We're shedding the light on what to choose when facing a hosting dilemma.

Magda is the project manager with a knack for some UX/UI design. She’s had a chance to work with many of our clients as well as participating in the creation of our website, which made her well-acquainted with the world of eMobility.

Magdalena Betlińska

The right decision-making in business certainly plays a crucial part in ensuring the most optimal operation. When it comes to software solutions, decisions to be made are coming in nearly every step of the way, whether it’s the project management or the product development itself. We have already covered one dilemma - 

It’s time to now look at another hot topic. 

It’s nothing else than choosing the way a digital product is bound to be stored. As much as it sounds rather straightforward, there’s quite a bit of hustle in making the best decision. The analysis of business requirements must be done in order to choose between two approaches (given it’s reduced down to the choice between on-prem and cloud). Once this has been decided, one needs to find a reliable technology partner who can provide them with services of varying levels according to their preference. The process for selecting an appropriate strategy starts by determining what type or technologies are most suitable based on the organization’s anticipated needs.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what these two really are.

On-premise - what does it mean and how does it work?

On-premise software deployment means that the software is installed and deployed on the customer's own premises, usually within their own organization. The customer is responsible for managing and maintaining the on-premise software system. On-premise systems can be either physical or virtual.

 has allowed for greater flexibility in on-premise software deployments. With virtualization, customers can run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical server. This can provide significant cost savings compared to traditional on-premise deployments, where each application would require its own dedicated server.

On-premise software deployments are typically used by organizations that have specific needs that cannot be met by other deployment types, such as SaaS. Organizations that use on-premise software deployments typically have in-house IT staff who are responsible for managing and maintaining the system.

On-premise software deployments are typically more expensive than other deployment types, such as Software as a Service (SaaS). This is because the customer is responsible for all of the costs associated with managing and maintaining the system, including hardware, software, and IT staff. Despite the higher upfront cost, on-premise deployments can provide greater control and flexibility for customers. With on-premise systems, customers can customize the software to meet their specific needs and requirements. They are also not subject to the same level of service outages that can occur with cloud-based systems.

On-premise hosting - benefits and disadvantages

In terms of the benefits of the on-premise solutions, there are:

: with an on-premises solution, the organization has full control over its data, as it is stored locally.

: on-premises solutions can be customized to a greater extent than cloud-based solutions, as they are not subject to the same restrictions.

: on-premises solutions can offer greater security than cloud-based solutions, as they are not accessible from the internet.

 an on-premises solution can be used without any internet connection, as all the hardware and software are stored on-site.

When it comes to the disadvantages, we can differentiate:

 on-premises solutions can be more expensive than cloud-based solutions, as they require the purchase of hardware and software, and the hiring of IT staff.

 on-premises solutions can be more complex to set up and maintain than cloud-based solutions.

 on-premises solutions can be less flexible than cloud-based solutions, as they are more difficult to scale up or down.

 implementation is a time-consuming process that takes longer due to the need for server installations.

Cloud computing - what does it mean and how does it work?

In its simplest form, cloud computing is the delivery of software and IT services over the internet. This means that instead of having a program installed on your computer or server, you can access it, or store it, ‘in the cloud’.Cloud computing services are provided by specialist providers (known as ‘cloud providers’), who make their services available to customers via the internet. Customers can then access these services as and when they need to, using any internet-connected device.Some of the most popular cloud computing services include:


 This is where files and data are stored ‘in the cloud’, instead of on your computer or other device. Popular examples include iCloud (used by Apple devices) and Google Drive.

 This is where your files and data are backed up ‘in the cloud’, as well as (or instead of) on your own computer or other device. This can give you an extra layer of protection in case your computer or device is lost, stolen, or damaged.

 This is where software and applications are hosted ‘in the cloud’, instead of on your own computer or server. This can include everything from office suites and project management tools to email and customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

 This is where websites are hosted ‘in the cloud’, instead of on your own web server.

Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.

In general, one can oftentimes meet three service models and four deployment models described for cloud computing.

: The capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through either a thin client interface, such as a web browser (e.g., web-based email), or a program interface. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.

: The capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly application hosting environment configurations.

: The capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networking components (e.g., host firewalls).

The cloud infrastructure is operated solely for an organization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises.

The cloud infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an organization selling cloud services.

The cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting for load-balancing between clouds).

 The cloud infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns (e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and compliance considerations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Cloud hosting - benefits and disadvantages

When it comes to the benefits of cloud solutions, there are:

 Cloud solutions eliminate the need for these upfront investments, and instead use a subscription-based pricing model. This can lead to significant cost savings, especially for businesses that are growing rapidly.

Cloud solutions are very flexible and can be easily scaled up or down to meet the changing needs of your business.

