you to manage your shared charging sessions through Voltbee in the future. This functionality is not yet available.

The integration will always be optional and easy to remove. Once you disconnect the OCPP integration, you can manage your charger through the manufacturer’s standard app again. This way, you always remain in full control of your charger.

Whether you have to pay tax on your Voltbee income depends on the tax rules in the country where you live. The tax treatment is often similar to income earned through other sharing platforms, such as Airbnb.

Income from sharing an EV charger may, for example, be considered occasional income or rental income. Local VAT rules, exemptions or registration thresholds may also apply. These rules vary by country.

You are responsible for correctly reporting your income and complying with the tax rules that apply to you. If in doubt, we recommend contacting your local tax authority or a tax advisor.

Do you need additional features in the app for your specific situation? Please contact us.

You set the rate for your charger yourself. A good rule of thumb is to set your rate around 30% below the rate of public chargers nearby. This keeps your charger attractive to other EV drivers while still giving you a good return.

In practice, a suitable rate is often around €0.35 per kWh. The EV driver pays a 15% commission to Voltbee, bringing the total rate to around €0.40 per kWh.

Example

If a public charger costs €0.50 per kWh, you could set your rate 30% lower at €0.35 per kWh. Including the 15% commission paid by the EV driver to Voltbee, the total rate for the EV driver is €0.40 per kWh. This means the EV driver charges 20% cheaper.

Adjust your rate to your situation

You can adjust your rate based on your location and circumstances. Compare the rates of public chargers in your area. If your rate is too high, your charger may be less attractive. If it is too low, you will earn less. Try different rates to find what works best.

As a home charger host, you may earn additional income through EV charging incentives. Depending on local regulations, these incentives can apply whether you charge your own EV or share your charger with other EV drivers.

Payments vary by country and provider. For illustration, we'll use an estimated €0.05 per kWh charged.

Example calculation

Share your charger 6 times per month, averaging 20 kWh per session? That's 1,440 kWh × €0.05 = €72 extra per year.

Share your charger once a day, averaging 20 kWh per session? That's 7,300 kWh × €0.05 = €365 extra per year. These amounts are on top of your charging income.

How does it work?

Incentives are linked to national schemes supporting the EU's Renewable Energy Directive. Requirements vary by country. You may need a MID-certified meter and registration with an accredited service provider.

Download the free Voltbee app, find a charger nearby, and start charging right away. It’s simple, transparent, and often up to 20% cheaper than public charging stations. The app works similarly to other charging apps: you always see the price upfront and can reserve the charger in advance.

How it works

1. Download the free Voltbee app
   Available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
2. Find available charging stations nearby
   Use the map to see current prices, availability, and detailed information about each charging station at a glance.
3. Start charging smart
   You'll receive a confirmation in the app. The number of kWh charged and the payment are automatically processed afterwards.

Charging with Voltbee is often more affordable than using a public charging station. On average, you can save around 20% compared with commercial public charging points. Charging with Voltbee is also transparent. You always see the price upfront in the app.

Many public charging points cannot be reserved, while with Voltbee you can book in advance. Don’t have your own private parking space? Voltbee is a smart solution for EV charging without a driveway.

Voltbee gives you access to more charging options in your neighbourhood and greater flexibility. You can easily contact the host if your plans change.

You also charge with locally generated solar energy whenever possible. This helps make better use of existing home chargers and renewable energy, reduces pressure on the electricity grid and makes EV charging more accessible.

Read more about the 5 benefits of charging with Voltbee.

It might feel new at first, but in practice it quickly becomes familiar. It works just like other sharing platforms, such as Airbnb, but even simpler. You reserve a charger in the app, drive to the location and start charging.

Home charger owners participate consciously and are often surprisingly welcoming and helpful. This adds a positive human touch in an increasingly individualised society. By sharing chargers, a network emerges in which people support each other and create impact together.

We actively safeguard our values and mission. If we receive reports of inappropriate behaviour, we immediately remove the address and the user from the platform. Our review system supports this: users rate each other, keeping the network reliable. This creates a community where cooperation and a pleasant charging experience are central.

Yes, you can easily modify or cancel your reservation through the app. In your overview, you’ll see your scheduled charging session. With a single tap, you can move it to a different time or cancel it entirely.

The charger owner automatically receives an update, ensuring there are no misunderstandings. If you adjust or cancel your reservation before the start time, no fees apply.

We recommend updating your reservation in time so other EV drivers can use available charging spots. This helps keep the network reliable and accessible for everyone.

If you arrive and find that the reserved charger is occupied, you will not be charged. Fortunately, this rarely happens. Charger owners almost always keep their spot available for a reservation, and only in exceptional cases is the space still occupied.

Any costs are automatically cancelled or refunded. In most cases, you can quickly reserve another available charger nearby so you can continue charging without delay.

Users can leave feedback for one another through the review system, helping us improve continuously. This keeps the network reliable and fair, ensuring you can charge with confidence.

With Voltbee, you can often charge your EV for 20% less than at public charging stations. The savings are regularly even greater than 20%, and sometimes slightly lower. This is because charging station hosts set their own rates.

We recommend that hosts set their rates 30% lower than those of nearby public charging stations. Voltbee charges EV drivers a fixed 15% commission. When hosts follow this recommendation, you save 20% on charging costs.

Example calculation

If a public charging station charges €0.50 per kWh, we recommend that the host sets their rate 30% lower, at €0.35 per kWh. Including the 15% commission paid by the EV driver to Voltbee, the total rate comes to €0.40 per kWh when rounded. This means you charge your EV for 20% less.

Fully transparent pricing

On the map, you can see the rate set by the charging station host. Before making a payment, you'll always see the total price, including Voltbee's commission. No hidden fees or starting fees.