CPO vs EMSP? Understanding the difference – What South African EV drivers should know
As South Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem grows, so does the need to understand how public charging works – and who’s behind the infrastructure that keeps you moving.
If you’ve ever wondered why some charging stations work seamlessly with your EV card or app and others don’t, or why charging rates vary between networks, the answer lies in two key players: The Charge Point Operator (CPO) and the E-Mobility Service Provider (EMSP).
What is a CPO?
The Charge Point Operator (CPO) is the company responsible for operating the physical charging station – the hardware you see and use when you plug in.
“Think of the CPO as the backbone of the EV charging experience,” explains Hilton Musk, Rubicon’s Head of E-mobility. “They’re the ones making sure the chargers are operational, maintained, functional, and located where drivers need them most.”
While CPOs are primarily responsible for operating and managing the charging infrastructure, they don’t always install the hardware themselves. However, in South Africa’s relatively small EV market, it’s common for CPOs to also handle the installation of the stations they operate.
CPOs handle:
· Installation (sometimes)
· Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) operations
· Power supply agreements, in some cases, where requested by the charge station owner
· Maintenance, repairs and technical support
Rubicon, for example, operates public EV chargers across South Africa, acting as a CPO.
What is an EMSP?
The E-Mobility Service Provider (EMSP) is the company responsible for the customer-facing experience – the card, the app, the payment system.
“The EMSP is the part you see and use,” says Musk. “It’s how you pay for your charging sessions, track your usage, or find a nearby charger.”
The EMSP handles:
· User access (via cards, apps, vouchers, or wallets)
· Payment systems (excluding credit cards, this is a CPO function)
· Customer support
· Mobile/app interfaces and account management
When you tap your EV card or scan a QR code to start a session – that’s the EMSP working in the background to make it all happen.
CPO vs EMSP: What’s the real difference?
While CPOs run the chargers, EMSPs manage your access and billing.
Sometimes one company handles both – as Rubicon does.
Other times, they’re separate. For example, Rubicon may operate the charger, but GridCars manages payment via their app or card.
So, who decides what you pay?
The rate charged at a public EV charging station is made up of two things:
1. The wholesale rate set by the CPO which includes the cost of electricity and operations
2. The markup added by the EMSP which covers customer services and card management
Learn more about EV charging tariffs in this article.
Why roaming matters for you
Ever use the same EV card at different networks? That’s thanks to the roaming registry that links CPOs and EMSPs.
In South Africa, Rubicon and GridCars are currently the only participants in the roaming registry, which means that Rubicon customers can use GridCars stations, and vice versa, using just one card or app.
Globally, this is dictated by the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI). It was developed to avoid a problem that used to plague the industry: drivers needing different cards or apps for every different charging brand.
“Imagine you needed one card for BP, another for Shell, and a third for Engen, just to fill up with petrol,” says Musk. “That’s what EV charging looked like before OCPI and roaming agreements.”
As the industry grows, more providers are expected to join the roaming registry – making EV charging more like swiping a card at any petrol station.
What about OEM-branded cards?
You might have an EV card branded by your car maker – like BMW, Audi or Volvo. These are powered by EMSPs like Rubicon or GridCars.
Looks may differ, but under the hood, it’s still the same cooperative system of CPOs, EMSPs, and the roaming registry that keeps things moving.
Why it all matters for you, the EV driver
Understanding how CPOs and EMSPs work helps you understand pricing differences, avoid downloading unnecessary apps, use your EV card confidently, and troubleshoot if a charger doesn’t activate.
“The more drivers understand the system, the easier it becomes to navigate public charging,” says Musk. “It’s about making EV driving simple, convenient, and accessible for everyone.”