Users of electric vehicles can charge their vehicles in two different ways:

• Using a socket or charging point of an electrical installation, whereby the vehicle is an additional consumption of the installation, indistinguishable from other uses.
• Using a charging point integrated into the electric mobility network.

Charging points connected to the electric mobility network, although delivering electric energy, are separate from the public electricity distribution network and from the agent model and commercial relationships of the electricity sector.

Users of electric vehicles (UVE) enter into contracts with electric mobility traders (CEME) for the charging service, and the Electric Mobility Network Managing Body (EGME) must ensure the flow of data required for invoicing these contracts in the context of electric mobility. Accordingly, a UVE goes to a charging point and identifies itself (with a card or via an App), which allows the charging to be invoiced by its CEME at the contracted price.

The price paid by the UVE reflects several costs, namely: i) electricity, electricity networks and supply (CEME portion) and ii) the use of charging points (charged by the CEME to pay the respective operators of the charging point where the vehicle was charged).

The EGME and the DSO exchange information with a view to allocating consumption in the Electric Mobility Network to supply portfolios of electricity sector suppliers (CSE). Nothing prevents the CSE and the electric mobility supplier (CEME) from being a single entity.

Publicly available charging points, including those on public roads, are integrated into the electric mobility network.

Check also the pedagogical guide Electric Mobility: How does it work?