IIT Madras-incubated Smart EV Charger company Plugzmart has developed an Indigenous EV Charging Platform that is designed to connect chargers with multiple CMS networks.
This is a first-of-its-kind ‘Relay’, which is a Multi-CMS Connect platform that allows a single EV charger to connect to multiple Charging Management Systems (CMS) simultaneously. This means a charger is no longer restricted to a single app or network, giving it the freedom to be accessed by multiple platforms, all in real time.
Currently, most EV chargers are locked to one CMS, meaning that customers of only that one EV Brand could utilize the charger. Plugzmart’s solution breaks this limitation by introducing an intelligent middleware that enables multiple CMS connections for a single charger.
This is a novel approach in India’s EV landscape and significantly improves charger visibility and accessibility. The innovation lies in real-time control and data routing without compromising on reliability or security.
Highlighting the importance of this development, Mr. Raghavendar TS, Director of Software Business Unit, Plugzmart, said, “One of the biggest roadblocks for EV adoption is the limited availability of chargers visible on public platforms. Our solution maximises the visibility of each installed charger by allowing it to appear on multiple networks. This boosts charger utilisation, increases ROI for charger owners, and gives EV users more options — encouraging widespread EV adoption across cities and rural areas.”
Mr. Raghavendar TS added, “With this breakthrough, Plugzmart positions itself as a key enabler of open, interoperable, and future-ready EV infrastructure. The company is no longer only a CMS provider but is building the connective tissue between networks, accelerating India’s shift to cleaner mobility.”
Plugzmart is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of Electric Vehicle Chargers and SAAS provider of Electric Charging infrastructure. Incubated at IIT Madras in 2019, Plugzmart has built its own IoT-enabled smart EV charging management system to integrate and communicate efficiently with chargers. Their portfolio of 18 products includes chargers for 2, 3 and 4-wheelers.
India’s EV sector is witnessing rapid expansion, driven by government policies, sustainability goals, and the need for efficient energy management. The charging infrastructure market is projected to grow exponentially, fuelled by increased EV adoption and supportive regulations. Companies like Plugzmart are crucial in bridging the gap between demand and available charging infrastructure.
RELAY AND OCPI
Both Open Charge Point Interface or OCPI, a standardized communication protocol that enables seamless data exchange and interoperability between different EV charging networks, and Multi-CMS Connect both solve the problem of making chargers available across different platforms, but in different ways.
OCPI is essential for standardized roaming and large-scale interoperability, especially in mature markets. But for newer or smaller players, or in fast-moving deployments, it can feel heavy, slow, and rigid. Hence, solutions such as Multi-CMS Connect like Relay are valuable since they provide practical interoperability without requiring all parties to adopt and maintain the full OCPI stack.
‘Relay’ enables higher charging utilization for fleet operations by connecting with multiple CMS platforms, including those specifically built for fleet management. If one network experiences downtime, others continue to operate, ensuring uninterrupted charging availability and smoother fleet operations.
The EV charger of a Charging Point Operator connects to Plugzmart’s Relay platform instead of a single CMS. The platform then connects to multiple CMS platforms. This Relay platform provides a bird’s-eye view of all connected CMS platforms through a unified dashboard, simplifying operations without removing individual backend visibility.
Based on the incoming request, Plugzmart’s middleware routes the session to the relevant CMS by identifying charging session details, ensuring accurate billing and session management. This dynamic routing system is designed to address both technical and business needs, ensuring reliable charger operations and seamless integration across multiple CMS platforms.
Key Benefits of this Indigenously-developed Relay platform include:
Multi-Network Compatibility: Enables chargers to operate across different E-Mobility Service Providers by connecting to multiple CMS platforms, thereby increasing accessibility and attracting more customers and partners.
Maximise Utilisation & Revenue: Serve multiple networks and customer groups simultaneously to keep charging stations active and profitable. Even if one network faces downtime, others continue to operate, ensuring consistent usage and better overall efficiency.
Dynamic Session Management: Plugzmart’ middleware intelligently routes charging sessions to the appropriate CMS enabling smooth multi-network operations.
Avoid Vendor Lock-in: This middleware technology allows Charging Point Operators (CPOs) to avoid being tied to one CMS provider, providing the flexibility to switch or integrate with new CMS platforms.
Flexible Integration: Plugzmart’s middleware seamlessly integrates with Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)-compliant chargers, ensuring minimal setup time and no hardware changes. This enables the scaling up of operations by CPOs without any hardware upgrades.