Looking for a no-nonsense way to make money by charging electric scooters?
If so, becoming a Bird Charger may be a perfect job opportunity for you. It’s a great way to make easy money and be a part of a sustainable urban transportation system.
But it’s not as easy as driving people around or delivering food for a living. We’ll walk you through how to become a Bird Charger in a few simple steps below.
An Overview of Charging Bird Scooters: A Primer
The rise of micro-mobility solutions like Bird created a whole new ecosystem of chargers who pick up e-scooters every evening and charge them.
Bird, one of the largest electric scooter companies, is constantly hiring individuals to keep their Bird electric scooters functioning and ready to use.
Bird scooters are dockless, and they need to be recharged after they’ve been used. Bird scooter Chargers pick up those scooters, charge them, and put them back on the streets.
The job is simple; locate, collect, recharge, and return the scooters. You need to sign up to become a scooter charger for Bird in the cities the company operates.
How Much Do Bird Chargers Make?
Electric scooter chargers can earn an estimated $5 to $20 per scooter. The Ridester blog reports Bird pays about $5 to charge one scooter.
You can charge scooters in highly-populated areas to increase income as a charger, with most Bird Chargers earning approximately $20+ an hour. You can take in multiple scooters at a time and charge them to make more money.
What You’ll Need to Become a Bird Charger [& Associated Costs]
You don’t need any formal education or training to become a charger. But you’ll need a few things to get started, including:
- Smartphone: The most important thing you need is a functional and compatible smartphone to download and use the Bird Charger app. You can use both an iOS and Android phone as long as it’s compatible. The app gives you access to scooters and their locations to manage everything.
- Charging Equipment: You’ll need specialized charging equipment to charge the scooters. The company typically provides the equipment and anything else you will need to charge the Birds.
- A Vehicle: You’ll need a vehicle to pick up and drop off scooters. And you need one with a decent boot space to carry at least three scooters. This could be a car, van, or pickup truck that can easily carry those scooters without damaging them.
- Charging Station: You need a space to charge the scooters once they’re collected. You could use your home or any dedicated location with many electrical outlets to charge the Birds safely. There are also companies out there that provide spaces for charging e-scooters.
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Bird Charger?
The job typically doesn’t require any upfront cost. The company provides all the charging equipment and supplies free of cost. However, Bird may charge a one-time fee for the charging cables.
Additionally, if you’re charging scooters at your home, you have to pay for the electricity. Depending on your local electricity rates, it would cost you around $0.08 to $0.25 to fully charge a scooter. You must also pay for the gas to move around collecting and carrying scooters.
Overall, the cost to become a Bird Charger is relatively low, making it a perfect option for those looking to start a side gig without significant investment.
Is It Hard to Become a Bird Charger?
Becoming a Bird Charger is an easy side hustle to make extra money, but the job isn’t always a pleasure. Most scooters take hours to fully charge, and you have to park them at their designated locations before a set time to get your full pay.
Having the right skills is important to succeed in this role and make more profits while providing the best customer service to riders. Remember, the best time to go Bird hunting is after 9 pm.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Bird Charger?
The application process itself is fairly easy. If you meet all the requirements and are willing to put in a little bit of work, you can expect to get started in a few weeks.
Depending on your location, getting approved and receiving your charging cables may take up to three weeks.
For instance, if you live in a highly-populated area with many chargers, it can get a little bit difficult to find scooters to charge initially.
How to Become a Bird Charger in 5 Simple Steps
If you’re ready to join other Bird Chargers, here are a few crucial steps to get started:
Step 1: Meet the Minimum Requirements
The job is easy, but you must fulfill the minimum requirements before signing up.
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Have a valid driver’s license.
- Live in/near a service area where Bird operates.
- Have a smartphone with the Bird app installed.
- Have a vehicle to carry scooters (preferably a larger one).
Step 2: Sign Up to Be a Bird Charger
The next step is to download the Bird app and create an account. You need to provide some basic information to create an account, such as your name, email ID, and phone number.
