Roaming Apps Rewrite the Rules of EV Charging

Ford, Europcar, and Octopus push roaming apps to simplify charging, putting reliability at the heart of competition

2 Oct 2025

The UK’s electric vehicle charging market is hitting a turning point. Roaming platforms are changing how drivers plug in, and how networks compete to keep them on the road.

This autumn brought a flurry of deals. Ford linked its BlueOval Charge Network to Octopus Electroverse, giving drivers access to thousands of chargers through a single app. Europcar followed, handing its rental customers the same simplified service. For first-time EV drivers, that means no more juggling log-ins, cards, and payment apps. Electroverse also teamed up with Chargetrip, a route planner designed to take the anxiety out of long-distance travel by pinpointing reliable charging stops.

Analysts see this as a decisive shift. “This is about making EV charging as simple and predictable as filling up with petrol,” said one industry expert. With roaming platforms consolidating access, the focus is moving from coverage to quality.

For operators, the pressure is mounting. Convenience now comes bundled with the app, leaving networks to prove their worth through reliability, speed, and customer experience. Octopus is already experimenting with payment options like a Visa-linked fleet card, which could fold expense controls and energy discounts into the mix. But some warn that charging companies risk losing direct ties with drivers if roaming platforms dominate the customer relationship.

Still, optimism outweighs concern. By stripping away friction, roaming platforms could help accelerate EV adoption and keep the UK on course for its 2035 phase-out of petrol and diesel cars. In the race to electrify Britain’s roads, the real prize may be won not with more plugs, but with more trust.