eRoaming is changing how we charge electric vehicles. Imagine having one charging card or app that lets you charge anywhere in Europe — regardless of who operates the station. That's exactly what eRoaming enables. In this article, we explain what eRoaming is, how it works, and what it means for ZAspot users.
What Is eRoaming?
eRoaming is an interoperable system that connects different charging networks into one unified ecosystem. It works similarly to mobile phone roaming — you use your SIM card abroad, pay your own operator, and they settle with the foreign operator.
How Does It Work in Practice?
- You have an account with an eMobility Service Provider (EMP) — e.g., ZAspot
- You arrive at a station from another operator (CPO) — e.g., ČEZ, E.ON, Ionity
- You tap your card or start charging in the app
- Hubject (the central platform) verifies your identity and mediates communication
- Charging proceeds, billing goes through your provider
Key Players in eRoaming
| Platform | Coverage | Protocol | |---|---|---| | Hubject | 600,000+ stations, 55+ countries | OICP 2.3 | | OCPI | Alternative open protocol | OCPI 2.2.1 | | Gireve | Primarily France | eMIP |
ZAspot uses Hubject and the OICP 2.3 protocol — the largest and most widely adopted eRoaming platform in Europe.
ZAspot and eRoaming — Two Roles
ZAspot operates in eRoaming in two roles simultaneously:
1. CPO (Charge Point Operator) — Others Charge at Our Stations
Drivers from other networks (Shell Recharge, EnBW, Hubject-connected operators) can charge at ZAspot stations.
How it works:
- A driver with a Shell Recharge card arrives at a ZAspot station
- They tap the card → Hubject verifies authorization
- Charging runs through our OCPP server
- After completion, a CDR (Charge Detail Record) is sent via Hubject
- Shell Recharge bills their customer, Hubject settles with us
Benefits for station operators:
- Higher station utilization (external drivers also charge)
- Automatic settlement via Hubject
- Stations visible in navigation apps across Europe
2. EMP (eMobility Service Provider) — Our Users Charge Elsewhere
ZAspot users will be able to charge at hundreds of thousands of stations across Europe — ČEZ, E.ON, Ionity, Shell Recharge, and more.
Planned features:
- Charging abroad with your ZAspot account
- Unified billing in CZK
- Map of external stations in the ZAspot app
- Price overview for each operator
What Does eRoaming Look Like Technically?
OICP 2.3 Protocol
ZAspot communicates with Hubject via OICP (Open InterCharge Protocol) version 2.3. It's a standardized REST API protocol secured with mTLS (mutual TLS) — both sides authenticate each other with certificates.
Station Registration at Hubject
Each charging station has a unique EVSE-ID in the format:
CZ*ZAS*E00001*1
│ │ │ └─ Connector
│ │ └──────── Station
│ └───────────── Operator (ZAspot)
└──────────────── Country
Our stations are registered with Hubject and their availability is automatically updated every 5 minutes. When a station is occupied or offline, Hubject instantly reflects this in connected apps.
What Does eRoaming Mean for Users?
Benefits
- One card/app for everything — no more dozens of registrations
- Charging abroad — Germany, Austria, Poland... all of Europe
- Transparent pricing — you know beforehand what you'll pay
- Unified billing — everything on one invoice
Current Status at ZAspot
| Feature | Status | |---|---| | CPO — others charge at our stations | ✅ Active (QA certification) | | EMP — charging elsewhere | 🔄 In preparation | | Charging station map | ✅ Including eRoaming stations | | RFID charging card | 🔄 Planned |
The Future of eRoaming
eRoaming is the future of charging infrastructure. EU regulation (AFIR — Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation) requires that by 2027, all public charging stations support ad-hoc charging and interoperable payments.
ZAspot is prepared for this future through:
- Full Hubject integration (OICP 2.3)
- OCPP 1.6 and 2.0.1 support on all stations
- Transparent pricing model with spot prices
Want to learn more? Check our technology page or contact us.
