Charge Point Operator (CPO)

Definition of Charge Point Operator (CPO)

A charge point operator (CPO) is a company that owns, operates, and manages EV charging stations and the associated network. The CPO is responsible for everything that happens between the charger and the driver: hardware uptime, user access, billing, roaming, and grid‑aware charging. In short, the CPO runs the “brains” of the charging network.

In the EV ecosystem, the CPO sits between the site host (mall, hotel, parking operator) and the end driver. It typically:

• Installs and maintains charging hardware (often via partners).
• Manages the backend software (user apps, payment processing, OCPP connectivity).
• Handles billing, roaming agreements, and settlement with other networks.
• Monitors uptime, performance and grid‑related constraints.

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CPOs are critical for:

• Uptime and reliability – they are usually the party that must meet NEVI‑style uptime mandates or commercial SLAs.
• Billing and user experience – they control the driver‑facing app, payment flows, and loyalty programs.
• Network‑level optimization – load‑balancing, smart charging, and integration with utilities or VPPs.

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In regulated or subsidy‑driven markets, the CPO is often the entity that proves compliance (eg 97% uptime, cause‑coded outages) to government or funding bodies.

Charge point operator (CPO) vs Charge point management system (CPMS)

A CPO is the business that operates the chargers.
A CPMS is the software platform that enables the CPO to manage those chargers (billing, monitoring, remote commands).

In practice, a CPO may use one or more CPMS vendors, while still remaining the single point of accountability for the network.

Charge point operator vs O&M / Field Service Software

The CPO’s software (CPMS) tells you that a charger is offline.
O&M / field service software (like FieldEx) tells you why it’s offline and ensures the physical fix happens – dispatching the right technician, tracking parts, and proving compliance.

Why CPOs matter for asset‑intensive operators

For site hosts, fleets, and energy companies, choosing the right CPO is as important as choosing the right hardware. A strong CPO:

• Guarantees high uptime through robust O&M partnerships.
• Provides transparent reporting and audit‑ready data.
• Integrates with your own asset and field‑service systems to close the loop between digital alerts and physical resolution.

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