 Cloud solutions make it easy for employees to share files and work on projects together. This is because the files are stored on a central server that can be accessed by anyone with the proper permissions.

 With on-premise solutions, you are responsible for ensuring that your data is backed up and secure. However, with cloud solutions, this responsibility is typically taken care of by the service provider. This can lead to increased peace of mind and improved security for your business.

However, there are also some disadvantages to using cloud solutions, including:

 When you use a cloud solution, you are relying on the service provider to keep your data safe and secure. This can lead to reduced control over your data and your business’s destiny.

 While cloud providers are typically very reliable, there have been occasional outages that have caused businesses to lose access to their data.

 When you use a cloud solution, you are essentially outsourcing a critical part of your business to a third-party. This can lead to increased dependence on the service provider and can make it difficult to switch providers if you are dissatisfied with the service.

On premise vs cloud - the comparison in short

On-premise software is installed and runs on the company's own servers. This gives the company full control over the software and its data, but it also means that the company is responsible for maintaining and updating the software. On-premise software can be more expensive to set up and run than cloud-based software, but it can offer better security and performance.

Cloud-based software is hosted on the provider's servers and accessed over the internet. This type of software is usually cheaper to set up and run than on-premise software, and it can be easier to scale up or down as needed. However, the company does not have full control over the software or its data, and it is reliant on the provider for maintenance and updates.

Smart charging

See our response to the dilemma of what suits you best in terms of eMobility software products

After founding Solidstudio, Pawel was an originator in terms of pursuing expertise in eMobility. With the build-up of a solid knowledge-base on industry’s needs & wants, he now keeps a close eye on products’ development. He’s also hugely responsible for the business’ side and designs the business models for our products.

Paweł Małkowiak

There are many classifications on which one may categorize software products and services. From a whole plethora of different aspects, one that seems to be worthy of consideration in the e-Mobility software world is certainly the one taking on how a product is acquired.

Charge Point Operators and e-Mobility Service Providers

 will eventually face the task of choosing appropriate software to run their charging networks (unless they have their own dev team ready to build it from scratch - a fairly rare occurrence).

With a careful selection of the most suitable IT solution, one of the core questions to answer is whether to come down in favor of an off-the-shelf product or to get it customarily developed.

Custom vs ready-made: general breakthrough

Generally speaking, both have a multitude of advantages, much like some drawbacks. It’s crucial to understand what both of the options bring to the table.

, the first thing that comes into play for many companies may be how long it will take before their investment can yield a return and generate profits. As an old saying goes ‘time is money’ and thus, those who care about rather fast implementation and launch, would certainly lean towards ready-made solutions.

Being already on the market and broadly-available, makes the aforementioned option a cheaper one as it does not require hiring a team of devs and putting them to work for what might be a few months. Those who are on tight budgets or simply not willing to spend too much, will certainly look favorably to getting ready products.

Finally, there’s less risk of failure. Off-the-shelf products usually had their fair share of being tested inside out by many. This allowed their developers and manufacturers to implement necessary ameliorations and adjustments.

However it’s not all fun and games… There are some major obstacles in terms of read-made solutions. Missing crucial features is one of them. Broadly-available software products tend to be created in such a way as to suit the basic requirements of many different, potential customers. Unfortunately, there's no one-size fits all solution when it comes to IT. With such an approach, some of the more specific features can be omitted, leaving some gaps in fulfilling all the needs of a certain company - this is where custom development still comes in place even with off-the-shelf software.

, one gains the assurance of getting all the necessary functionalities. There is also guarantee of no need in paying for features which are of no use. Custom development is the best solution if one needs only one or two particular features of an enterprise package, but there are no corresponding ready-made products on the market.

It also allows one to choose the best programming language and be able to work with new technologies while, in some cases, ready-made software is limited to a pre-set list of technologies.

With custom development the product can be adjusted to meet all the latest requirements and security standards which sometimes aren't included in ready-made software products. In addition, some old versions of ready-made software may lose market leadership or be left without support from software vendors.

There isn’t one definite answer here. Again, it all boils down to a well-thought-out choosing of what suits particular needs best. The more CPOs and EMPs are out there, the more different requirements and desires can arise.

Having said that, it must be underlined that eMobility operates as a part of a bigger ecosystem and stays interconnected with other branches, which may lead to eventual tie-ins. For example: the possibility to charge an EV can become an add-on function for a smart-home app, CPO platform may require rearranging tariffs management system or invoicing flow, etc.

The industry is known to evolve quickly. Rapid pace reinforces building innovation on top of 'must-have' functionalities. With Open Standards regularly upgrading to new versions, incoming CPOs and EMPs integrating with charging networks or ever-growing EVSE, one must stay on top of the software game in order to stay afloat in the business. Here’s where custom development may significantly help - but that doesn’t mean it’s the only good option out there.

