CPOs, EMSPs, and Charge Point Owners Explained

Public EV charging is often discussed as a single system, but in reality, it is built and operated by several different players working together behind the scenes. Charge Point Operators (CPOs), E-Mobility Service Providers (EMSPs), and Charge Point Owners each play a distinct role in how charging stations are financed, deployed, operated, and experienced by drivers.

For building owners, operators, and new entrants to the EV charging space, these terms can be confusing, especially as roles increasingly overlap. This article breaks down what each role does, how they interact, and why understanding these distinctions is essential when planning or operating public charging infrastructure.

📌 TL;DR - Understanding the roles behind public EV charging

• CPOs operate and maintain charging stations

• EMSPs connect EV drivers to chargers and manage access and payments

• Charge Point Owners finance and own the charging infrastructure

• One organisation may take on multiple roles

• Clear role definition leads to better uptime, scalability, and user experience

Introducing the EV Charging Ecosystem

EV charging does not operate in isolation. It sits within a broader e-mobility ecosystem that includes:

• Charging hardware manufacturers

• Software platforms and connectivity providers

• Energy utilities and grid operators

• Property owners and site hosts

• Fleet operators and mobility providers

Each participant contributes a specific capability. When these roles are clearly defined and well-coordinated, charging infrastructure becomes reliable, scalable, and easier for drivers to use.

One of the most cited barriers to EV adoption globally is concern around public charging; availability, reliability, and ease of use. Many of these issues are not hardware-related, but operational:

• Who maintains the charger?

• Who sets pricing?

• Who does the driver contact when something fails?

• Who ensures systems work together across networks?

Understanding who does what helps site owners, investors, and operators make better decisions and design charging deployments that work in practice, not just on paper.

Charge Point Operators (CPOs)

What is a CPO?

A Charge Point Operator (CPO) is responsible for the day-to-day operation of EV charging stations. In simple terms, CPOs are the operators working behind the scenes to ensure chargers function reliably, safely, and consistently for drivers.

While drivers may never interact directly with a CPO, their experience — whether a charger is available, working, and easy to use — is heavily shaped by how well the CPO performs its role.

What does a CPO do?

1) Deploying and operating charging infrastructure

CPOs are typically involved from the early stages of a charging project. They advise on charger selection based on site requirements, oversee installation and commissioning, connect chargers to the power supply, and operate the stations on behalf of the owner. This operational role ensures that charging infrastructure is not only installed correctly, but also configured to perform reliably once live.

2) Maintaining reliability and uptime

Once chargers are operational, maintaining uptime becomes a core responsibility. CPOs manage preventive and corrective maintenance, monitor faults, resolve issues as they arise, and oversee both hardware and software updates. Reliability directly affects driver trust — frequent downtime or inconsistent performance can quickly lead to underutilisation and poor perception of a charging site.

3) Managing energy and network performance

Beyond keeping chargers running, CPOs play an important role in managing energy usage. Using backend systems, they monitor charger health, balance power loads across multiple stations, and implement smart charging or load management strategies. This helps reduce strain on building electrical infrastructure and the grid, particularly in sites with limited power capacity.

4) Planning for scalability

EV charging technology evolves rapidly, and CPOs must plan beyond immediate needs. This includes ensuring sites can support higher power chargers in the future, allowing infrastructure to expand without major redesign, and keeping software platforms compatible with emerging standards. Scalability is not just a technical concern — it directly impacts long-term ROI and future-proofing.

E-Mobility Service Providers (EMSPs)

What is an EMSP?

An E-Mobility Service Provider (EMSP) focuses on the driver-facing experience. EMSPs connect EV drivers to charging networks and handle access, authentication, and payment. Put simply, EMSPs are the interface between drivers and charging infrastructure.

While CPOs focus on operations, EMSPs shape how charging feels from the user’s perspective.

What does an EMSP provide?

1) Access to charging networks

Through mobile apps or memberships, EMSPs enable drivers to locate chargers across multiple operators, view real-time availability, and initiate and monitor charging sessions. This aggregation of networks reduces friction and makes public charging easier to navigate.

2) Payment and billing

EMSPs simplify the payment experience by offering options such as subscription plans, pay-as-you-go charging, or postpaid billing. A clear, predictable payment structure reduces uncertainty for drivers and lowers barriers to adoption — especially for those new to EVs.

30 Roaming and interoperability

A key role of EMSPs is enabling roaming. By partnering with multiple CPOs, EMSPs allow drivers to access chargers across different networks using a single app or account. This cross-network interoperability is essential for making EV charging feel as familiar and convenient as refuelling a conventional vehicle.

Charge Point Owners

What is a Charge Point Owner?

Charge Point Owners are the entities that finance and own the charging infrastructure. These owners are commonly property developers, retail or hospitality operators, corporates with fleet needs, or infrastructure investors. Their primary concern is often strategic rather than operational, such as why chargers are installed, where they are located, and how they support broader business or sustainability objectives.

Owner vs Operator: What’s the difference?

While owners fund the infrastructure, they typically appoint CPOs to operate and maintain the chargers and partner with EMSPs to provide driver access and payments. Owners set objectives around branding, pricing, utilisation, and return on investment, while operators focus on making the system work day to day. In short, owners decide why chargers exist; operators decide how they function.

When Roles Overlap

In practice, these roles are not always strictly separated. Some organisations own and operate their chargers, act as both CPO and EMSP, or vertically integrate parts of the value chain. While this can streamline coordination initially, it often increases operational complexity as networks scale and diversify.

How These Roles Work Together

Public EV charging performs best when responsibilities are clearly defined, systems are interoperable, and data flows smoothly between platforms. Operational visibility must be shared across stakeholders to ensure issues are identified and resolved quickly. Many challenges in public charging arise not from a lack of technology, but from unclear ownership of decisions, responsibilities, and data.

As charging networks mature, the ecosystem is evolving. There is a growing emphasis on roaming and interoperability, increased automation through software and analytics, and closer integration between energy management and charging operations. In some cases, roles may converge to improve efficiency, but clarity of responsibility remains critical. The long-term winners will be those who reduce friction not just for drivers, but also for operators and site owners.

CPOs, EMSPs, and Charge Point Owners form the operational backbone of public EV charging. Owners finance infrastructure and set strategic direction, CPOs ensure chargers operate reliably, and EMSPs connect drivers to networks through seamless access and payment. Understanding how these roles interact helps stakeholders design charging infrastructure that is reliable, scalable, and aligned with real-world usage. As EV adoption accelerates, collaboration and clarity across these roles will matter more than ever.

❓FAQ: who does what in EV charging?

Q: Are CPOs and charge point owners the same thing?

A: Not necessarily. Owners finance and own the physical assets; CPOs are contracted to operate and maintain them. In some models, one company plays both roles.

Q: Can a CPO also be an EMSP?

A: Yes. Many networks offer their own driver app (EMSP function) while also operating chargers (CPO function). The important part is not the label but how open their systems are to external partners.

Q: Where does a platform like Eigen Digital fit?

A: Eigen Digital supports CPOs, EMSPs, and owners with interoperable software and data exchange by helping them implement roaming, manage performance, and integrate with partners using open standards.