Commercial drivers, such as Uber or taxi drivers, can significantly benefit from switching to an electric vehicle (EV) and using smart chargers. These drivers typically cover more kilometers than the average driver, amplifying the potential savings on fuel costs. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of switching to an EV, using a smart charger like the Smappee EV Wall available at vpt.com.au, and incorporating solar energy into the charging process.

The Benefits of Switching to an Electric Vehicle for Uber

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, commercial drivers can drive over 50,000 km per year, which is nearly four times the average driver’s distance. By switching to an electric vehicle, the driver can save between 60% and 100% per year on fuel costs.

Summary Table

Situation	Yearly Spend	Savings Compared to Gasoline
Gasoline Vehicle	$7,500	$0
Electric Vehicle (Normal Charging)	$2,038.40	$5,461.60
Electric Vehicle (Smart Charging)	$728	$6,772
Electric Vehicle (Solar Energy)	$0	$7,500

Gasoline to Normal EV Charger for an Uber driver

Assuming a normal uber driver covers 50,000 km per year with an average fuel efficiency of 10L/100km and a fuel cost of $1.50/L, a commercial driver would spend approximately $7,500 per year on gasoline.

Electric vehicles can significantly reduce these fuel costs. According to Energy Australia, the average electricity rate in Australia is around 28 cents per kWh. If a commercial driver charges their EV for eight hours per day, five days a week using a regular charger, they would have a weekly charging cost of around $39.20 or $2,038.40 per year.

Yearly spend: $2,038.40

Savings compared to gasoline: $5,461.60

Upgrading to a Smart Charger

Smart chargers, like the Smappee EV Wall, can further reduce charging costs by optimizing charging times to take advantage of lower electricity rates. By using a smart charger and charging during off-peak hours (11 pm to 7 am) at a reduced rate of 10 cents per kWh, the weekly charging cost drops to approximately $14, or $728 per year.

Yearly spend: $728

Savings compared to normal EV charging: $1,310.40

Savings compared to gasoline: $6,772

Adding Solar Energy to your dirving business

Incorporating solar energy into the charging process can further reduce charging costs. Assuming a 6 kW solar panel system costing $21,000 can generate around 24 kWh per day or 168 kWh per week, the investment in solar panels can pay off over time.

Let’s assume that after charging the EV, there is an extra 48 kWh of solar energy per week (the difference between the 168 kWh generated weekly and the 120 kWh used for charging the EV).

48 kWh/week * 52 weeks = 2,496 kWh/year

If the excess energy can be sold back to the grid or used for other purposes at a rate of 28 cents per kWh (the average electricity rate in Australia), then the extra savings would be:

2,496 kWh/year * $0.27/kWh = $699.68/year

Lets take 611 as a more conservative number as explained below

Charging an EV for eight hours per day, five days a week using solar energy would save approximately $25.76 per week or $1,339.52 per year. This means that we are generating even more energy than we need to charge our EV, taking our charging expenses to 0, and generating an extra $611 per year.

Yearly spend: $0

Savings compared to smart charging: $728

Savings compared to gasoline: $7,500

Extra Savings Generated : $611

In conclusion, commercial drivers who invest in an electric vehicle and an EV wall smart charger, like the Smappee EV Wall available at vpt.com.au, can enjoy substantial savings on their operational costs. By leveraging the NT grant, smart charging, and solar energy, these drivers can minimize their charging expenses, making the transition to electric vehicles an economically sound decision.

Should I Invest in a Solar Panel System if I am an Uber Driver?

If you are an uber driver and you are evaluating the investment over 5, 10, and 20 years:

EV charging Savings

• 5 years: $3,640 saved on charging costs, $17,360.0 remaining to recover the initial solar panel investment
• 10 years: $7,280 saved on charging costs, $13,720 remaining to recover the initial solar panel investment
• 20 years: $1,456 saved on charging costs, $6,440 remaining to recover the initial solar panel investment

Overall Savings

• 5 years: $6,697.60 saved on charging costs and extra energy generated, $14,302.40 remaining to recover the initial solar panel investment
• 10 years: $13,395.20 saved on charging costs and extra energy generated, $7,604.80 remaining to recover the initial solar panel investment
• 20 years: $26,790.40 saved on charging costs and extra energy generated, fully recovered the initial solar panel investment and an additional $5,790.40 saved

By combining a smart charger with a solar panel system, a commercial driver can significantly reduce their charging costs and save even more money.

Summary Table

Timeframe	EV Charging Savings	Overall Savings (Including Extra Energy)	Remaining Amount to Recover Initial Solar Panel Investment
5 years	$3,640	$6,697.60	$14,302.40
10 years	$7,280	$13,395.20	$7,604.80
20 years	$14,560	$26,790.40	$0 (additional savings of $5,790.40)