Once again, it’s all in the careful choosing.

Custom vs off-the-shelf? Solidstudio’s bold response - the best of both worlds.

After years of gaining expertise of developing custom eMobility software, the decision of building our 

 came in rather organically. Knowing all the industry nuances and having a chance to talk to numerous EMPs and CPOs, including the small ones and the biggest players in the field, we got a good grasp on what’s really going on in the EV business world.

This is where the idea of developing customizable product backbones.

With some great efforts, our eMobility experts have managed to deliver a 

 (that comes with supporting web application) and 

, both fully customizable to suit specific needs. They’re designed in the form of a solid software backbone, and thus can pose as a product core on which every client can then build (with our continuous support) a product that matches their individual requirements.

Such a solution allows our customers to easily navigate through their needs and wants, depending on what is necessary. 

Whether they’re looking for a complete app, a ready app that still needs to be adjusted with specific functionalities, or a custom development from scratch, we’re well positioned to deliver whatever is needed in a form that suits the clients’ best interests.

 The broad range of amenities has been extended even to the settlement - as the products can be sold either on proprietary licensing (one-time fee) or as a flexible SaaS plan.

With hands-on experience, eMobility dev experts, many successfully finished projects and constantly staying up-to-date with the latest news, we are ready to take on any eMobility-related challenge and guide our clients through the best solutions, even when they’re not entirely sure what would work best for them.

See our response to the dilemma of whether to choose an off-the-shelf software or get it customarily developed

Custom vs off-the-shelf software products? Our response to the dilemma

Learn about the plug and charge technology and see how it simplifies the charging experience.

Grzegorz is the Head of Development in Solidstudio and he has spent quite a few years here. He’s a skilled software developer that had a chance to work on numerous eMobility-related projects for clients from many different countries.

Grzegorz Bar

In the last few years, there have been plenty of ameliorations introduced to ease the EV charging experience. Whether it’s hardware or software, major changes for the better can be observed even in places where eMobility does not have its wings spread with a full potential. Yet, even the major progress in EV charging technology, doesn’t stop frequent comparisons to what it looks like with maintaining an ICE car, which tends to be described as less complicated and simply easier.

Luckily, this view is being gradually changed by technologies implemented into the world of EV charging. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at one of the most promising charging-simplifying facilities.

allows for an EV charging event without the necessity of additional means, such as RFID cards or apps.

 With Plug and Charge, the data exchange between a charger and an electric vehicle occurs entirely automatically. This includes the authentication and authorization processes. It makes the charging process much more convenient for drivers. They don’t have to worry about connecting their vehicle to the charger or starting the charging process manually. In addition, Plug and Charge also offers improved security, as the data exchange between charger and vehicle is encrypted. It makes an EV charging experience more similar to fueling an ICE car, which does not require a sequence of minor actions to authorize a charging session.

The technology behind Plug and Charge is based on the 

. This standard defines the communication protocols and data formats that are necessary for an automated, interoperable charging process (more about it in the next section).

In order to use Plug and Charge, an electric vehicle must be equipped with a so-called Charging Control Unit (CCU). The CCU is the interface between the vehicle and the charging station. It manages the data exchange with the charger and controls the charging process. What must be remembered is that plug and charge facilitates the communication between all parties involved in the charging process, that is:

In simple words, with Plug and Charge compatible devices, the EV contains provisioning certificate and contract certificate (between the driver and EMP) and charging station contains EVSE certificate.User is identified by the ID called E-Mobility Account Identifier (eMAID) stored in the contract certificate. eMAID is also known to the eMSP for billing purposes. Thanks to that, eMSP knows which user has to be charged for the transaction started automatically just by plugging the cable. The moment an EV cable is plugged into the socket, the charging station identifies the car's certificates and vice versa.

When plugging in at a Plug and Charge enabled charger, the CCU will automatically initiate the data exchange with the charger. This includes exchanging information about the maximum current that can be drawn, the maximum voltage that can be applied, and the plug type.

Based on this information, the charger will adapt its settings accordingly. Once the connection is established, the charger will start supplying electrical energy to the vehicle. The entire process happens automatically and doesn’t require any interaction from the driver.

ISO 15118 is a joint venture of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and one of a group of standards for electric vehicles. It describes the communication between a vehicle and a charging point. It has few use cases and Plug and charge is one of them.



