Quick Overview
- If a fleet’s current CPMS is not giving it the visibility, control, optimisation or flexibility it needs, there is an opportunity to switch.
- In many cases, chargers can be migrated onto a new platform quickly and with minimal disruption.
- Switching CPMS can unlock far more value from infrastructure that is already in the ground, including better performance, lower charging costs, stronger reporting, new revenue opportunities and a clearer path to scaling electrification successfully.
For fleet managers, having the right charge point management system (CPMS) is absolutely essential to monitor chargers and vehicles, manage users, optimise costs, and report on everything from day-to-day activity to long-term return on investment. At depot level, that can mean knowing which vehicle is charged for its next duty. At leadership level, it means understanding utilisation, operational efficiency, energy spend and infrastructure payback.
A CPMS sits at the centre of a modern charging operation. The issue is that many fleets selected their original CPMS at the start of their electrification journey, and what worked then may not be what they need now.
The good news? Switching to a new system is much easier than many people think, and the process of migrating your CPMS can unlock significant value for your business.
What does it mean to switch CPMS?
When a charger is already connected to one CPMS, it can often be repointed to a different one. This process is known as charger migration or backend switching.
In practical terms, it means a fleet does not necessarily need to replace its charging hardware in order to get better software, better visibility or better commercial outcomes. Instead, the existing chargers can be moved onto a new platform that better suits the fleet’s current needs.
For operators that have grown quickly, inherited a mixed estate, or outgrown the capabilities of their original system, this can unlock significant value.
Why would a fleet want to switch?
There are a few common reasons fleets decide to migrate to a new CPMS.
Sometimes the existing platform simply no longer meets operational needs. It may have been suitable for an earlier phase of deployment, but now lacks the functionality needed to optimise fleet charging. In other cases, fleets have expanded over time and ended up with different charger brands, different sites, or even multiple platforms across the estate. That can create fragmentation, extra administration and limited visibility.
A migration gives operators the chance to simplify that setup and move to a system that offers more control and more value from the same infrastructure. For example, with VEV IQ, operators can unlock:
- Optimised charging: optimise charging for the lowest-cost window and reduce energy costs by around 10-15%.
- New revenue streams: access new revenue streams from grid flexibility services by turning charging down or up.
- Integration with renewables: maximise the use of onsite renewables alongside EV charging to access cheaper and greener energy.
- A single pane of glass: view charger, vehicle and renewable asset information in one place, so you can manage your entire operation live or through insightful reports.
- Infrastructure sharing: open your chargers to agreed local fleets to earn revenue from chargers when you are not using them.
Is it difficult to change CPMS?
Usually, no.
One of the biggest misconceptions in the market is that moving chargers from one platform to another must be disruptive, expensive or slow. In reality, there are several ways to complete a migration, and the right route depends on the charger hardware, the incumbent provider and the site setup.
- Remote migration
If the existing charger hardware is capable, and the current provider and OEM support the process, chargers can often be migrated remotely onto a new backend.
This is the simplest and most cost-effective route. It avoids the need for an engineer visit and can often reuse the existing connectivity, meaning there is no need to change SIMs, routers or onsite network hardware.
That makes remote migration fast, low-disruption and relatively low-cost.
- Local migration
Where remote migration is not possible, for example because of hardware limitations, incumbent platform restrictions or connectivity constraints, chargers can be migrated locally.
In this case, field service engineers attend the site and migrate each charger one by one onto the new CPMS. This is more involved and typically more expensive than a remote switch, but it is still a very achievable process.
What happens during the migration process?
A successful migration is not just about repointing a charger. It is about making sure the whole charging operation works properly on day one and continues to perform afterwards.
A typical migration process includes:
1) Assessment and planning
Reviewing the site, hardware, connectivity and incumbent platform to determine whether remote or local migration is possible.
2) Migration and commissioning
Moving the chargers onto the new platform, testing each unit, and making sure all connections and functionality are working as expected.
3) Training and ongoing support
Providing close support immediately after go-live to make sure vehicles are charging as expected, incidents are handled quickly, and performance is stable, while also providing ongoing support to ensure operators get the full value of the platform.
The market is already doing this
This is no longer an unusual process. Charger migration is becoming a normal part of the fleet charging market as operators reassess earlier technology choices and look for platforms that better support large-scale operations.
At VEV, the migration process has already been delivered across more than 2,000 chargers spanning a range of hardware providers and incumbent CPMS platforms.
That experience matters because it means migration is no longer treated as a one-off workaround. It is a repeatable, proven process.
If you’d like to find out more about how VEV can help your business, then contact us.
23 April, 2026
