Demystifying the EV Charging Ecosystem
As electric vehicles become mainstream in India, terms like EMSP, CPO, and OCPP are increasingly common. Understanding these concepts helps you appreciate how modern EV charging networks operate.
What is a Charge Point Operator (CPO)?
A CPO owns, installs, and maintains physical charging stations. They handle:
- Hardware procurement and installation
- Electrical infrastructure and grid connections
- Regular maintenance and repairs
- Electricity procurement and management
- Site agreements with property owners
What is an E-Mobility Service Provider (EMSP)?
An EMSP like Lithions provides the customer-facing layer of EV charging. We focus on:
- User-friendly mobile applications
- Secure payment processing
- Customer registration and account management
- 24/7 customer support
- Loyalty programs and promotions
- Route planning and station discovery
Why This Separation Matters
This division of responsibilities creates a more efficient ecosystem. CPOs can focus on their core competency—operating reliable charging infrastructure—while EMSPs like Lithions excel at delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Interoperability Through OCPP
The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is an open standard that enables communication between charging stations and management systems. At Lithions, we support OCPP 1.6 and 2.0.1, allowing us to integrate with chargers from any manufacturer that follows these standards.
The Lithions Advantage
By working as an EMSP, Lithions can aggregate multiple CPO networks into a single, seamless experience. Whether you're charging at a mall, highway rest stop, or apartment complex, the Lithions app provides consistent access across all our partner stations.
One app, one wallet, thousands of chargers—that's the EMSP advantage.