What is Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)?

Every day new challenges and opportunities are rising in the growing EV industry. One such critical challenge is the need for standardised protocol and seamless communication between EV chargers and charging station management software. But how EV industry will surpass it? Here the role of Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) comes into action. .

Existence of Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)

OCPP is an open-source communication protocol developed to provide a standardised framework for managing EV charging infrastructure. It was first introduced in 2010 by the Open Charge Alliance (OCA), which was formed to promote adopting open standards in the EV charging industry.

This protocol facilitates communication between EV charging stations and back-end systems, such as network operators and energy providers. It provides a standardised framework for exchanging data and control messages, which enables different charging stations to work together seamlessly.

One of the key benefits of Open Charge Point Protocol is that it provides a level of interoperability previously lacking in the EV charging industry. Before introducing this protocol, different charging stations used proprietary communication protocols, making it difficult to manage and optimise EV charging infrastructure.

How Does Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) Software Work?

OCPP is an open-source communication protocol that works for electric vehicle chargers. The vision behind developing Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is to make any EV charger work with any CMS, even if charger manufacturers and software developers are different and working on building products opposite of the world.

• Open source (icon): anyone can access the protocol
• Neutral (icon): OCPP is compliant for only EV chargers and software
• Free to use: No cost involved in adopting OCPP
• Evolving: OCPP is coming up with new variants. Version 2.0.1 was released in December 2019

Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) Software Versions

Since its introduction in 2010, OCPP has gone through several iterations and versions. Some of the essential versions of OCPP include:

OCPP 1.2:

This protocol was the first version of OCPP introduced in 2010. It provided basic features for managing EV charging infrastructure, including remote management and monitoring. Its features include:

• Basic functionality for remote control of charging stations
• Support for the start and stop of charging sessions
• Basic tariff support
• Limited support for firmware updates and diagnostics

OCPP 1.5:

This version of OCPP was introduced in 2013 and provided a more advanced set of features, including support for dynamic load management and smart charging. Some of its features are:

• Improved support for firmware updates and diagnostics
• More advanced tariff support
• Added support for demand response
• Improved security features

OCPP 1.6:

This Open Charge Point Protocol version was introduced in 2016 and provided additional features and functionality, including support for firmware updates and improved security. Its features are:

• Advanced support for load management and smart charging
• Improved support for energy management and dynamic tariff pricing
• More advanced security features, including certificate-based authentication
• Added support for sub-metering and payment functionality

OCPP 2.0:

This version is the latest version of OCPP that came out in 2018. It provides a range of advanced features and functionality, including support for grid balancing, dynamic tariff management, and other advanced features. The features of this version are as follows:

• Improved support for bi-directional charging and grid services
• Enhanced support for smart charging, including support for V2G and load balancing
• Advanced security features, including support for secure boot and secure communications
• Added support for data management, including data logging and reporting

It’s important to note that each OCPP version builds upon the previous version and adds new features and functionality. So while OCPP 1.2 may have been a basic protocol, newer versions like OCPP 2.0 offer much more advanced capabilities.

Why Choose OCPP Configured EVCMS?

OCPP provides a range of features and functionality designed to support the management and optimisation of EV charging infrastructure. Some of the critical elements of OCPP include the following:

Remote management:

OCPP enables operators to monitor and manage charging stations remotely from a central location. This management includes configuring charging stations, starting and stopping charging sessions, and monitoring charging data in real-time.

Interoperability:

This protocol provides a standardised communication framework between charging stations and back-end systems. This communication enables different charging stations to work together seamlessly, regardless of their manufacturer or model.

Customisation:

It provides a range of customisation options that enable charging station operators to tailor the protocol to their specific needs and requirements. This customisation includes the ability to add custom messages and data fields to the protocol.

Security:

A range of security features has been designed to ensure the privacy and security of charging data. This security includes support for SSL encryption, certificate-based authentication, and other security protocols.

Benefits of Choosing YoCharge Open Charge Point Protocol

Choosing OCPP-compliant EV charging infrastructure provides a range of benefits for charging station operators and energy providers. Some of the key benefits of choosing OCPP include the following:

• Interoperability with charging stations and central management systems from different manufacturers
• Future-proofing by supporting updates to new features and functionality
• Advanced features such as demand response, load management, and smart charging
• Improved security with features like certificate-based authentication and secure communications
• Data management with a standardised way of collecting and managing data
• Optimisation of usage, performance monitoring, and report generation for EV charging operators.

YoCharge and OCPP Compliance – Early Adopter

YoCharge is a leading provider of EV charging infrastructure and management software solutions. The company specialises in providing OCPP-compliant EV charging software solutions that are designed to help charging station operators and energy providers optimise the performance and efficiency of their EV charging infrastructure.

Our software platform strictly adheres to Smart Charge Point Protocols; we ease EV charger manufacturers’ development hassle and improve their OCPP-compliance through our expert guidance.

In addition to providing OCPP-compliant software solutions, YoCharge also offers various value-added services, including installation, maintenance, and support services. The company’s experienced professionals help charging station operators and energy providers design and deploy custom EV charging solutions tailored to their specific needs and requirements.

Compared to its competitors, YoCharge stands out for its deep expertise in Open Charge Point Protocol and its commitment to providing high-quality, reliable, and efficient EV charging solutions. The company’s OCPP-compliant software solutions are designed to be highly scalable, flexible, and future-proof, enabling charging station operators and energy providers to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving EV charging industry.

Choose YoCharge as your OCPP Software Solution Provider

Introducing YoCharge

Choosing OCPP-compliant EV charging infrastructure provides various benefits for charging station operators and energy providers, including improved interoperability, customisation, scalability, and future-proofing.

YoCharge is leading the way in providing OCPP-compliant EV charging software solutions.

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