A charge point operator (CPO) manages EV charging infrastructure: commissioning chargers, keeping them usable, setting charging tariffs, handling transactions and supporting drivers. For an Indian business starting a charging operation, the challenge is to combine suitable sites and hardware with dependable software, maintenance and commercial agreements—not simply install a charger.
For a quick definition, read Tecell’s short CPO explainer. This page is the operator playbook: how to structure responsibilities, select a CPO platform, evaluate partnership routes and measure operational performance.
What is a charge point operator?
An EV charge point operator is responsible for running charging assets as a service. The business may own the equipment, operate chargers for a property owner, or work through a partnership. Ownership and operating responsibility are separate questions; the agreement should establish who funds, controls, maintains and replaces each asset.
A charging point operator can serve residents, workplace users, fleet drivers or public customers. These audiences require different access rules, charging schedules and support arrangements. Start by identifying the intended users and their parking behaviour before selecting equipment.
CPO versus e-mobility service provider
A CPO focuses on charging infrastructure and its operation. An e-mobility service provider (eMSP) focuses on the driver-facing service: helping users discover chargers, authenticate, access networks and pay. An organisation can perform both roles, but the responsibilities remain distinct.
For example, a driver may use an eMSP’s app at a charger operated by another business. The CPO manages the charger and session delivery; the eMSP manages its customer relationship. Their commercial and technical arrangements must connect authorisation, tariff information, session records and settlement.
What a CPO operates day to day
Sites, electrical infrastructure and chargers
Operations begin with site suitability. Assess parking access, vehicle compatibility, electrical capacity, connectivity, equipment placement and maintenance access. Document the division of responsibility between the site host, electrical contractor, hardware supplier and operator.
AC charging supplies alternating current for conversion by the vehicle’s onboard charger. DC charging performs that conversion outside the vehicle and supplies direct current to the battery. Neither is automatically the right business choice: vehicle capability, parking duration and the available electrical supply determine suitability.
Reliability, maintenance and driver support
An online charger is not necessarily usable. Inspect connector condition, authentication, energy delivery, payment flow and physical access. A blocked bay or failed authorisation can prevent charging even when the management platform shows a connected device.
Define how faults are detected, who performs remote diagnosis and when a field technician is dispatched. Maintain equipment records, maintenance logs and escalation contacts. Driver support should distinguish a vehicle issue from a charger, connectivity or payment problem rather than treating every failed attempt identically.
Tariffs, payments and commercial reconciliation
The CPO needs a clear pricing policy and accurate session records. Explain charging charges before authorisation and define how refunds, interrupted sessions and disputes are handled. Public, resident and fleet pricing may differ, but users should see the applicable terms.
Reconcile energy delivered, customer payments, payment-provider records and site-host obligations. For roaming sessions, include the partner’s records and settlement agreement. Revenue displayed in a dashboard should not be confused with money received or operating profit.
Compliance and site governance
Check applicable electrical safety requirements, local permissions, DISCOM processes and customer-data obligations for the proposed site. Requirements depend on the location and deployment. Assign responsibility for approvals, inspections, safety documentation and renewal tracking rather than assuming these are covered by the hardware purchase.
The software stack a CPO needs
UnityCharge (Tecell CMS): charger management through OCPP
UnityCharge (Tecell CMS) is Tecell’s charge management software. The CMS source describes real-time station monitoring, billing automation, smart charging, analytics, API integration and multi-role management for site owners, CPOs and eMSPs.
OCPP, the Open Charge Point Protocol, connects chargers with their management system. It supports the exchange of operational information and commands. Tecell’s CMS page lists OCPP 1.6 and 2.0 support; validate the exact charger model, firmware and supported functions during procurement.
The same page describes SaaS subscription, private cloud and software ownership deployment options. Evaluate these against your internal IT capacity, data requirements and integration plans. Request a demonstration using realistic workflows, including failed authorisation, interrupted sessions and payment reconciliation—not only a successful charging session.
ChargeSphere: cross-network roaming through OCPI
ChargeSphere is Tecell’s EV roaming hub, not the charge management software. It connects CPOs, eMSPs, EV OEMs and fleets for cross-network charging. Tecell’s partnership material describes OCPI-based roaming, tariff synchronisation and inter-operator billing and settlement.
