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A guide to planning EV charging infrastructure including CSMS selection, build vs buy decisions, RFP requirements, NEVI compliance, and long-term cost and scalability planning.

Learn how EV charging networks are architected, including the role of CSMS platforms, OCPP communication, payment systems, and roaming infrastructure.

Learn how open standards like OCPP, OCPI, and ISO 15118 enable interoperable EV charging networks and how platforms like CitrineOS and TopazEV support scalable infrastructure.

EV charging payments are more complex than traditional transactions. Learn how charging networks manage billing, pre-authorization holds, pricing models, and payment infrastructure.

EV charger downtime is rarely caused by hardware alone. Most failures stem from communication issues, software limitations, power constraints, or device firmware conflicts. This article explains the most common causes of charging network downtime and how operators diagnose and improve reliability across large EV charging deployments.

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure depends on more than hardware. Behind every charging network is a software platform responsible for managing devices, coordinating charging sessions, processing payments, and ensuring network reliability. This software layer is commonly referred to as a Charging Station Management System (CSMS). As EV adoption grows globally, CSMS platforms have become one of the most critical components of charging infrastructure. This guide explains how EV charging software platforms work, the technologies they depend on, and the factors operators consider when choosing a platform.

EV charging sessions involve authentication, pricing, and settlement across multiple parties, making them closer to financial transactions than utility services. This article explores why payments and identity are becoming central to charging infrastructure, how Plug & Charge and programmable payments change backend responsibilities, and why open charging platforms give operators greater operational and economic control.

In our 2025 Year in Review, we reflect on a year of real-world progress across the EV charging ecosystem. From the growing adoption of open standards and open-source foundations to lessons learned supporting networks at different stages of scale, we share key takeaways from 2025 — and what’s shaping our focus for 2026 and beyond.

As EV adoption accelerates, car dealerships are discovering a powerful new profit center: EV charging. In this commentary featured in Motor Trade News, S44 Energy CEO Olga Haygood shares how smart software strategies and open infrastructure can help dealerships turn charging into a scalable, customer-focused revenue stream.

Explore how dynamic pricing strategies could revolutionize electric vehicle charging networks by balancing operator margins, grid load and user satisfaction. In this guest commentary, CEO of S44 Energy, Olga Haygood breaks down the case for smart, real-time pricing models that adapt to demand, energy costs and station utilization—enabling scalable, reliable charging infrastructure.

Discover how open-source EV charging software like CitrineOS and TopazEV is transforming Charge Station Management Systems (CSMS). Learn why flexibility, transparency, and interoperability are key to scaling global EV infrastructure.

S44 Energy has launched TopazEV, the industry’s first Open-as-a-Service (OaaS) charge station management software (CSMS). Designed for charge point operators, fleets, retailers, and utilities, TopazEV eliminates vendor lock-in and per-session fees, providing operators with scalable, protocol-compliant control over their EV charging networks. Supporting OCPP 1.6, 2.0.1, OCPI, and ISO 15118, TopazEV offers real-time dashboards, intuitive UI, and seamless API integrations. Available via hosted subscription or business source license, TopazEV helps democratize access to reliable, open EV charging infrastructure.

Olga Haygood is the CEO of S44 Energy, a software company that solves the real-world problems behind EV charging infrastructure. Her team created a widely adopted open-source project, now hosted by the Linux Foundation, as well as the industry’s first Open-as-a-Service charge station management software. She is deeply engaged in advancing democratization and standardization across the industry. In this Q&A, Olga explains what’s holding the EV industry back and what it will take to future-proof public charging networks worldwide.

To help usher in this next era, we’re introducing a new platform purpose-built for charge point operators: TopazEV — a Charge Station Management System (CSMS) designed to unlock growth, flexibility, and long-term profitability.

S44 Energy announces Olga Haygood as CEO to accelerate the company’s leadership in EV charging software. With a focus on Open-as-a-Service (OaaS) innovation, Haygood will guide the launch of scalable, open-source-based solutions for Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and fleets seeking cost-effective, future-ready infrastructure.

CitrineOS, the open-source CSMS developed by S44 Energy and adopted by LF Energy, has released version 1.6.0 with expanded support for OCPP 1.6—enabling broader compatibility with legacy EV chargers. The update includes a redesigned operator UI, support for both OCPP 1.6 and 2.0.1, and key technical enhancements like GraphQL integration and S3-compatible storage. This milestone makes CitrineOS even more flexible and future-ready for EV charging networks. LFE and S44 Energy hosted a public webinar previewing the new features.

MAHWAH, NJ — JANUARY 28, 2024 – S44 Energy, the developer behind CitrineOS, an open-source Charge Station Management System (CSMS) and a Linux Foundation Energy project, proudly announces that CitrineOS has achieved OCPP 2.0.1 Core & Advanced Security certification from the Open Charge Alliance.

As 2024 comes to a close, S44 Energy reflects on an incredible year of growth, innovation, and milestones for CitrineOS, our open-source Charge Station Management System (CSMS). From expanding our capabilities to helping clients transition away from restrictive SaaS solutions, we’ve made significant strides in empowering the EV charging industry. In this blog, discover how CitrineOS is driving the future of EV charging, offering both open-source and custom solutions to build scalable, future-proof infrastructure for Charge Point Operators worldwide.

As the U.S. navigates a new phase of its electrification journey, potential shifts in policy under a Trump presidency could bring both uncertainty and opportunity to the EV industry. While recent years under the Biden administration propelled growth through initiatives like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding, the future of public support remains unclear. In this environment, how can Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and new market entrants continue to thrive and drive innovation? In our latest blog, we explore why open-source EV charging platforms, such as CitrineOS by S44 Energy, offer a powerful path forward. Discover how these adaptable, cost-effective solutions can empower the private sector to remain competitive, sustain profitability, and meet evolving industry standards, even in the face of policy changes. Read more to learn why embracing open-source technology is crucial for the next chapter of electrification.

SAN FRANCISCO — JULY 16, 2024 — LF Energy, the open source foundation focused on harnessing the power of collaborative software and hardware technologies to accelerate the energy transition, announces the release of LF Energy CitrineOS 1.3.0. This new release marks a significant advancement in CitineOS’ implementation of an Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 2.0.1 compliant Charging Station Management System (CSMS). S44 Energy, a global leader in EV charging solutions, lead contributions to the latest version as part of an open source community developing CitrineOS. This underscores S44 Energy’s commitment to driving innovation and scalability within the electric vehicle charging industry.

S44 Energy, a leader in revolutionizing global EV charging experiences, announces its membership in the Open Charge Alliance (OCA). The OCA is dedicated to advancing global development, adoption, and compliance of communication protocols within the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure through collaboration, education, testing, and certification.

Ever been on a long road trip with your electric vehicle and finally found an available charging station, only to realize your charging network card isn’t accepted? You try your credit card, but the hardware’s too finicky. You call customer service, and they suggest downloading an app and registering. At this point, all you want is a simple way to charge your car without jumping through hoops, the way it used to be at the gas pump! Enter Scan-N-Charge, a seamless solution designed to make EV charging as simple as scanning a QR code. This innovative project, developed by our team at S44, exemplifies the kind of user-friendly, tech-forward solutions we specialize in.

The shift to electric power is revolutionizing the transportation industry, especially for long-haul trucks. Four key stakeholders—governments, truck manufacturers, charger manufacturers, and CSMS companies—have significant interests in electrification. The U.S. government's (Transition to Zero-Emission Heavy-duty Vehicles) and the EU's (AFIR) initiatives demonstrate government support, addressing key challenges like charging infrastructure, costs, grid impact, and en-route charging.

Imagine fully understanding your customers before they even set foot in your showroom. Picture knowing exactly which models and features they're interested in, so you’ll have the perfect vehicle ready for a test drive the moment they walk through your doors. Sounds like the distant future? Not with AutoIntel Customer Insights – the game-changing analytics tool transforming the car dealership experience.

EV adoption at scale is highly reliant on government-funded and -supported infrastructure. Consider the endless miles of gas stations that fuel America’s cities and highways today. Each gas station’s infrastructure is standard and can be operated by any gas company. If British Petroleum moves out, ExxonMobil can take over, never leaving drivers without access to gas. This is because the U.S. government recognizes gas stations as critical infrastructure.

As more drivers embrace electric vehicles (EVs), innovative car and charging solutions are hitting the streets. Manufacturers, distributors and drivers all have something to gain, whether it’s from new technology, improved compatibility or the adoption of industry-wide standards. Let's take a look at the EV charging and driving trends that will take hold in 2024 and beyond.

In our first webinar, we discussed how CitrineOS can help to upgrade EV charging networks to the OCPP 2.0.1 standard. In our newest blog post, Thana Paris, our Director of Open Source Program, answers your most asked questions in detail.

Thana Paris discusses how standards, accessibility, and user-centric focus shape the path to seamless innovation in this article on Spiceworks.

Thana Paris joins industry experts who share predictions for 2024. Read her thoughts on the future of EV charging in the 16th annual VMblog.com series.

Julian Offermann argues that open standards will expedite a new EV charging network and meet consumer demands for widespread coverage

For many EV charging station networks, the transition to the modern and new OCPP 2.0.1 standard is a real challenge. In this article, Thana Paris shows how software developers can best overcome these challenges with open source software.

OCPP is a protocol that outlines the requirements for standardized EV charger management software, but it’s up to users to implement it.

