A CPMS (Charge Point Management System) is an EV charging management platform (often cloud-native) and is the foundation of an EV charging ecosystem.
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Charge point management systems allow CPOs and EMSPs to remotely monitor, control, and optimize their EV charger network.
In practice, a CPMS connects to charging stations over a network to gather real-time data and send commands.
This is usually done using open EV charging protocols such as OCPP and many others.
Such connectivity benefits all sides of the EV charging ecosystem.
Drivers get real-time insights and more control over their charging sessions, such as locating available chargers, or starting/stopping sessions via a mobile app.
And operators can perform troubleshooting, firmware updates, and performance optimizations remotely.
Key Functions of a CPMS
A robust CPMS provides many key functions necessary for efficient and scalable EV charging operations. Some of these include:
- Remote monitoring: View the real-time status of each charging station and respond quickly to issues.
- User management: Control charger access via user accounts, RFID cards, or mobile apps.
- Billing and payment: Track energy use and session duration to enable accurate billing and seamless monetization.
- Dynamic load management: Disctribute available power across chargers to prevent grid overload and reduce energy costs.
- Fault detection & maintenance: Detect and resolve charger faults proactively to maximize uptime.
- Data analytics: Analyze usage patterns and performance to optimize operations and plan future expansion.
Enterprise-grade CPMS solutions may include additional offers like managing multiple sites and partners, support for EV roaming standards (OCPI), EV subscriptions, and other business management tools to support large-scale EV networks.
CPMS Components
A CPMS (Charge Point Management System) typically includes two main components:
- Operator dashboard
- White-label mobile app
Operator Dashboard
The operator dashboard is where CPOs and EMSPs interact with the system.
This secure portal lets operators view the status of all chargers, configure charging station settings, run remote commands, set pricing/tariffs, and manage users.
The CPMS back-end handles all the core logic and data processing.
This gives the CPO full control over the charging network from a central interface.
Driver EV Mobile App
Most EV charging networks provide a EV mobile app as part of their CPMS.
This app allows EV drivers to find available charging stations, check charger details (connector type, speed, pricing), start and stop charging sessions, and make seamless payments.
It provides live updates during charging and can offer smart EV charging features such as scheduling a charge when electricity rates are lower.
By integrating with the CPMS back-end, the driver app ensures a smooth user experience.
Why is CPMS Important?
A Charge Point Management System is essential for operating a reliable, scalable, and profitable EV charging network.
It centralizes control of your infrastructure, automates key processes, and helps prevent expensive issues like downtime, billing errors, or energy waste.
With a modern CPMS, operators benefit from:
- Smarter energy and load management
- Flexible pricing and monetization
- Proactive fault detection and remote diagnostics
- Longer equipment lifespan through preventive maintenance
- Better service quality and driver satisfaction
Looking to power your EV charging operations with a future-ready solution?
Tridens EV Charge delivers all this and more – built to scale with your network.