OCPI, the Open Charge Point Interface, supports information exchange between charging and mobility platforms. OCPP and OCPI therefore address different connections: charger-to-management-system communication and platform-to-platform interoperability. A roaming integration does not replace local charger monitoring or maintenance.
Before enabling roaming, agree which locations are published, how access is authorised, how tariffs are presented and how session records are reconciled. Network visibility can support customer access, but it should not be treated as a guarantee of utilisation or revenue.
Apps, integrations and tenant separation
Tecell’s enterprise partnership page describes white-label applications, payment options including UPI, cards and wallets, and API integration. Specify which interfaces your operating model requires and confirm their scope in the proposal.
If you manage sites for independent businesses, evaluate tenant-level permissions, pricing and reporting. Tecell’s multi-tenant charging architecture guide explains how operators can retain separate data and operational controls within a shared platform. Test access boundaries before onboarding external site owners.
Compare relevant Tecell products
The products below cover connected charging, AC stations, DC equipment and a software enquiry route. Power and type are reproduced from the supplied product names or descriptions. Confirm vehicle compatibility, connectivity and deployment suitability before ordering.
| Product | Power or type stated | List price |
|---|---|---|
| Tecell Smart Dual Socket | Smart dual socket with OCPP | ₹15,000 |
| Tecell Eris X2 3.3kW (GSM) | 3.3 kW; GSM; OCPP smart charger | ₹6,820 |
| Tecell 11kW AC EV Charging Station | 11 kW AC | ₹49,999 |
| Tecell 22 kW AC EV Charging Station | 22 kW AC | ₹59,999 |
| Gale 30 kW | 30 kW DC; CCS2 | ₹4,00,000 |
| Tecell 30KW GB/T Dual Gun Charger | 30 kW; GB/T; dual gun | ₹5,96,999 |
| Tecell 240KW DC Charger | 240 kW DC | ₹25,99,000 |
| CMS – Basic plan | Charge management software | Price on request |
Contact sales for installed pricing. Ask for an itemised proposal covering hardware, site works, software, connectivity and ongoing support. The Eris X2 product description states that an annual platform fee applies from the second year; confirm recurring charges for the selected package.
Business paths through Tecell
Enterprise charging partnership
Tecell’s enterprise EV charging partnerships combine software, hardware integration, applications and operations and maintenance offerings. This route is relevant when a business needs coordinated charge point operator solutions across sites or customer groups. Establish which party owns the assets and which operating services are contracted.
ChargeSphere partnership
The ChargeSphere partnership page describes pathways for CPOs, mobility operators, eMSPs, OEMs and energy businesses. An existing CPO can evaluate roaming separately from charger deployment. Discuss onboarding responsibilities, commercial terms, platform integration and settlement processes before committing.
CPA and aggregation-related enquiries
The supplied CPA page presents ChargepointAlliance, with network integration, technology platform, partnership development and regulatory support offerings. It does not define a specific charge point aggregator contract. If you are seeking a CPA or aggregator business route, ask Tecell to clarify the available arrangement, asset responsibilities, customer ownership and revenue settlement terms.
Franchisee offering
Tecell’s franchisee offering describes a modular model with charge management software, ChargeSphere roaming access and lifecycle support. Treat it as a proposal-led business decision. The source explicitly qualifies revenue and return projections as estimates dependent on location, demand, competition and operational performance—not guaranteed outcomes.
For residential hosts that do not want to operate the infrastructure themselves, Tecell also describes a charging-as-a-service model for societies and developers in which Tecell installs, owns and maintains the equipment. This is distinct from becoming an independent CPO.
How to start: buying and decision checklist
Use this checklist before signing a site agreement, ordering chargers or selecting CPO services. Each item should result in a documented decision or a question for the supplier.
- Define the users. Identify vehicle types, parking duration, access restrictions and whether demand is public, residential or fleet-led. Validate demand locally rather than relying solely on passing traffic.
- Establish site rights. Confirm parking control, operating hours, signage permission, maintenance access and the term of the site agreement. Address relocation and contract termination.
