As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to surge in popularity, a new frontier in charging accessibility is emerging—roaming hubs. While advancements in battery technology and fast-charging infrastructure have gained attention, the backend systems that connect disparate networks play an equally critical role in shaping the future of EV travel. At the heart of this evolution lies the roaming hub—a digital enabler ensuring that EV drivers can charge effortlessly, regardless of who operates the charging station.
In today’s fragmented EV charging landscape, drivers often face hurdles when trying to locate available chargers outside their usual network. Roaming hubs solve this by unifying multiple Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and eMobility Service Providers (eMSPs), delivering a smoother, more integrated experience for all stakeholders.
A roaming hub is a centralized digital platform that facilitates interoperability among multiple EV charging networks. Think of it as the equivalent of international mobile roaming—but for electric vehicles. It allows drivers to use a single app, RFID card, or account to access a wide network of charging stations operated by different providers, eliminating the need for multiple registrations or payment systems.
The roaming hub acts as the glue binding together CPOs—who operate the physical infrastructure—and eMSPs—who deliver services to EV drivers through apps or platforms. By connecting these entities, roaming hubs enable:
Cross-platform interoperability
Real-time access to charging point data
Unified billing and authentication systems
Smarter travel planning and route optimization
The goal is to enhance user convenience, optimize charger utilization, and support the global scalability of EV infrastructure.
Roaming hubs are far more than digital bridges—they’re operational powerhouses that streamline communication, billing, analytics, and network growth. Here’s a breakdown of their core capabilities:
Interoperability is at the heart of the roaming concept. Roaming hubs facilitate seamless data exchange between CPOs and eMSPs. Whether a driver subscribes to a local utility provider or a major European eMobility service, the hub ensures they can access chargers across different networks using the same authentication method.
This is accomplished through real-time data synchronization, so drivers see up-to-date information on station availability, pricing, and compatibility.
Roaming hubs are especially vital in Europe, where national borders are often crossed in daily commutes or weekend travel. With hundreds of local CPOs operating within short distances, fragmentation is a serious challenge. Roaming hubs bridge this gap by enabling multi-country interoperability.
For example, a driver traveling from France to Germany doesn’t need to switch between three different apps or register with multiple service providers. One app, one card, one experience—that’s the promise of a well-integrated roaming network.
Roaming hubs ensure that customers enjoy a consistent charging experience, regardless of where or with whom they charge. Authentication, session tracking, and billing processes are standardized, allowing drivers to charge with confidence, knowing that everything will be managed through their primary provider.
For service providers, this reduces churn and increases loyalty. For customers, it means less hassle and more confidence in EV adoption.
Before a driver can enjoy seamless charging, service providers must establish roaming agreements with infrastructure operators. These agreements cover technical protocols, payment arrangements, and service-level expectations. Roaming hubs act as neutral intermediaries, simplifying and accelerating this process.
Instead of requiring one-to-one (P2P) connections between each service provider and operator, the hub model allows for one-to-many connectivity, saving time, money, and administrative resources.
Accurate billing and financial settlements are essential to maintaining trust in a roaming ecosystem. Roaming hubs manage the exchange of pricing, session data, and payment reconciliation between CPOs and eMSPs. This ensures transparent, error-free transactions, even when multiple currencies or tax systems are involved.
Advanced CPMS (Charge Point Management Systems) integrations further automate the flow of data, making the system scalable for large fleets and high-frequency users.
Roaming hubs collect vast amounts of charging session data, which can be anonymized and analyzed for insights. This data is crucial for identifying usage trends, peak periods, underperforming assets, and potential expansion areas.
Businesses and governments can use this information to optimize infrastructure deployment, pricing models, and energy grid management strategies—paving the way for a more responsive and data-driven EV ecosystem.
While the concept of roaming may sound complex, the actual process for the end user is surprisingly straightforward. Behind the scenes, however, several technical and operational layers work in harmony to enable this smooth experience.
The foundation of roaming lies in legal and technical agreements. CPOs and eMSPs enter into these agreements, often facilitated by a roaming hub. These contracts cover essential parameters such as:
Access terms
Pricing structures
Session data formats
Privacy and security standards
By standardizing these terms across partners, roaming hubs reduce friction and enable fast onboarding of new networks.
Once agreements are in place, data exchange is managed via a centralized or federated platform. These roaming hubs perform several functions:
Authenticating users across networks
Sharing real-time charger status (available, in-use, out of service)
Displaying dynamic pricing
Logging and transferring charging session data
Processing billing and settlements
Major roaming hubs active in the market include Hubject, GIREVE, and e-clearing.net, each with varying regional dominance and technical capabilities.
Standardized protocols are the key to smooth communication between different systems. The three most commonly used protocols are:
OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface) – Focuses on real-time data exchange between CPOs and eMSPs.
OICP (Open InterCharge Protocol) – Used extensively by Hubject for authentication, pricing, and session handling.
eMIP (eMobility Inter-operation Protocol) – Developed by GIREVE, enabling secure and structured communication between European networks.
These protocols ensure that everything—from pricing to customer verification—is handled in a uniform and interoperable format.
From the driver’s perspective, roaming is simple and intuitive. They use a mobile app or RFID card provided by their eMSP to initiate a charge session at any participating charging station. The roaming hub verifies their credentials, confirms pricing, and allows the session to proceed. Once charging is complete, billing is automatically processed through the user’s account.
This seamless process means less time fiddling with new apps or payment methods—and more time on the road.
Greater accessibility: Charge anywhere without needing multiple accounts.
Convenience: Use a single app or RFID for all charging sessions.
Transparency: Real-time data on pricing, charger status, and availability.
Increased network utilization: Idle chargers can now serve a broader base.
Customer retention: Enhanced loyalty due to broader access.
Simplified operations: Managed billing and reporting processes.
Increased EV adoption: Eliminates major pain points for users.
Data-driven policy-making: Use analytics to inform infrastructure planning.
Cross-border harmonization: Strengthens regional transport ecosystems.
While roaming hubs have achieved considerable progress, several challenges remain:
Lack of Global Standards: Not all countries use the same protocols, causing integration delays.
Pricing Transparency: Dynamic pricing models can create confusion or discrepancies.
Data Privacy: As data becomes more valuable, protecting user and commercial data is paramount.
Despite these hurdles, the future of roaming hubs looks promising. The EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and other regulatory efforts are pushing for wider adoption of open standards and cross-border compatibility. In North America, initiatives like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program are exploring similar frameworks.
Looking ahead, emerging technologies like blockchain-based smart contracts and AI-driven route planning may further improve how roaming hubs operate, making them smarter, faster, and more secure.
The transition to electric mobility depends not just on vehicles and charging hardware, but also on the invisible systems that tie everything together. Roaming hubs are one of those essential systems—ensuring that EV drivers experience the same freedom and convenience as traditional motorists.
By bridging gaps between networks, providers, and users, roaming hubs create a unified ecosystem where charging becomes as simple as plugging in. As infrastructure scales, their role will only grow more critical, accelerating EV adoption and helping build a cleaner, more connected transportation future.
