What is roaming and why it matters for Aussie EV drivers

Making charging as simple as filling up at the servo

For EV drivers, confidence is everything. And nothing knocks confidence faster than stressing about charging. Range anxiety, the battle to find a charger on the go, or wondering if it’ll even work once you get there - it’s still a far cry from the simple “fill ‘er up” experience at the servo.

Until charging is simple, reliable and accessible everywhere - at home, on the daily commute, or on a road trip - EV adoption won’t reach its full potential.

What is roaming?

Ask any EV driver and you’ll hear the same frustrations: too many apps, too many accounts, and too much guesswork about charger reliability.

Roaming solves this. Instead of juggling five different apps, every charger is accessible through just one. Find, plug in, charge up and pay wherever you are. One app, one account, all networks. Simple.

That choice matters. Right now, drivers need a different app for the kerbside charger up the road, another for rapid charger at the shopping centre, another for the ultra-fast charger on the freeway. It’s clunky and confusing, and it makes EVs feel harder than they should.

Roaming cuts through the noise by pulling every charger into one spot, giving drivers clarity and confidence.

How roaming works

Behind the scenes, roaming is about charging networks talking to each other. Each charging operator runs their own system, but with roaming agreements in place, they connect through a common language called OCPI (or ‘open charge point interface’ for those of you into your acronyms). This means one account can unlock chargers from many different networks, while drivers still get a single bill and a seamless experience.

For drivers, the backend tech doesn’t matter - what matters is that roaming takes away the hassle of juggling apps or creating endless accounts. You just open one app, start charging, and go.

Europe’s already nailed it

This isn’t new. Roaming and interoperability (the ability for different charging networks and apps to work together) have been around in Europe for years, with networks opening up access to make charging simpler and more consistent.

And in 2023, the UK went further with new regulations mandating greater interoperability and roaming across public chargers. The result? Drivers now enjoy a much more reliable, hassle-free charging experience.

Introducing zuup Roam

That’s exactly what we’re building with zuup Roam. One app to find, charge and pay across any charging network - no more juggling apps and accounts. Plus, you’ll get handy extras like nearby amenities for your dwell time, user ratings, and visibility of the charging brands you trust most.

Not every network’s on board yet, but the platform’s here, and we’re working flat-out to bring more partners in.

Targets and policies are important, sure. But the real EV shift will be powered by an experience built around drivers - and that’s what zuup Roam delivers.

Charge on, legends! 👋

Author: Kat McPhee | zuup Comms & Engagement