The Rise of the OCPI Roaming Hub: Own Your Slice of the EV Charging Revolution

OCPI roaming hubs are the future. The electric vehicle charging landscape has long been plagued by fragmentation, but now a new era is dawning. The new OCPI protocol versions and the emergence of commercially available OCPI roaming hubs disrupts the status quo, presenting a compelling opportunity for enterprises across the EV ecosystem.

A Brief History of Roaming Hubs

The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is well underway, but in its earlier years, a lack of seamless charging options posed a challenge to widespread adoption. Charging networks frequently operated as isolated entities, forcing EV drivers into inconvenient subscriptions with multiple networks. This is where pioneering e-mobility platforms like Hubject, e-clearing.net, and GIREVE played a pivotal role in changing the landscape.

Businesses have an unprecedented opportunity to tap into the EV charging market. The SolidRoam Enterprise OCPI HUB enables companies to establish their own roaming hub, which was previously only possible for a select few.

Hubject was the first major player to address the fragmentation of the EV charging market. Acting as an intermediary, Hubject developed their proprietary protocol aimed at enabling communication and data transfer among different charging networks. While these initial efforts established the foundations for EV roaming, OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface) emerged as an open and standardized protocol, fostering industry-wide interoperability.

OCPI revolutionized EV charging by allowing seamless cross-network communication—a driver could charge at a station belonging to a different network without needing multiple subscriptions and apps. Now, the latest OCPI versions and the emergence of commercially accessible OCPI roaming hubs, like those offered by SolidRoam, democratize this once complex arena. Businesses have an unprecedented opportunity to tap into the EV charging market. The SolidRoam Enterprise OCPI HUB enables companies to establish their own roaming hub, which was previously only possible for a select few.

Initially the OCPI protocol didn’t provide a standard means for communicating through hubs, which forced hubs like e-clearing.net and GIREVE to extend the OCPI version 2.1.1 protocol, rendering it incompatible. However, the development of OCPI version 2.2 brought a number of new operational roles to parties connecting to standard roaming networks. These included the role of a hub, which is able to route messages in a standard way as a trusted member of the roaming network. The protocol even supports a network of hubs, which route messages through complex multinational network topologies.

Benefits of Establishing a Roaming Hub

What can you achieve with your own OCPI roaming hub?

Become a Comprehensive Charging Network Provider: Integrate charging stations from various owners into a single network managed under your brand. EV drivers would benefit from accessing a multitude of stations through your subscription or pay-as-you-go services.
Simplify EV Fleet Management: Companies operating electric fleets can use your hub to centrally manage charging across diverse charging networks. This approach streamlines administrative tasks and billing procedures.
Enable Public-Private Collaborations: Bridge the gap between public charging infrastructure and private networks. Your hub plays the crucial role of connecting these entities, benefiting drivers and supporting wider EV adoption in your region.

Owning an OCPI roaming hub isn’t simply about entering a profitable industry; it’s about shaping the future of sustainable transportation. By removing barriers for EV drivers, you pave the way for the widespread acceptance of electric vehicles.

The time is ripe to seize this opportunity. Explore OCPI roaming hub solutions and embark on the journey to creating your own successful hub business.