From rollout to real value: Gear up for the third wave of eMobility
eMobility is at a turning point. With the charging industry having so far been laser-focused on rolling out enough charge points to meet growing demand, things are now changing. As charging infrastructure becomes widespread and standardised, the real competitive advantage shifts from hardware to the software that powers it - enabling smarter integration and better user experiences.
This transition follows a familiar pattern seen across technological sectors:
The first wave is driven by hardware technology pioneers, enabling the early phase of transformation, with simple software designed and rolled out to support the hardware.
Next comes the software wave, where intelligence and interactivity are layered onto the hardware - making it more powerful and user-friendly.
Then, out of that second wave, software leaders evolve into platform providers, creating ecosystems where hardware becomes secondary and features expand continuously. The mobile industry illustrates this perfectly: hardware was just the starting point - it was iOS and the App Store that truly reshaped the market.
The charging industry is now at the brink of the third, platform-based wave, poised to witness significant innovations and possibilities.
Unlocking the true potential of EV charging
Cloud-based platforms now enable charge point operators (CPOs) to deliver advanced grid services such as frequency regulation, enabling them to earn revenue by using chargers or stationary batteries to absorb or release energy in response to grid needs.
Energy management tools like load management add further efficiency. By distributing power intelligently across multiple charge points based on demand and capacity, operators can lower energy costs, avoid infrastructure upgrades and maximise site performance.
CPOs can also boost returns by making depot chargers publicly available, as in the case of Tide Bus, turning underused chargers into shared assets without the need for additional hardware.
Looking ahead, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology is on the horizon, enabling EVs to act as mobile energy storage units, feeding power back into the grid when needed.
All this is transforming charging networks from passive energy users into active players in the energy system, shifting the industry from a mere cost centre to a valuable source of revenue.
The future of EV charging is connected, intelligent and profitable - and those who learn to navigate and lead early will shape the direction of the entire industry.
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