eRoaming is intended to extend electromobility beyond regional and system boundaries, and will enable drivers of an electric vehicle to recharge the vehicle at any charge spot, not just at ones run by their own provider. The Bosch Software Innovations eMobility Starter Package is a software solution delivered as software-as-a-service that enables companies, public sector bodies, or public utility companies to operate their own charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Communication between vehicle, charge spot, and charge spot operators is becoming simpler as open standard protocols are being defined. Bosch Software Innovations’ software supports the leading open interface protocols, Open InterCharge Protocol (OICP) and Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP). Other international standards such as ISO 15118 will follow.

The Bosch software also recently became the first to be certified by Berlin-based Hubject GmbH as a backend (i.e. the software that controls operation and management of the charging infrastructure). Hubject CHECK enables providers of charging infrastructure systems to ensure the compatibility of their hardware and software with the aid of OICP. Cross-provider use of publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles will thus be possible throughout Europe from summer 2013.

The OCPP protocol defines how charge spots communicate with operator software. This ensures that the charge-spot functions can be used safely and reliably, as well as providing support for value-added services such as remote maintenance or eRoaming.

Startups such as the Berlin-based company c also stand to benefit from this. Ebee’s charge spots link directly into Hubject GmbH’s European eRoaming via the Bosch Software Innovations backend. This connection has already been successfully implemented and has been undergoing testing for the past few weeks.