The app will also ask for your bank account information, social security number, and other tax details.
After filling in all the details, agree to the Bird Charger Agreement and Privacy Policy and submit your application.
Step 3: Wait for Your Application to Get Approved
Bird will review your application to ensure you’re eligible to become a charger.
You may have to wait for a few days to get it approved. A company representative will call you to follow up on your request and ask you some questions.
The call is part of their vetting process to see if you’re perfectly fit to become a Bird Charger and are passionate about the service.
The rep will probably brief you about the process, including how everything works, what the job requires, and how to succeed at it.
Step 4: Toggle Into the Charger Mode
Once approved, you’ll get a welcome kit that includes everything you need to start charging scooters, such as charging cables.
You can start as soon as you receive the supplies. You’ll now see a “Charger Mode” toggle button in the app.
The Charger Mode shows you a map to find all the uncharged scooters in your area. Each scooter is designated with a unique color on the map as follows:
- Green Birds: Easy to locate and lower payout
- Yellow Birds: A little tough to locate but have a better payout than green ones
- Red Birds: Extremely tough to locate and higher payout
Step 5: Harvesting and Serving
The entire process boils down to two simple steps: harvesting and serving. The app indicates where the scooters are located.
After you find a scooter, you’ll have to scan the scooter’s QR code, which will unlock the scooter.
Harvesting is locating those scooters, collecting them from the streets, and bringing them home for charging.
Once a Bird is 100% charged, you’ll have to return it to a designated location called Bird Nests. You can find nearby Nest locations in the app. Serving is dropping off a fully-charged scooter at a set location.
You finally get paid for each scooter you charge. The company typically releases payouts the same business day if chargers return all their scooters at the set locations by 7 am.
Reasons to Consider Becoming a Bird Charger
There are many compelling reasons why you should consider becoming a Bird Charger, such as:
- Flexible Schedule: You have total control over how often you want to work. You can set your schedule and take charging jobs that best align with your timing and commitments. This is a great option if you’re looking for a flexible part-time gig.
- Extra Income: You can make some extra cash outside of your regular day job. The work mainly involves charging scooters overnight; the more you bring in for charging, the more you get paid.
- Low Investment: Starting as a Bird Charger doesn’t involve major startup or investment costs. One of the major pieces of equipment you need is probably the charging cables, which the company often provides. This means you can get started without any significant overhead costs.
- Environment-Friendly Alternative: This gives you a chance to help the environment by contributing to a more sustainable form of transportation. This way, you can help to get more people to use public transportation without affecting the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Do You Have to Be to Charge Bird Scooters?
The eligibility requirements state you must be a minimum of 18 years of age to apply for the position as a Bird Charger.
How Long Does it Take to Charge Bird Scooters?
Once you plug the Birds in for charging, it takes around four to six hours to fully charge, depending on the battery level at the time of charging and the specific scooter model.
Similar Gigs to Check Out
Not sure if a career as a Bird Charger is right for you? Here are some other possible alternatives to consider:
- Become a DoorDash Driver: If you don’t like charging scooters, become a DoorDash driver instead and get paid to work for a leading food delivery service in the U.S.
- Become a Mechanic: Looking for a way to turn your passion for cars into a lucrative side gig? This is a wonderful opportunity to work on various vehicles and make money.
- Become an Airbnb Host: With vacation rental businesses on the rise, there’s no better way to make more money than by listing your property on Airbnb as a host.
Wrapping Up
Becoming a Bird Charger is an excellent opportunity to supplement your income and contribute to a more eco-friendly mode of transport. It’s a lucrative career, and it’s just a matter of time before you get the hang of it.
While the job is pretty simple, having a strategy and some insider tips will help you succeed in this side hustle.
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your feedback or shoot any questions in the comments section below.
If you loved our article, feel free to share it with others who’d be interested in becoming a Bird Charger.
