OCPP stands for Open Charge Point Protocol. It is an open communication standard that allows charging stations to 'talk' to the management system (the backend) of a charge point operator. The protocol was developed in 2009 by the Open Charge Alliance.
Why is OCPP important?
OCPP works like a common language: it allows charging stations from different brands to work within one and the same management system. Without such a standard, every brand would have its own system, causing a lot of hassle for companies and EV drivers.
Interoperability: charging stations from different brands work within the same network.
Flexibility: you choose the charging station and charging solution that suit you.
Future-proof: as an open protocol, OCPP can easily be extended with new features.
Cost-saving: you can switch management systems without buying new hardware.
How does it work in practice?
You start a charging session with your charge card. Via OCPP, the charging station sends data to the management system, such as the identification of your charge card, the charging speed and the consumption. The system checks this data and approves the charging session. From identification to invoicing and stopping the session, everything runs via OCPP, regardless of the brand of the charging station.
Version OCPP 2.0.1 also supports smart features such as smart charging and load balancing.
Read more in our blog: Why is OCPP important for electric charging?
Keywords:
OCPP | Open Charge Point Protocol | charging station communication | compatible charging station | charging station backend | interoperability | charging station | charging stations | charge point | charge points | OCPP 2.0.1 | OCPP compatible | charger management system | charger brand | Open Charge Alliance | smart charging | load balancing