In the electric mobility industry, we often talk about charging passes. These charging passes are usable through roaming. By this we basically mean that you can use an extensive network of charging stations, even if you personally are not affiliated with the company that operates those charging stations. There are two main types of roaming: peer-to-peer roaming and managed roaming. 

What is managed roaming?

Managed roaming is done through a partner network. This network consists of several platforms that work together to offer EV drivers a wide range of charging options. One example is the popular 'Last Mile Solutions' platform that has more than 450 charging station partners. With managed roaming, you can access all connected charging stations within the network with one charging card. This is a lot easier for users. 

What is peer-to-peer roaming?

Peer-to-peer roaming involves a charging station platform connecting directly to another platform. This means that drivers with a charging card from one platform can access charging stations from that other platform. Of course, this is much more limited because several negotiations have to take place. Peer-to-peer roaming can also therefore provide a more competitive price because there is no middleman. However, coverage is usually more limited and you have to deal with more different passes.

Factors to consider when making your choice

In addition to the above factors, there are a number of other things to consider when choosing a roaming system:

• The costs: Compare prices from different providers and take into account all costs, such as subscription fees, transaction fees and roaming charges.

• The coverage: Make sure the roaming system you choose has good coverage in the areas where you operate.

• Customer service: Choose a provider with good customer service that can help you with any problems.

At Pluginvest, we always recommend managed roaming because it gives you very broad coverage of more than +450,000 charging stations all over Europe. As a result, you only need to carry 1 card to charge anywhere.

We offer a Charge@Public subscription of € 3.75 per month for unlimited charging throughout Europe.