Understanding OCPP

If you are involved in the Electric Vehicle Charging industry, there is a good possibility that you are familiar with the OCPP. The Open Charge Protocol (OCPP) is a widely popular open-source charging protocol used in the industry. It was designed by the Open Charge Alliance. Let's have a better understanding of the OCPP and the role it plays in the EV industry by reading the following section of the article.

To begin with, what exactly is OCPP?

The Open Charge Point Protocol, often known as OCPP, is a communication standard that is open-source and intended for use by electric vehicle charging stations and network software businesses. To put it another way, any electric vehicle charging station that complies with OCPP standards can be set up to run any software that meets the same requirements.

OCPP is a protocol that was established in 2009 by the Open Charge Alliance. Its primary goals are to be cost-free, open-source, and simple to put into action. Additionally, it ensures that all participants are communicating in the same language. As a direct consequence of this, it has developed into the global standard for interoperability in the electric vehicle charging business.

Why is it vital to have EV charging equipment that is OCPP-compliant?

A. Hardware benefits

When you choose a hardware provider that complies with OCPP, you give yourself access to specific liberties that are inaccessible to stations that do not use OCPP.

1. Determine which piece of EV software is best suited to your needs.

2. You are free to switch the software on your EV at any moment

3. Encourage healthy levels of competition in the market

B. Software benefits

When you use charging management software that is OCPP-compliant, you have access to functions that are unavailable in software that does not comply with OCPP.

1. Raise the profile of your stations so that they may be seen by more people.

2. Keep track of all of your electric vehicle charging equipment in an one location

3. Ensure the finest possible experience for the user

Some further advantages of the OCPP are as follows:

1. Adaptable: The hardware of certain electric vehicle charging stations is designed to only function with a specific brand of software. This indicates that in order to keep your stations online, you will need to continue paying their networking fees. If you choose a charging solution that is compliant with OCPP, you will have the freedom to switch networks whenever you like.
2. Astute: charging systems that comply with OCPP are the most competitive on the market because their manufacturers understand that consumers have the ability to make their own decisions. When you support service providers through OCPP, you are helping them achieve their primary aim, which is to bring the most feature-rich, user-friendly, and cost-effective solutions to market.
3. Safety: If you acquire non-OCPP charging stations and the manufacturer goes out of business, what will happen to your investment? Your stations won't function properly because you don't have the opportunity to swap service providers. Because of the compatibility provided by OCPP, you will never need to be concerned about the loss of assets of this kind.
4. Shrewd: An electric vehicle charging system that ties you to their network and forces you to pay their costs can increase those fees at any time, and you would be obligated to pay them. The market becomes more competitively priced as a result of the availability of OCPP and the flexibility to change your network at any time. Never get held captive audience.
   

How Does it work?

A basic scenario: A consumer approaches the charging station to start charging. He chooses the kWh and makes his order. Front-end and back-end communicate. Backend prices and manages contracts. Front-end notifies back-end how many kWh to charge. The backend then requests payment. The backend charges the customer when he inputs his credit card or bank account details. Now the customer can charge. Backend gives order to charging station, which starts charging vehicle. After charging, the customer demands end-of-charge. Front-end messages back-end. The backend tells the charging station to stop. The backend confirms charging to the customer. If the price changes during charging, the backend will notify the customer. A discount or fee, for example. The front-end decides how to display the new pricing if a fee is applied. Errors can be communicated to customers. Backend can send anything. It may tell a customer that the station is out of power. This simple example has three messages: the customer's request to start charging, the successful end of charging, and the unsuccessful end of charging. Price change and error messages are optional backend messages.

OCPP won't replace OCPI. OCPI is a fully functional and integrated charging station platform. End-users can interface with the charging station through OCPP, which connects with OCPI. OCPP solely has a user interface.

• OCPP connects backend systems, charge stations, drivers, and users.
• It displays backend data on the frontend. It maintains drivers' accounts, charging cards, and accounts. OCPP allows front-end data changes.
• You can dynamically enter data and add navigation elements with OCPP Javascript/HTML.
• OCPP is designed for easy server installation. It offers a simplified javascript/HTML app.
• Simple, clean, and minimalistic describe OCPP's design. Clean and user-friendly. Very good appearance and feel, uncomplicated basic functionality.
• It gives charging station operators the needed capabilities. Drivers, stations, battery, pricing, etc. are listed. It lacks assistance and sophisticated reporting.
  

Impactful, isn't it? So Will OCPP eventually be recognised as an official standard?

A brand new international organisation for the creation of standards known as eMI3 has been established with the intention of bringing a standard station-tonetwork management system protocol (along with other standards that are required) to the IEC for ratification. The OCPP is currently the most viable option for that protocol.

People are getting increasingly interested in electric vehicles and require additional charging stations. The number of electric vehicles on the road is increasing daily, and the public and government want to see more charging stations.

It can be challenging for business owners to consider making substantial investments in electric car infrastructure. Because, ultimately, if an investment is profitable and long-term, it is a good one to make. Investing in new technologies, such as electric cars, must be long-term and scalable so that they can adapt to changes in demand and government regulations. Installing OCPP-approved hardware on your website may be the solution.