This article defines the key terms used across EV Portal and the EV charging ecosystem. Use it to quickly check what a term means and how it differs from similar terms.
If you are not sure which term applies to your situation, start with the comparison tables below and then follow the related articles.
Charge station, charge point, EVSE and connector
Term | Meaning in EV Portal | Common confusion |
Charge station | The physical charging unit at a site that contains one or more charge points / EVSEs. | Often used as a catch‑all for the whole installation. |
EVSE | One charging outlet unit that controls power delivery for a single charging session. | Sometimes confused with a connector. In many stations, one EVSE can have multiple connectors. |
Connector | The physical plug/outlet on the charge station that the driver connects to the vehicle. | Connector statuses can differ from EVSE or station statuses, depending on how they are derived. |
Related articles:
Tariffs and billing terms
Term | What it is | Where to read more |
Tariff | A pricing definition used to calculate costs for charging sessions. | |
Billing rule | A rule that applies prices (energy, time, parking/idle, etc.) within a tariff, with validity and exceptions. |
CPO
Term | What it refers to |
CPO | The organisation operating the charging infrastructure (charge stations, locations, and related configuration). |
Time of Use tariffs vs Dynamic Time Based Tariffs
Both allow more than one price to apply within a single charging session. Time of Use applies different price models to configured time windows; Dynamic Time Based applies multiple time-based price models and works only for tariffs without an energy price component. See the dedicated articles for the full behaviour.
Related articles:
OCPI vs OCPP
Protocol | What it is used for |
OCPP | Communication protocol between a charge station and a central management system (CSMS). |
OCPI | Protocol used between platforms (for example for roaming and certain integrations). |
Related articles: