New service to support interoperability between UK charging

A new service will assist in the uptake of roaming between electric vehicle charging networks in the UK.

EV Roam is a new service provided by Renewable Energy Assurance Limited (REAL), delivered in partnership with the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA).

It will register unique identification codes to be used by Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and eMobility Service Providers (eMSPs).

The service is for those using the open protocol OCPI to communicate and underpins the legal agreements between companies. The service aims to make the experience of charging on public networks easier and encourage more individual drivers and fleets to go electric.

Interoperability refers to CPOs and eMSPs developing cross-network solutions with each other so EV drivers with one charging company’s membership system can use the same system to pay for their charging event on another company’s equipment. It is a key development to drive increased uptake of EVs by the EV Energy Taskforce in their final report, and by Transport for London in their EV Infrastructure Delivery Plan.

EV Roam will serve as the UK’s ID Registration Organisation (IDRO). It will operate in line with the EU’s IDACS 2019 agreement and ISO15118 agreed codes. Companies that have already signed up to the registration service include Zap-Map, Drivenergy, and Octopus Energy.

Virginia Graham, chief executive of Renewable Energy Assurance said: “REAL is in an ideal position to provide this important service alongside the other schemes we run in the renewable energy and circular economy sectors. We work in an independent and not-for-profit manner, and any profits from EV Roam will be recycled back into the organisation so we can grow other schemes crucial to the growth of the sector.

“These include the EV Consumer Code for Home Chargepoints (EVCC) which sets and enforces high standards for domestic charge point installers.”

Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive at the REA said: “The REA’s EV Forum has campaigned for greater uptake of roaming for the past eighteen months. We welcome the emergence of this service and hope to see widespread industry engagement with it.”

Transport minister Rachel Maclean said: “As more drivers than ever are making the switch to zero emission vehicles, paying for charging should be seamless and easy.

“That’s why I’m so pleased to see the launch of such an important service, which will help us to achieve our net zero goals and take us one step closer to a cleaner, greener transport future.”

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