Roaming Network
‘Roaming’ for electric vehicles (EVs) allows you to charge your EV across different networks and countries using a single app that connects you with multiple operators.
If there’s one thing all EV drivers need, it’s seamless, stress-free charging. Crucially, that means having the same frictionless ease wherever they go – near home, out of town, or even abroad.
Roaming networks are what make that possible; they’re the glue that binds charging infrastructure across markets, stations, and accounts.
In this piece, we’ll explore exactly what that means in practice, what roaming networks can do for both drivers and charge point operators (CPOs), and what the future of borderless charging looks like…
What is a roaming network?
In the world of electric vehicles, a roaming network is a series of agreements and connected technologies that work together to allow drivers to charge wherever they go – on chargers that fall outside the remit of their primary provider.
You can think of this in similar terms to the roaming agreements that allow you to use your phone on holiday. The principle here is the same; without those partnerships and behind-the-scenes interconnectivity, you wouldn’t be able to send texts or use your data abroad.
For EVs the clear benefit here is the ability to hook up to a charger and start a charge with location agnosticism.
Typically, roaming is offered through charging apps that make the process simple, and ensure that drivers don’t have to worry about the complexities going on in the background.
EV roaming networks rely on three key components:
Interoperable communication protocols
When any kind of technology needs to bridge divides, you need standards. The emergence of industry standards in the EV sector like the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) has paved the way for chargers, providers and driver accounts to communicate with security, hardware-agnosticism, and interoperability.
Roaming agreements
Roaming needs charging providers to broker agreements that allow drivers from one to use the chargers of another. Often, these agreements are offered to CPOs by their eMobility service provider. Spirii, for example, has a bunch of pre-existing partnerships that help enable borderless charging across Europe.
Roaming hubs
A roaming hub is a network dedicated to offering roaming between various providers. This essentially acts as a third-party data exchange within a given charging and roaming ecosystem.
Benefits of roaming networks
Roaming networks are mutually beneficial for both sides of the eMobility value chain, in that they help drivers and the businesses offering charging infrastructure alike:
For EV drivers
Roaming networks offer drivers a much wider choice when it comes to where they can charge, alongside more freedom to drive further afield. The result is less worry about trying to find proprietary stations – which may be busier than others – and more confidence that no matter where they drive, they’ll be able to charge.
In many cases, that even extends to billing, where roaming agreements ensure that everything’s handled through the driver’s main provider. That negates the need to download additional apps, set up new accounts, or worry about having to jump through any extra hoops.
For charging businesses (CPOs)
On the flip side, roaming networks are a real boon for CPOs because they allow for a broader customer base. By joining roaming agreements, these businesses can open their doors to any driver – and their site will appear on apps that show compatible chargers. That also means broader brand visibility and, ultimately a potential increase in both utilisation rates and revenue.
The more drivers you can offer your service to, the more customers you acquire. Roaming EV drivers can help occupy chargers during otherwise less busy times, generate new revenue streams, and further your ambitions as a charging provider.
The Future of Roaming Networks
As eMobility infrastructure and technological standards proliferate, it’s going to become the expected norm that drivers can charge wherever they like, instead of needing specific apps or accounts for specific stations.
That standardisation and charger agnosticism will mean more seamless integration with driver charging apps and processes, while new technology will go even further in making charging feel totally seamless.
Plug & Charge, for example, is a new charging feature that makes beginning a charging session as simple as connecting the charger – without any apps or RFID cards required. It works via intelligent, secure communication protocols that can identify a driver’s car, authenticate it with a secure certificate, and tie up all the loose ends behind the scenes automatically.
It’s that kind of seamless experience that will make roaming agreements and networks even more essential – and useful – for EV drivers over time.
It’s the role of eMobility service providers like Spirii, meanwhile, to continue to forge new roaming partnership agreements and build software platforms that allow for more streamlined driver experiences and simpler revenue sharing for CPOs.
Spirii Go: The go-to app for roaming
With Spirii Go, drivers enjoy frictionless access to an extensive network of charging locations in 17 countries across Europe. Our app helps EV drivers find a station, charge easily, and pay in one place – without the need to switch between different apps, accounts, or payment methods.