Terminology
Key concepts and definitions in the e-mobility industry.
Charge Point Operator
Installs and operates charging stations. Is legally responsible for ensuring stations comply with all applicable technical regulations.
A CPO’s responsibilities can be divided into technical (station deployment, operation, maintenance) and commercial (service marketing, pricing). Originally, CPO roles were filled by utility companies, but at the moment, this sector represents a large number of small regional players.
Some of the companies operate just like CPO, building your business on a charge of network setup and maintenance, but most CPOs operate charging networks as a secondary business.
E-Mobility Service Provider
Provides access to charging stations and networks through service contracts and user interfaces (RFID charging cards and the mobile app).
EMSPs ensure that end customers can find charging stations, initiate charging sessions, and process payments. EMSP can co-operate with other EMSP through roaming agreements and, therefore, to their clients can be offered a charging service for more charging stations.
The biggest part of the CPO’s are also acting as an EMSP. This is an IT-intensive business, which is focused on the broadest possible development of the network.
Equipment Manufacturers
Supply charging station equipment to CPOs. Many specialise exclusively in EV charging products.
Several equipment manufacturers come from adjacent industries with an indirect interest in EV charging, utilities, automotive, equipment manufacturers and electronics suppliers.
Equipment manufacturers typically distribute their products through a combination of direct sales and local distributors.
Software Solutions
Significantly different from each other, ranging from proprietary solutions for specific hardware to the interoperable open-source solutions.
By integrating positioning and communication hardware into charging stations, and connecting them with the back-office solutions for the charging of service, and the performance is greatly improved. Various features allow operators to remotely monitor and manage charging stations and transactions.
The software solution can provide the whole process of management and support the client’s own branding. The european countries have started to regulate the solution to the interoperability of services, an example of this is the German calibration law (Eichrecht).