Unlimited charging with one app: How the Elli charging network works

By reaching more than one million charging points across Europe, Elli has achieved an important milestone. But how is a charging network of this scale built? How do hundreds of charge point operators work together, and how does Elli ensure a consistent charging experience despite different infrastructures? A look behind the scenes.

The idea: One key for all of Europe

Electric mobility only becomes truly practical for everyday life when charging feels seamless. This is exactly where Elli comes in as a Mobility Service Provider (MSP) — a provider that gives drivers access to a large, cross-operator charging network through a single app or charging card.

The principle is simple: one account, one app or card, and access to charging points across countries and providers.

Whether in Germany, Austria, Norway, or Italy, users should be able to charge without having to deal with local specifics in advance. What sounds like a simple product promise is technically one of the most complex disciplines in e-mobility.

More than just charging points: The orchestra behind the scenes

A charging network is not a single system. It is more like an orchestra: hundreds of operators, different hardware manufacturers, various software versions — and in the end, everything has to work together seamlessly.

The Elli network is built on four key pillars:

Broad coverage

Access to charging points across Europe, both in urban areas and along major travel routes.

Quality assurance

Technical data is checked before integration, while faulty or unreliable data is deliberately filtered out.

Technical integration

Different systems are connected with one another.

Consistent user experience

The same logic and processes, regardless of the charging station operator.

The goal: reliable information, simple usability, and less complexity in everyday charging.

Who actually owns the charging points?

The charging points within the Elli network are not owned by Elli itself. They are operated by so-called Charge Point Operators (CPOs) — companies that build and manage charging infrastructure. Elli currently works with more than 1,000 of these operators across Europe.

There are two ways to make these charging points accessible:

Via roaming platforms (hubs)

In the e-mobility industry, there are specialized platforms that act as aggregators. CPOs make their networks available for roaming there, and MSPs such as Elli can subscribe to those networks. This enables efficient integration of large numbers of charging points.

Direct integration (peer-to-peer)

With selected partners, Elli goes one step further by establishing direct technical connections without intermediaries.

These peer-to-peer integrations are strategically selected and enable enhanced features as well as closer collaboration.

Why the extra effort?

Quite simply: while the differences are often barely noticeable to users at first glance, they become very apparent in everyday use.

Through direct integrations with selected charge point operators, Elli receives information such as availability, occupancy, or disruptions almost in real time and can display it in the app without delay.

Drivers also benefit from more up-to-date live data during the charging session itself: charging progress and sessions are recorded and displayed more quickly.

For drivers, this means more stable authentication processes, more reliable remote start functionality, and improved Plug & Charge experiences, since the data exchange happens directly without detours.

Even after charging, the benefits remain noticeable: completed sessions appear more quickly in the charging history, enabling faster billing.

In short: direct integrations increase transparency, speed, and convenience during charging — even if they are technically more complex for Elli to implement.

Why is charging still sometimes inconsistent?

The honest answer: because Europe’s charging infrastructure has evolved historically.

Especially in the AC charging segment, there are different hardware manufacturers, varying authentication methods, inconsistent user interfaces, and in some cases missing or non-uniform standards.

For users, this can be confusing:
Should the cable be plugged in first or authentication completed first? Use the card or the app? Why does the process suddenly stop?

These differences cannot be fully solved at the MSP level. But they can be reduced.

The DC charging landscape is generally more robust, although issues can still occur — for example due to authentication time limits or unclear workflows.

One important solution for greater simplicity is Plug & Charge: if both the vehicle and contract are properly configured, simply plugging in the cable is enough — the rest happens automatically.

How does Elli create consistency?

Complete standardization is not always technically possible, but Elli consistently reduces complexity:

• One app: users stay within the Elli app or the respective brand apps (SEAT & CUPRA Charging, ŠKODA AUTO Powerpass, Volkswagen We Charge, Audi charging)

• One account: no switching between local apps or systems

• One charging card: consistent authentication without QR codes

• Centralized customer support: assistance regardless of charging point or country

Especially while traveling, this significantly reduces stress during charging and also protects users from risks such as manipulated QR codes at charging stations.

The app allows users to find suitable charging points, check availability and live status information, and start or stop charging sessions. Payment is also handled directly through the app, complemented by transparent overviews of charging progress and charging history.

In addition, the Elli app and the respective brand apps provide real added value during charging sessions: users can see charging progress in real time and plan their time more effectively — whether for a short break, a coffee, or continuing their journey.

Quality before quantity: How does Elli select CPOs?

More than one million charging points is an important milestone. But size alone is not a promise of quality.

Not every charging point automatically becomes part of the network. Potential partners are carefully evaluated based on several criteria, including technical integration requirements and overall value for money.

The Selected Partner Network follows particularly high standards. A balanced mix of fast-charging infrastructure, locations along highly frequented transport routes, and strong urban coverage is essential.

The quality of the locations themselves also plays an important role — for example amenities during charging, additional services, or covered charging points.

What happens technically when new charging points are added?

If a CPO is already connected, new stations usually appear in the service within one day. Systems are synchronized daily.

However, if the charging station belongs to a CPO that has not yet been integrated, it will only become available in the service once the CPO connection has been completed.

Available charging stations are synchronized daily through the respective technical integration channels with the CPOs. This ensures that users always see up-to-date information in the service.

Looking ahead: How will the charging network continue to evolve?

Tariffs, transparency, and coverage have been recurring topics of discussion in recent years.

This is why the tariff structure has been fundamentally modernized. Conditions — such as charging with IONITY — have been made more attractive.

At the same time, the network has been strategically expanded, including new Selected Partners in several European markets, such as Mer Austria and Powerdot in France.

Today, geographical coverage is increasingly becoming an industry standard. Differentiation is now created through quality, reliability, and user experience.

The Elli charging network continues to grow — not only in the number of charging points, but above all in its maturity. The Selected Partner Network will continue to expand strategically in order to provide customers with a particularly reliable and convenient charging experience.

Formats such as the Charging Experience Summit with industry partners, as well as close collaboration within the Volkswagen Group, are driving standardization and quality improvements forward.

The goal remains clear: not simply more charging points, but a charging experience that works. Technically stable. Transparent. Usable across Europe.

Or, to put it another way:

Get in. Drive off. Charge. Without even thinking about it.