OCPP standards have taken a step forward with the arrival of OCPP 2.0.1. This guide explains the standard, its features, and implementation requirements.

From reduced emissions to lower fuel costs for drivers, electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to create significant positive impacts on society. Today, EVs are available in a range of makes, models and prices, and have better driving range than ever before. But EV adoption still lags behind internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which outsell EVs seven to one.

There are a plethora of electric vehicle (EV) charging and management applications used by charge point operators (CPOs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and drivers. These apps help drivers find charging stations, see charging status and complete transactions, and let CPOs remotely control chargers, monitor uptime and more.

It’s been less than 15 years since the first public chargers for electric vehicles (EVs) were installed in the United States. In that time, the industry has seen steady growth, which is accelerating as countries around the world set goals for mass EV adoption.

LF Energy, the open source foundation focused on harnessing the power of collaborative software and hardware technologies to decarbonize our energy systems, announced that they have accepted five new open source technical projects, including CitrineOS.

2023 saw nine new members and nine new projects join LF Energy, while contributor strength grew by 30% and lines of code hosted by 22%, demonstrating growing support for open source solutions for power systems.

North American Clean Energy writes about LF Energy expanding its infrastructure tech stack for EV charging, battery storage, grid resilience and more.

The LF Energy Technical Advisory Council has accepted five new projects into LF Energy, including CitrineOS, the open source EV charger management solution created by S44.

Adrian Bridgwater, Technology Editor for ERP Today, writes about CitrineOS and other open source projects joining Linux Foundation Energy.

CitrineOS is now an LF Energy project and offers a community-tested and reliable open source software for EV charger management. This drives forward adoption of the OCPP 2.0.1 protocol, resulting in more reliable charging networks worldwide. When implemented, it will broaden access to and utilization of EV charging networks while making them more secure, intelligent and manageable. The addition of CitrineOS further strengthens LF Energy’s overall tech stack and provides additional open source resources for energy stakeholders looking to transition to renewables.

This guide reviews the Open Charge Point Protocol and its new features. We also examine software compliance issues in the context of the update.

NEVI can help address one of the major barriers to automotive electrification & widespread EV adoption: a lack of a uniform EV charging infrastructure. The NEVI Formula Program is now the government’s signature funding package to meet these ambitious EV infrastructure development goals. This guide to eMobility development explores the NEVI program, its potential impacts, and technical details related to compliance.

The Buzz EV News shared S44's announcement of CitrineOS, the open source software that's now available on GitHub.

devmio spotlights the achievements of women in the tech industry by highlighting inspirational women from around the world and giving them a chance to introduce themselves, share their stories, and help advise other aspiring women in the field. They recently spoke to Thana Paris, director of open source program at S44.

With significant federal investments totaling $13.5 billion directed towards upgrading both the U.S. electric grid and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, the nation's transition to electric vehicles faces a critical bottleneck: outdated software. Julian Offermann, CEO of S44, underscores the urgency in updating this software to meet strict government mandates, crucial for the ambitious goal of 50 percent EV car sales by 2030.

The Biden administration's substantial investments in upgrading the U.S. electric grid and EV charging infrastructure are crucial for the nation's shift towards electric vehicles. However, a significant hurdle remains: outdated software in EV charging systems. Julian Offermann, CEO of S44, highlights the urgency in modernizing this software to meet government standards and secure funding.

EV adoption is on the rise. We look at the importance of a solid EV infrastructure in cities and universities to achieve a low-emission global economy.

Meet CitrineOS, the only open source EV charge management software that’s OCPP 2.0.1 and NEVI compliant. Created by S44, the leader in EV charging software.

As consumers have developed a greater awareness of the harms of fossil fuels, they’ve flocked to electric vehicles. In response, other automotive suppliers have released their own electric products that need custom software to make sensible connections to improve the grids we all share.

Let’s unpack the current challenges of the eMobility Infrastructure—and how custom software solutions like those from S44 are working to solve them.

Optimizing user interface (UI) design is pivotal in driving eMobility acceptance. Well-crafted UIs simplify EV operation, making them more accessible to the average driver. S44 leads in UI/UX design for eMobility, ensuring intuitive navigation, real-time data updates, seamless integration, and impactful visual branding for a superior user experience.

To unlock high energy efficiency, there are many techniques specific to each use case. Custom energy management software like S44’s incorporates a number of these techniques to deliver unparalleled efficiency.

Let’s dive deeper into HVAC energy efficiency—and how custom software can enhance operation.

There are a lot of complex calculations underpinning the success of today’s EVs. This is where custom software can step in to handle the challenging tasks of load management and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

Custom load management software is transforming how we manage electricity by responding to the destabilizing effects of electric vehicles on the grid. Leverage custom software to optimize loads and reduce the associated costs and risks.

