Cell phone users are not always direct customers of a cell phone network operator. It looks similar with traction current for the electric car.
You can buy your traction current directly from the charging point operator. But you don't have to. Usually a so-called e-mobility provider intervenes. This can cause extra costs, but makes everyday life easier.
The provider, usually abbreviated as EMP, makes the charging station usable for the end customer. He takes over the authorization at the socket via app or card, the handling of the refueling process and the subsequent billing. And not just with a single charging point operator, but with a large number of them, so that the e-mobilist can use as many chargers as possible with one fuel card or app. For this he usually collects a more or less small fee from the customer or charging station operator.
The best-known EMPs currently include "EnBW Mobility +", "Shell Recharge" and "Plugsurfing". In some cases, the companies also act as charging station operators. As a rule, the end customer has little to do with the so-called “Charge Point Operator” (CPO). The companies are responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing the columns. As a rule, they are the owners of the hardware at the same time, in other cases only tenants. As a driver, you come into contact with them, especially if there are technical faults in the charging station, for example if it is defective or if there are difficulties operating it. For this purpose, the number of a call center can be found on the housing. Many everyday problems can be solved remotely from there, for example by restarting the software.