- Commission an electrical assessment. Review available supply, protection, earthing, metering, cable routes and expansion constraints with a qualified professional. Identify approval responsibilities.
- Select compatible hardware. Match connector and power requirements to intended vehicles. Obtain written confirmation of CMS compatibility, warranty scope, replacement support and commissioning tests.
- Validate the CPO platform. Demonstrate authentication, remote monitoring, tariff configuration, session reporting, permissions and transaction export. Check what happens when connectivity is interrupted.
- Define commercial rules. Document customer pricing, payment-provider charges, site-host payments, refunds, roaming settlement and recurring software fees. Separate projected revenue from operating contribution.
- Agree service ownership. Name the parties responsible for helpdesk support, remote diagnosis, field repairs, spare parts and safety inspections. Put escalation and service commitments in the contract.
- Test before launch. Verify access, charging, payment, receipts, support contact details and roaming where applicable. Retain commissioning records and train staff on exception handling.
Build a site-specific operating model that includes electricity costs, rent or revenue share, maintenance, software, connectivity and payment processing. Test weaker-demand conditions as well as the expected case. Expand based on observed usage and service performance, not charger count alone.
KPIs beyond raw charger uptime
Tecell’s guide to CPO performance beyond uptime explains why connected status can conceal charging and payment problems. Review technical reliability alongside customer experience and commercial performance.
- Successful session rate: Assess whether charging attempts actually start, deliver energy and finish without unexpected interruption.
- Usable availability: Distinguish online equipment from connectors that are functional, accessible and ready for use.
- Connector utilisation: Review demand by connector and time period to identify queues, idle assets and mismatched equipment.
- Revenue per connector: Compare commercial performance, while assessing costs separately before drawing profitability conclusions.
- Failed session rate: Categorise failures by authentication, payment, communications, hardware and energy delivery.
- Mean time to recovery: Track restoration of usable service, not merely acknowledgement of a fault.
As an additional operating control, reconcile billed sessions against received payments and partner settlements. Use consistent definitions across sites, and review recurring fault causes rather than only network-wide averages. An aggregate result can hide a persistently unreliable connector.
How Tecell can help
Tecell’s supplied materials cover charge management software, roaming, AC and DC hardware, installation and operating partnerships. Begin with the part of the operation you need to resolve, then agree the scope and responsibilities in writing.
- Evaluate monitoring, billing and deployment options through UnityCharge (Tecell CMS).
- Explore cross-network access through the ChargeSphere EV roaming hub.
- Review Tecell’s installation services for site assessment and infrastructure deployment.
- Discuss an operating model through enterprise partnerships or the franchisee offering.
Contact Tecell to discuss your CPO project. Share the site location, intended users, vehicle mix, available electrical information and ownership preference so the discussion can focus on a suitable proposal.
Frequently asked questions
What does a charge point operator do?
A charge point operator manages EV charging infrastructure, including commissioning, monitoring, maintenance, customer support, tariffs and transaction handling. The operator may own the chargers or manage them under an agreement with a site or asset owner.
How is a CPO different from an eMSP?
A CPO operates the charging infrastructure. An eMSP provides driver-facing access, discovery, authentication and payment services. A business can perform both roles, while roaming enables customers of an eMSP to use participating CPO infrastructure.
Which Tecell platform manages chargers?
UnityCharge (Tecell CMS) is the charge management software at cms.tecell.in. Its described capabilities include monitoring, billing automation, smart charging, analytics and role management. ChargeSphere is the separate EV roaming hub.
Does a CPO need both OCPP and OCPI?
OCPP supports communication between chargers and the management system. OCPI supports platform-to-platform information exchange for roaming. A CPO planning cross-network access should evaluate both connections, their supported functions and the relevant commercial agreements.
How much does it cost to become a CPO in India?
There is no universal project cost. Equipment, electrical works, site arrangements, software and operating support depend on the deployment. Use product list prices for initial comparison, then contact sales for installed pricing and a site-specific operating proposal.
Does a Tecell franchise or roaming partnership guarantee returns?
No guaranteed return should be assumed. Tecell’s franchise material qualifies projections as estimates dependent on site performance and market conditions. Evaluate actual demand, costs, service responsibilities and settlement terms before choosing a franchise or roaming arrangement.