You might come across terms like “Open Charge Point Protocol” or “OCPP.” But what does OCPP stand for? And how does it benefit you?
The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is an open-source, standardized communication protocol that facilitates communication between Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and their central management systems (CMS).
OCPP protocol defines a set of rules and messages that enable interoperability between different brands and types of charging stations and backend systems. It has become the global benchmark for interoperability throughout the EV charging industry.
OCPP 2.0.1 is the latest version of the Open Charge Point Protocol. OCPP 2.0.1 was released in 2018 and introduced several enhancements and improvements over previous versions, including increased security features, improved interoperability, and support for new functionalities such as smart charging and dynamic tariff management.
The OCPP 1.6 version, as an application protocol, has also been improved to meet current industry standards and is therefore still in use as people slowly adopt OCPP 2.0.1.
It’s worth noting that the OCPP software continues to evolve, with ongoing development and updates to address emerging needs and technologies in the electric vehicle charging industry.
OCPP system operates on a client-server architecture, where the charging station acts as the client, and the back-end management system functions as the server. The communication between the charging station and the server occurs through predefined messages and commands defined by the OCPP system.
When a charging station is connected to a power source and a vehicle, it initiates a connection to the back-end system. This connection can be established through various communication channels, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or cellular networks, depending on the supported connectivity options.
Once the connection is established, the charging station sends status updates, metering information, and operational data to the server. It can report details such as charging session start and end times, energy consumption, charging rates, and any detected faults or errors. The back-end system can then process and analyze this data for billing, monitoring, and operational purposes.
Conversely, the back-end system can send control commands to the charging station, such as starting or stopping a charging session, adjusting the charging rate, or configuring specific parameters. These commands are transmitted over the established connection and executed by the charging station accordingly.
OCPP software also includes mechanisms for security, authentication, and encryption to ensure the integrity and privacy of the communication between the charging station and the back-end system.
OCPP protocol is widely used by various stakeholders in the electric vehicle (EV) charging industry. Some of the key users of OCPP software include:
Companies that manufacture EV charging stations like EVB implement OCPP systems in their products to enable communication with central management systems and ensure interoperability with other components of EV charging networks.
Operators of EV charging networks utilize OCPP software to manage and monitor their charging stations efficiently. OCPP software allows them to remotely initiate and terminate charging sessions, monitor charging status, and collect data for billing and reporting purposes.
