Just like using your mobile phone abroad, EV Roaming allows electric vehicle drivers to charge at stations across different networks using a single subscription or app. It's the technology that turns thousands of isolated charging networks into one seamless experience.
How It Works: The 3-Second Version
- You drive up to a charger operated by Network A.
- You scan with your app from Provider B.
- Behind the scenes, OCPI messages flow through a Hub.
- The charger unlocks, you charge, and everyone gets paid.
What is "Roaming"?
Roaming means your charging card/app works at stations you don't directly have a contract with. Without roaming, you'd need 50 different apps for 50 different networks. With roaming, one app works everywhere (like your Visa card works at millions of stores).
The Role of OCPI
OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface) is the open protocol that makes roaming possible. It's like the HTTP of EV charging—a common language that lets different companies' systems talk to each other. CPOs publish charger locations, eMSPs authorize drivers, and Hubs route the messages.
Why Hubs Are Essential
Imagine 1,000 CPOs and 1,000 eMSPs. Without a Hub, you'd need 1,000,000 bilateral connections. With a Hub, everyone connects once to the Hub, and the Hub routes messages to everyone. It's the difference between chaos and scalability.
The Future: OCPI 3.0 and Beyond
OCPI 3.0 is in development, focusing on real-time collaboration, peer-to-peer energy trading, and integration with Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) systems. The future of EV roaming isn't just about finding a charger—it's about smart energy management.
Conclusion
EV Roaming transforms the charging experience from fragmented to frictionless. For drivers, it means freedom. For CPOs and eMSPs, it means growth. And for the industry, it's the infrastructure that makes mass EV adoption possible.