Short answer: The company that owns, installs, and maintains the physical charging stations you use.
Explanation
A charge point operator is the company responsible for the charger hardware, its installation, its grid connection, and its ongoing maintenance. When a charger is broken, it is the CPO's responsibility to fix it. When you see a logo on a charging station, it usually belongs to the CPO.
Examples of CPOs include Ionity, Fastned, Allego, EnBW, and hundreds of smaller regional operators. Some CPOs also act as eMSPs (selling directly to drivers through their own app), while others focus purely on hardware and leave the customer relationship to eMSP partners.
As a driver, the CPO affects your experience in two ways: the quality and reliability of the hardware, and the pricing. Some CPOs invest heavily in reliable, well-maintained stations with shelters, lighting, and clear signage. Others deploy cheaper hardware with less maintenance. Over time, you will develop preferences for certain CPOs based on reliability and experience at their stations.
Where you'll see this
- On the charger screen
- In charging network apps
Common confusion
People confuse CPOs with eMSPs. The CPO owns the physical charger. The eMSP provides your account and handles your payment. Sometimes one company does both (like Fastned), which blurs the distinction.
Example
Ionity is a CPO that operates high-power charging stations along European motorways. You can charge at Ionity directly through their app or via roaming through dozens of eMSP partners.
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