The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) serves as an open standard communication protocol for managing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The Open Charge Alliance developed it to enable interoperability between different charging stations and back-office systems. This protocol exchanges information between charging stations and a central system, allowing remote monitoring and control of charging stations. Many in the EV charging industry use this protocol to manage EV charging and support various business models and pricing structures.
Protocol versions
The most common versions today are:
- OCPP 1.6: This version, released in 2016, introduced additional features such as smart charging, demand response, and load management.
- OCPP 2.0.1: Released in 2020, this version introduced new features such as multiple connectors, charge point groups, and improvements to the user experience.
Protocol Components
The main components of the protocol include:
- Charging stations: A charging station compliant with the OCPP protocol works with compliant back-office systems and can be remotely monitored and controlled.
- Charging station management software (CSMS): The back-office server manages the charging stations and communicates with them over a network. The central system manages the charging process, tracks charging sessions, and provides billing and payment services to EV drivers.
- Communication protocol: OCPP facilitates communication between the charging stations and the central system. It defines the messages and commands that send requests and responses between the two systems.
- Network infrastructure: OCPP requires a network connection to facilitate communication between the charging stations and the central system. Depending on the specific implementation, this can be any TCP/IP connection, such as a wired WiFi or cellular network.
- OCPP app: is a software application that EV drivers use to interact with compliant charging stations and CSMS. It allows drivers to locate nearby charging stations, initiate and stop charging sessions, and view charging status and other information.
Certification Process
OCPP certification ensures that charging stations and Charging station management software (CSMS) are compatible with the protocol.
A charging station or CSMS must meet certain technical and functional requirements to achieve compliance. The OCPP specification defines these requirements. Independent certification bodies or organizations accredited by the Open Charge Alliance (OCA) perform OCPP certification.
There are two different certifications for OCPP:
- Full certification: verifies that a charging station or CSMS complies with the OCPP specification and is interoperable with other systems.
- Security certification: a separate process that verifies the security of a system and ensures that it meets the security requirements defined by the OCA organization.
Both certification processes involve testing the system against a set of requirements and standards defined by the OCPP organization. Specifically, these processes ensure compliance with the established guidelines.
OCPP certification ensures interoperability between charging stations and back-office systems. This is important for the seamless operation of the EV charging ecosystem. Such certification is a necessary requirement for many EV charge point operators.
Only certified products can use the certification logos. Here are up-to-date lists of certified chargers and certified management systems (CPMS)
Wevo Energy is a leading provider of software solutions for smart EV charging. We provide a fully OCPP-certified (full certification and security certification) software platform that supports every scenario: apartment complexes, workplaces, fleets, destination, and public charging.
