7 pitfalls to avoid when selecting your EV charging management platform

Imagine investing millions in hardware, only to discover your EV charging management software (CPMS) can’t keep pace with your growth. Or worse, finding yourself locked into a vendor relationship that’s slowly eroding your profit margins.

Unfortunately, these aren’t hypothetical scenarios. They’re real stories we’ve encountered across 60+ markets, affecting operators from ambitious startups to established energy giants. As investment in EV charging infrastructure soars, we see CPOs stumble into these same pitfalls when selecting their EV charging management software, often unaware of the long-term implications until it’s too late.

Many CPOs overlook critical factors that can make or break their operations. We’ve seen them face challenges they never saw coming: transaction fees that seemed negligible until they scaled, software limitations that only became apparent months after launch, and partnership dynamics that shifted from supportive to competitive.

This blog post distills our experience into seven critical pitfalls that can impact your EV charging operations. Whether you’re a C-suite executive mapping out your company’s EV strategy or a consultant guiding clients through this crucial decision, understanding these pitfalls could save you from costly mistakes that could handicap your operations.

The stakes are high. Your choice of CPMS will largely determine your ability to scale, innovate, and remain competitive in this fast-evolving market. Let’s explore how to select your EV charging management platform with confidence, starting with the most common misconceptions that can lead CPOs astray.

The misconception: Many operators make the mistake of viewing a CPMS as just another software tool. This narrow perspective overlooks the crucial strategic partnership aspect of the relationship. When you choose a CPMS provider, you’re not just purchasing software—you’re selecting a long-term technology partner who will influence your business’s growth and innovation capabilities.

The long-term impact: Without proper strategic alignment, you risk facing obstacles in achieving your business goals and missing out on valuable industry expertise.

The fix: Evaluate your vendor’s vision and roadmap, not just their features. Ensure there’s a cultural fit and strong communication style. Most importantly, find a vendor who’s invested in your business success.

The misconception: Don’t be lured by attractive low upfront costs, they often mask significant long-term expenses.

The long-term impact: Many operators underestimate the impact of transaction fees on their profitability, particularly when starting out. These fees might seem manageable while the business is small, but as it scales, the cumulative costs can erode profit margins and limit competitive pricing options. It’s a classic pitfall as these fees aren’t always obvious initially, but they can become a significant burden, taking a toll as transaction volumes grow.

The fix: Calculate long-term costs under various growth scenarios. Consider providers offering flat-rate pricing options and negotiate terms that align with your business model. Remember, the right pricing structure should support your growth, not hinder it.

The misconception: While changing CPMS vendors might initially seem straightforward, the reality is far more complex. Many operators assume their current needs will remain static, but the rapidly evolving EV charging market demands adaptability.

The long-term impact: Vendor lock-in can prevent you from adapting to market changes, limiting your competitiveness and flexibility.

The fix: Ensure that data portability and industry standards are a core part of your solution. Carefully review contract terms and exit clauses. Prioritize vendors with robust API capabilities to safeguard flexibility. These elements ensure you maintain control over your business’s direction and can adapt to market changes when necessary.

The misconception: Some CPMS providers operate under various business models, including ones that operate as CPOs or eMSPs themselves, complete with their own branded apps targeting the same customers and EV drivers you aim to attract. 

The long-term impact: By partnering with these vendors, you may inadvertently support a competitor with access to sensitive data and insights into your business. This can put your proprietary information at risk and create competitive disadvantages you might not anticipate. They might shift focus away from developing features that benefit your growth, focusing instead on their own operations.

The fix: Before selecting a vendor, thoroughly research their business model and client base. Establish clear boundaries through agreements, and if possible, select a vendor without competing interests to avoid potential conflicts.

The misconception: Many operators assume their current CPMS will meet future needs, underestimating the importance of scalability. Today’s sufficient capabilities might become tomorrow’s limitations. A true bottleneck occurs when your CPMS provider falls behind in pushing new features, is slow to release updates, fails to address evolving market regulations, or doesn’t prioritize your needs as a CPO.

The long-term impact: Without robust APIs or scalable architecture, your software can quickly become a bottleneck, stalling expansion and limiting innovation. For instance, limited integration options can prevent you from implementing needed features that are essential for scaling efficiently.

The fix: Look for a CPMS with extensive API capabilities, which will allow integrations with essential platforms as you grow. Assess the system’s ability to handle increased loads and look for vendors with a history of regular updates and improvements.

The misconception: It’s easy to assume that a vendor’s other business interests won’t affect their CPMS offering. But in fact, many CPMS providers are owned by big strategic investors or market players who prioritize their own interests and which might not align with yours as a customer. 

The long-term impact: Conflicts of interest can result in compromised support and biased business decisions that might limit your ability to grow and adapt to market demands. When a vendor is influenced by other business interests, they may prioritize features and resources that benefit their other partners over your specific needs. This can lead to slower feature rollouts, limited product flexibility, and less support for your preferred hardware or integrations, potentially leaving you at a competitive disadvantage and constraining your capacity for innovation over time.

The fix: Investigate your vendor’s ownership structure and affiliations. Ask direct questions about potential conflicts, and ensure your contract has clear service-level agreements (SLAs), and provisions for transparent communication on product updates and roadmap changes.

The misconception: Perhaps the most common pitfall is relying only on internal knowledge which can limit perspectives and lead to critical blind spots in CPMS selection.

The long-term impact: A limited perspective can result in choosing a system that doesn’t fully meet your business needs or missing critical functionality requirements.

The fix: Engage industry experts and consultants and open dialogues with potential vendors. Take the time to research competitors’ solutions and fully explore all options before making your decision. It’s a time investment that will pay off in the long run.

Avoid these pitfalls by choosing the right charge point management platform

Selecting the wrong CPMS isn’t just a short-term mistake—it can lead to significant hidden costs, eroding profitability, operational inefficiencies, and stunted growth. Remember, you’re not just choosing software; you’re selecting a critical partner who will influence your success in the rapidly evolving EV charging market. Take the time to fully understand the financial, operational, and technical implications of your CPMS choice. The investment in proper evaluation will pay dividends in the long run.