Whole ISO 15118 is built upon Public Key Infrastructure. In Plug and Charge - The EV has the contract certificate stored (X.509 certificate). The certificate associates the end-user with the public key. Because the certificate is issued by a trusted Certificate Authority, the charging station is able to check it, and if it’s valid, the charging station believes that the user presented in the certificate is not fake. The standard ensures high security of the data exchange amongst all involved parties. The security is provided via authenticity (the verification of certificates) and confidentiality (data exchange happening via encrypted channels).

As it rapidly gains popularity amongst eMobility-related operators, ISO 15118 can be deemed one of the crucial means in ensuring the seamless operation in the world of EV charging.

In terms of its other use cases, we dive deeper into the smart charging and V2G functionalities and importance in our recent downloadable guide 

OPCP is an open standard launched by Hubject. The launch of OPCP simplifies the process of adopting the Plug and Charge technology for developers and eMobility stakeholders looking to deliver the best solutions for EV users. Standardization of said technology is a great step towards increased interoperability and unification across the industry.

Being an open protocol, OPCP gives everyone interested the opportunity to utilize Plug and Charge technology. As stated by Hubject:

“This measure is particularly relevant because the rapidly growing market for Plug&Charge results in a range of very different processes from different manufacturers. After all, unhindered access without lock-in effects will be an essential criterion for Charging Station Operators and Mobility Service Providers, offering charging solutions. In addition, qualities such as the simple and secure authentication methods for different applications and the option for further joint development in cross-sector mode are convincing. Furthermore, the opportunity for multi-contract handling is given. Multiroot handling is also implemented and compliant with ISO15118-20.”

The protocol is constantly being developed and Hubject invites any feedback and improvement ideas.

OPCP is in productive use since 2019 and is gaining more and more users amongst Charge Point Operators, eMobility Service Providers and OEMs.

It’s to no surprise, as the launch of OPCP opens the door for many to enjoy the benefits of the technology., making the charging experience a lot more effortless for the end-customers - EV drivers.


The protocol covers the following use-cases:

 (Root Certificate Pool: used for communication between the Root Certificate Pool and the various Certificate Authorities of ISO 15118 participants (V2G, OEM, MO, CPS)

 (The Provisioning Certificate Pool: providing interfaces to exchange Provisioning Certificates between OEMs and MOs)

(Certificate Provisioning Service: providing interfaces for generating and signing contract data of MOs)

CCP Service (Contract Certificate Pool: stores the signed contract data from the MOs, and provides it for the CPOs and OEMs backend)

Multiple Contracts (EMAIDs) for one Vehicle (PCID)

Interoperability between Ecosystems, V2G Root Operators etc

Multi Root -> CertificateSigningCertificate ability

ISO15118-20 prepared (separate Namespace already in account)

Plug and charge - a seamless charging experience.

Get our informative PDF on smart charging and see how it works!

Krzysztof is our Head of Products and he leads the technical development behind the suite of our ready-made solutions. Throughout the years in Solidstudio, he gained an invaluable insight into the eMobilty industry’s requirements and is now more than qualified to share his knowledge with others.

Krzysztof Ciombor

As we move towards an era where oil will likely become less accessible or even regulated in some way due to global warming concerns and other issues such as pollution caused by fuel sources like coal fired power plants, 

electric vehicles are to become the transport of the future.

 With such a massive shift across all transportation branches, all hands on deck in terms of innovative solutions are needed.

Luckily, such industry ameliorations can be observed in every aspect there is to eMobility. From ever-enhancing electric cars with prolonged-battery lives to all kinds of charging facilities, eMobility is entering a whole new level.

Amongst these solutions, a big part is played by software and digital products. Namely, eRoaming, connected car data and smart charging are all here to stay and are only advancing at a speedy pace.

We have already covered eRoaming in one of our downloadable PDFs. To see more click 

A few definitions can be found in terms of what smart charging really is. Some of the widely circulating ones say:

Smart charging is a cloud-based technology that makes it possible to adjust how much energy is used by EVs based on the current state of the energy grid.

But what does it really mean in practice? One must look at smart charging as a complex, inter-connected ecosystem that enables real-time data exchange between:


Through smart charging, the charging stations may monitor, manage, and restrict the use of charging devices to optimize energy consumption. The optimization happens on the basis of collected data which gathers information such as:

renewable energy availability or lack thereof

Future-proof nature of smart charging allows for free-choice maneuvers in terms of the quality and quantity of features, leaving the room for any necessary add-ons. All that to ensure EVs will not pose a threat to the grid in times of high charging demand that’s likely to grow directly proportional to the growing popularity of electric cars.

careful monitoring of the energy consumption and thus, transferring the charging loads across available energy sources and adjusting the power accordingly. 

The shifts are to ensure the continuity of (untouched) energy flow for its other consumers, such as homes and facilities nearby.

On premise vs cloud computing - the breakdown

29 JULY 2022 • 10 MIN READ