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What is the OCPP method?

OCPP, or the Open Charge Point Protocol, is an open-source standard formulated by the Open Charge Alliance in 2009.

Its primary goal is to make communication between EV charging stations and their management systems smoother, ensuring that various EV charging components talk to each other seamlessly.

What is interoperability in EV charging?

EV charging interoperability describes the ability of effortlessly gaining access to a platform at any given point to charge your EV. The concept of interoperability relies on different elements such as:

  • unhindered access to charge points regardless of location, provider or time restrictions
  • software systems which can connect and share information with each other
  • EV charging hardware which enables interoperability
  • connector capabilities

The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is an excellent example of EV charging interoperability.

The role of OCPP in the EV charging industry

The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) has a multi-layered role in the EV charging industry and it touches upon a number of areas:

  1. Universal language of charging: Think of OCPP as the universal translator for EV charging. It ensures that different charging technologies can “speak” to each other, fostering a harmonious EV environment.
  2. Tech-agnostic operations: It empowers charging providers to use a mix of technologies, giving them flexibility. The result? Efficient operations and a superior charging experience for EV drivers.
  3. Promoting healthy market dynamics: By offering a common platform and a central management system, OCPP promotes competition, fostering innovation and quality in the market.

Try this Monta feature: OCPP

Who manages OCPP?

The Open Charge Alliance (also known as OCA) is responsible for the management of the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP).

The OCA can be described as a global collaboration between EV charging industry stakeholders. That could be software and hardware vendors, service providers, EV charging network operators as well as research associations.

OCA has an active presence in topics such as EV adoption, compliance, testing, certification and education about the biggest challenges the EV charging industry is currently battling against.

Why should every EV charging provider consider OCPP?

There is a number of reasons why every EV charging provider should invest in OCPP. In a nutshell, here are the three most important factors:

  • Future-proofing with open protocols: Adopting standards like OCPP ensures that charging and energy platforms are prepared for future tech shifts. There’s no fear of getting stuck with one vendor – offering flexibility in swapping out components regardless of your operating system.
  • Boosting operational efficiency: With OCPP, expect better network stability, improved utilisation of resources, and avenues for monetisation. In other words, a more powerful charging station management system.
  • Advancing energy management: The OCPP 2.0.1 version, for instance, supports vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interactions. This promotes energy flow from electric vehicles back to the grid, offsetting costs associated with beefing up EV charging infrastructure.

What are the biggest OCPP benefits in terms of software and hardware?

Being OCPP-compliant comes with great benefits for EV charging providers, as they are able to operate in a more secure, flexible and efficient way.

Let’s now take a closer at the benefits of OCPP-compliant equipment both in terms of software and hardware:

Software benefits

Using charging management software that is compliant with the OCPP protocol provides you with the opportunity to:

  • Centralise the management of your EV charging hardware (everything is gathered in one place).
  • Make your charge points available to a wider customer base.
  • Optimise the charging experience that you offer to your users.

Hardware benefits

In the same sense, OCPP-compliant hardware offers unique flexibility as it allows you to:

  • Find the EV charging software that best suits your needs.
  • Effortlessly switch from one software solution to another whenever you find it necessary.
  • Stay one step ahead of competition.
  • Contribute to the increase of EV adoption.

Is OCPP compatible with all chargers?

Despite the big effort of the Open Charge Alliance to standardise charging protocols across manufacturers and geographical locations, not all chargers are compatible with the OCPP protocol.

However, there is an increased tendency towards OCPP protocol adoption due to the great interoperability benefits that it can provide the EV charging industry with.

What is OCPP 2.0.1?

OCPP 2.0.1 was introduced by the OCA (Open Charge Alliance) in 2020 as an attempt to expand and eventually increase the impact of the already existing open charge point protocols.

Its main purpose was to make the connection between CSMS (charging station management software) and charging stations more effective and secure than ever before.

According to the Open Charge Alliance, the OCPP 2.0.1 is based on two main pillars:

‍a. Improvement of core functionalities

In the first category, we have everything that has to do with the core charging station functions such as:

  • electric vehicle interoperability
  • remote control
  • charge point maintenance
  • customer support
  • management of transactions

b. Enhanced security

Security is the other area which was prioritised by the Open Charge Point Protocol 2.0.1.

More specifically, a lot of attention has been put on the encryption of the data sent to and from the EV charging stations making it extremely difficult (if not impossible) for hackers and eavesdroppers to intercept and decode the data transmitted to both directions.

This process is also known as transport layer security (TLS) and it is an extremely valuable part of the 2.0.1 protocol.

What is the difference between OCPP 1.6 and OCPP 2.0.1?

Both OCPP 1.6 and OCPP 2.0.1 have played a significant role in improving the charging experience and more importantly in making it more secure for all sides involved. However, there are some crucial differences between the two protocols:

  • OCPP 1.6: Introduced smart charging and demand responses, and allowed for retrieving data via triggered messages.
  • OCPP 2.0.1: A more robust version offering enhanced security features, better device management, and support for the latest charging needs. All in all, a better electric vehicle charging experience.

In a sentence, OCPP 2.0.1 is an improved and more advanced open charge point protocol which raises security standards, facilitates maintenance and accelerates the troubleshooting process.

Read more: Upgrade to OCPP 2.0.1: The key to advancing the EV charging infrastructure

FAQs

What is OCPP?

An open-source protocol that streamlines communication in the EV charging world.

Why adopt OCPP?

It ensures seamless communication between different EV charging stations, fostering competition, innovation, and customer flexibility.

Why is OCPP important for EV chargers?

Standardised communication means wider visibility and efficient hardware management.

How does the OCPP work?

OCPP operates as a freely available “language” enabling interoperability between different EV technologies. It allows any EV charging station to work compatibly with any charger management software.

Are there different versions of OCPP?

Yes, there are different versions of OCPP. The most recent ones are OCPP 1.6 and OCPP 2.0.1. These versions are regularly updated to support new functionalities and comply with industry standards.

What is the latest version of OCPP?

The latest version of OCPP is OCPP 2.0.1. It was released at the end of 2022 and it can be described as an improved version of OCPP 2.0 in areas such as smart charging, security, extensibility and ISO 15118.

Despite the improvements added to OCPP 2.0.1, it doesn’t contain any new features or functionalities. It is mostly a continuation of OCPP 2.0.

Similar to OCPP 2.0, the OCPP 2.0.1 version isn’t backwards compatible with OCPP 1.6.

What are the advantages of OCPP 2.0.1?

OCPP 2.0.1 comes with a number of security-related upgrades such as the following:

  • better protection of data and connections
  • detailed maintenance view
  • improved and more secure transactions
  • optimised charge point management
  • secure firmware updates
  • comprehensive charger logs (faster and more transparent troubleshooting)

Can all OCPP hardware and software pair up?

Yes, but always consult the manufacturer for perfect integration.

What is the Open Charge Alliance?

The Open Charge Alliance is an organisation whose mission is the creation of a global network dedicated to the development of unified charging protocols and related standards for the entire EV industry.

Their effort entails many different areas such as protocol compliance, EV adoption, testing, certification as well as education around the current needs of the industry.

Is Tesla an OCPP?

Tesla is one of the few charge point hardware suppliers that don’t support the Open Charge Point Protocol. Instead, Tesla relies on their own solution.