The EV charging industry is in the midst of a great unbundling. Where a single vertically integrated company once handled everything from hardware to customer support, today’s ecosystem is a complex web of specialists. Charge point operators (CPOs), e-mobility service providers (eMSPs), utilities, and hardware manufacturers each excel in their niche. While this specialization has driven rapid innovation, it has also created a fragmented user experience and left significant value on the table for businesses.

This fragmentation is more than an inconvenience; it’s a critical operational and commercial vulnerability. For the end-user, it can mean a confusing landscape of apps, payment methods, and inconsistent reliability. For businesses, this lack of cohesion leads to data silos, costly and complex integrations, and murky accountability when services fail. The true potential of the ecosystem—where a single plug-in can seamlessly manage payment, grid demand, and V2G services—remains untapped.

The Path to a Unified Future

Success now belongs to a network of specialists connected by a single, intelligent framework. This approach provides the connective tissue that allows every participant to focus on what they do best while benefiting from seamless collaboration. A unified software platform can act as the central nervous system, translating data and commands across all players to create a single, cohesive experience.

For CPOs & eMSPs: A single platform can streamline operations by providing a centralized dashboard for real-time monitoring. This enables them to enhance the user experience, capture more customer data, and offer advanced services that go beyond basic charging.

For Utilities: When every charger and vehicle is connected to a unified platform, utilities gain the real-time visibility and control needed to manage grid load. This allows them to orchestrate millions of flexible charging events into a Virtual Power Plant, ensuring stability without costly infrastructure upgrades.

For OEMs: A unified framework allows OEMs to integrate with the charging ecosystem, providing their customers with a truly seamless experience. By leveraging protocols like ISO 15118 (Plug&Charge), they can build brand loyalty by making charging effortless.

The Risk of Remaining Disconnected

As the industry matures, the consequences of failing to build a unified framework become increasingly clear. Companies that attempt to maintain a walled-garden approach or rely on a series of bespoke, bilateral integrations will face a number of growing risks:

  • Becoming a Commodity: Without a unified platform that connects hardware to advanced software services, a business risks being reduced to a simple commodity provider. In a market where hardware is becoming commoditized, value is captured by the player who controls the customer relationship and the data.
  • Loss of Customer Relationship: Consumers will gravitate toward the simplest and most reliable charging experience. Companies that cannot offer a seamless journey—from discovery and payment to integrated energy services—will see their direct customer relationships erode, with drivers choosing to use aggregator platforms instead.
  • Missed Revenue Streams: Opportunities in demand-side response and grid services depend on the ability to aggregate and orchestrate a fleet of chargers at a massive scale. Businesses that remain disconnected from these broader ecosystems will miss out on significant new revenue sources and lose their ability to influence grid stability.
  • Strategic Irrelevance: As key industry players form collaborative partnerships built on unified software platforms, those who are left outside these alliances will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage, unable to participate in the most lucrative and strategic opportunities the market has to offer.

Looking Forward: A Conversation on Collaboration

The next decade of e-mobility is about moving from fragmentation to flourishing. The challenge is immense, but the opportunity to lead the transition is even greater. We believe a unified framework is the key to building a resilient, profitable, and customer-centric ecosystem.

We look forward to discussing these ideas and more at the intercharge network conference in Berlin. Let’s continue this conversation and explore how we can build a stronger, more connected future together.