As more fleets transition to electric vehicles (EVs), it’s important to make the best use of the growing technology. EVs have capabilities far beyond what conventional fossil fuel vehicles could do. For example, a key tool in this field is called vehicle to grid, or V2G.

An improved eCommerce experience is good not only for customers but also for vendors. Although recommender software can help you move more inventory, there are challenges in developing an effective recommender solution. By working with an integrative system like AutoIntel, you can resolve these difficulties while boosting customer engagement.

Key performance indicators are metrics that can be leveraged to refine your eCommerce recommendation system. Moreover, customers will appreciate the more personalized information, and revenues will grow accordingly. It’s a solution that benefits everyone—so why stay in the past when you can provide a better digital customer experience right now?

Custom software makes EVs far more efficient. And with the right software solution, your entire fleet can become more productive too.

Traditionally, sectors like mobility have taken a while to adapt to the changing needs of customers; getting ahead of the competition with custom software will set your business apart.

The adoption of EVs are fast on the rise. We look at the challenges ahead and EV CPO solutions that can be a game-changer for electromobility providers.

Data science unlocks insights into customer preferences and behaviors, which can in turn drive more efficient marketing and sales. When you target customers with the products they actually want, you boost the chances of a sale.

S44 joins EVRoaming Foundation as newest contributing member. With the current focus on improving existing OCPI 2.2.1 models, the community – to include S44 – will look to also define OCPI 3.0 through a focus on an improved architecture, direction for managing CDRs, data availability, and state of chargers.

From computer science, AI, and predictive analytics to statistics and machine learning, data is being collected every second and when it is converted into actionable insights, data yields recommendations and user insights, that are informing solutions of tomorrow. Looking at impact across sectors, data science is not only impacting what happens today but anticipates needs months and years into the future.

Digital experiences are instrumental in brand consideration and customer engagement. Travel, automotive and retail sectors have evolved to meet consumer demands, with other sectors to follow - most notably, the energy sector, where digital experiences are needed to support resource management and customer retention.

Automotive electromobility is changing the car industry but also energy, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Growing EV demand requires cross-sector collaboration and tech acumen to connect the dots and anticipate future demands.

Electrification is something that the automotive industry is actively working towards. It’s what many consumers want, and we need for a sustainable future. To realize this dream, there is an increased need for tech innovation and creating an ease of use that will be adaptable in the future. Being close to the topic, we know that there are three core components America needs to tackle...

COVID, remote work, and distributed models challenge companies in sustaining their culture, perks, benefits, and professional development. While there are many types of professional development, the most effective are mentoring and on the job training. So, with Zoom fatigue and lack of in-person facetime, how do we sustain our teams and continue to grow them? Let’s take a deeper look....

Public cloud has enabled countless technology start-ups and challenged established businesses to revisit their approach and accelerate their business models. In thinking ahead to what is next, businesses looking to maximize their utilization of cloud are laying the foundation and anticipating inevitable shifts in how we think about cloud and utilize it in the future...

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is finalizing some major upgrades to the CSS Containment specification which are poised to help frontend developers build even more performant webpages. One key upgrade is now available as part of Chrome’s latest Stable Channel milestone...

How can we support the transformation of mobility into a more sustainable and reduced emission service? Many of our sustainability initiatives over the past 8 years have taught us that this transformation requires leaders across industries, including energy, automotive and IT, as well as...

We develop both native and hybrid iOS and Android applications. Our focus lies on maximizing device capabilities and ensuring high performance for the challenges we are tackling.

We are passionate about agile custom software development and conduct functional and non-functional testing of our solutions. Automation Testing has become a valuable and reliable method that simulates desired user actions and analyzes the application to match the expected behavior.

American tech company, Sulzer US and German design studio, Spektrum 44 will operate under the new global entity, S44, as they set their sights on expanding software engineering and design services focused on electrification and mobility initiatives.

Imagine fully understanding your customers before they even set foot in your showroom. Picture knowing exactly which models and features they're interested in, so you’ll have the perfect vehicle ready for a test drive the moment they walk through your doors. Sounds like the distant future? Not with AutoIntel Customer Insights – the game-changing analytics tool transforming the car dealership experience.

An improved eCommerce experience is good not only for customers but also for vendors. Although recommender software can help you move more inventory, there are challenges in developing an effective recommender solution. By working with an integrative system like AutoIntel, you can resolve these difficulties while boosting customer engagement.

Key performance indicators are metrics that can be leveraged to refine your eCommerce recommendation system. Moreover, customers will appreciate the more personalized information, and revenues will grow accordingly. It’s a solution that benefits everyone—so why stay in the past when you can provide a better digital customer experience right now?

Data science unlocks insights into customer preferences and behaviors, which can in turn drive more efficient marketing and sales. When you target customers with the products they actually want, you boost the chances of a sale.