How is a roaming card authorised?

Either from a cached list the provider shared with the operator, or by a real-time check with the provider. The provider sets which, per token.

Explained in

OCPI and roaming · Stop 04How does a token reach the charger?Cached token lists or real-time authorisation: the four whitelist types of OCPI, and what each one means when the driver taps the card.

A cached token is fast: the operator already knows it and can accept it at once. A real-time check gives the provider control, for example over a blocked card, but it takes longer, which OCPI notes can mean a less pleasant wait at the charger.

From “Speed against control”, stop 04

Terms

  1. OCPIOpen Charge Point Interface: an open protocol for roaming between operators and e-mobility service providers.
  2. TokenIn OCPI, what a driver starts a session with, such as a charging card, a key fob or an app account; it carries the contract ID of the driver's provider.
  1. What does OCPI exchange?Locations and tariffs from the operator, tokens from the provider before a session; sessions and commands during it; the CDR after it.
  2. What is a roaming hub?A platform that connects many operators and providers through one link each. Many companies use hubs for the long tail and direct OCPI links for large partners.
  3. Can a CDR be changed after it was sent?Not directly. OCPI treats CDRs like invoices: a wrong CDR is cancelled with a credit CDR and replaced by a corrected one.
  1. EVRoaming Foundation: OCPI 2.3.0, Tokens module: whitelist types and real-time authorisation. https://github.com/ocpi/ocpi/blob/2.3.0/release/core/mod_tokens.asciidoc. Checked 09 Oct 2026.