How do hardware and software providers earn?
The charger was made by one company, is serviced by a second and runs on software from a third.
The operator could replace any of them without replacing the others.
The questionHow do these suppliers earn, and why can the operator switch?
| Sells | Typical income | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware manufacturerchargers and parts | the charger | once, plus spare parts |
| Service companyinstallation and maintenance | work on site | contracts per year |
| Software providerthe backend (CPMS) | the platform | a fee per charge point |
Some companies offer all three; many operators combine different suppliers.
An open protocol keeps choice
Operators can mix suppliers because charger and backend speak a common, open protocol. can be downloaded and used free of charge, without licence or registration. A charger from one manufacturer can run on software from another, and the operator can change software without replacing its chargers.
How charger and backend talk is the subject of OCPP in depth.
Recurring rather than one-off
- Hardware earns once per charger, then on parts and upgrades.
- Service earns every year, often with targets in the contract.
- Software earns per charge point and month, so it grows with the network.
For an operator, the recurring fees are part of the fixed costs that has to cover, see stop 07.
Check your understanding
3 questions. Answer all of them to complete this stop. Each answer explains itself.
How does backend software for chargers usually earn?
Charge point management systems are typically billed per charge point, often monthly.
Why can an operator mix chargers and software from different companies?
OCPP is free to use and connects any compliant charger with any compliant backend.
Which income of a supplier grows with the size of the network?
Per-charge-point fees rise with every charger added.
- OCPP Open Charge Point Protocol: the open protocol between a charger and its operator's backend. EV charging fundamentals, stop 03 Glossary
- Uptime The share of time a charger was technically able to charge. EV charging fundamentals, stop 06 Glossary
- Utilisation How intensively a charger is used, for example in sessions or energy per day. EV charging fundamentals, stop 07 Glossary
- Open Charge Alliance: Introduction to OCPP (presentation, April 2026). https://openchargealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Introduction-to-OCPP.pdf. Checked 09 Oct 2026. Licence: CC BY-ND 4.0.