Charging infrastructure from A to Z.

First the terms of the POWR platform, then the key terms around charging infrastructure, roaming and billing — short and without jargon.

Last updated: 14 July 2026

How POWR works

You will meet these terms across the POWR platform. This is how they relate: in your POWR account, a location groups your charging stations, whose charging points you use through slots. Members charge with an auth method at the conditions of their price group, every charge produces a charging session, and load management distributes the available power along the way.

POWR account: The POWR account is your access to the platform and the bracket around everything else: here you manage locations, stations, slots, members and auth methods, and here your charging sessions are billed. The account owner bears the costs of the account, for example including the charges of a shared card.
Location (site): A location is a site with an address where your charging infrastructure lives, such as your home or your company site. A location groups one or more charging stations and is the level on which you organise and analyse your sites in POWR.
Charging station: A charging station is the physical device at a location: your wallbox or charging column. Every station has one or more charging points, each of which can charge one vehicle. POWR connects stations vendor-neutrally via OCPP.
Slot: A slot is a usable entitlement: booked capacity, not a device and not a separate offer. A slot applies to a charging point (AC or DC) or to home charging, so home charging sessions flow into the reimbursement process automatically. Billing is per slot and month. A slot is ready to use, but does not have to be used.
Auth method: An auth method is the key that starts and stops a charging session: the POWR card, an existing RFID card (bring your own card) or a QR code. Usually an auth method is assigned to one person, so every charge lands in the right profile. There are also shared cards, for example for a pool vehicle, whose charges are borne by the account owner.
Member: A member is a person you invite into your POWR account by email: with their own profile, own auth method and own breakdown. Per member you assign a role, admin or member, and an individual price group. Without an assignment the default price group applies.
Price group (tariff): A price group defines the conditions for charging at your charging points: a price per kilowatt hour, extended by time windows, limits or further fees where needed. You can create several price groups, for example for guests, members or employees, and assign auth methods. Without an individual assignment the default price group applies.
Charging session: A charging session is one completed charge at a charging point, from start to stop, with start time, duration, charged kilowatt hours and cost. Besides the energy fee, further fees can apply depending on the charging point, such as parking, blocking or authentication fees. They are individual per charging point and visible at charge start. Charging sessions are the basis of all billing in POWR.
Load management in POWR: POWR load management dynamically distributes the available grid capacity of a location across all active charging sessions instead of switching off individual charging points. Configured limits are respected. This protects the grid connection and avoids expensive load peaks.

E-mobility from A to Z

The industry-wide terms around charging infrastructure, roaming and billing, explained vendor-neutrally.

CPMS (Charge Point Management System): A CPMS is the software operators use to centrally monitor, control, authorise and bill their charging points. The POWR CPMS connects charging hardware vendor-agnostically via OCPP and bundles operations, load management, roaming connectivity and billing in one backend.
eMSP (e-Mobility Service Provider): An eMSP issues charge cards and lets drivers charge across third-party networks via roaming. As an eMSP, POWR bundles access to the connected partner network with the POWR card and bills charging sessions in your POWR account.
CPO (Charge Point Operator): The CPO operates the charging infrastructure: it builds and runs charging points, keeps them available and sets the tariffs. Many companies are a CPO for their own locations and at the same time a customer of an eMSP for charging on the go.
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol): OCPP is the open standard protocol between a charging station and the backend. It keeps operators independent of the hardware manufacturer: OCPP-capable stations from different brands can be operated, monitored and billed in the same system.
OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface): OCPI is the open protocol between the backends of different providers, for example between a CPO and an eMSP. It carries location data, tariffs and charging sessions and is the technical foundation for roaming between charging networks.
Roaming: Roaming means charging at charging points run by other operators with one card or app, billed through your own provider. With the POWR card you charge in the connected partner network and see the price per location upfront.
HPC (High Power Charging): HPC is fast DC charging from around 150 kW, typically along long-distance routes and in charging parks; current columns reach 300 to 400 kW. For trucks, the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) is emerging as the next power level in the megawatt range. HPC places higher demands on the grid connection and load management.
Charging point and charging station: A charging station is the physical unit or wallbox; a charging point is the individual connector on it where exactly one vehicle charges. One station can have several charging points. Billing and authorisation always refer to the charging point.
Load management: Load management distributes the available electrical power across active charging sessions so the grid connection is never overloaded. Dynamic load management adjusts the distribution continuously and allows more charging points on the same connection.