Open Charge Point Protocol: Difference between revisions

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The '''Open Charge Point Protocol''' ('''OCPP''') is an [[application protocol]] for communication between [[Electric vehicle]] (EV) [[charging station]]s and a central management system, also known as a charging station network, similar to cell phones and cell phone networks. The original version was written by Joury de Reuver and Franc Buve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ocppforum.net/ |title=Welcome to the Open Charge Alliance |publisher=Ocppforum.net |date= |accessdate=2013-10-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evconnect.com/flexibility-and-ocpp/ |title=Flexibility and OCPP |publisher=EV Connect |date=2013-08-05 |accessdate=2013-10-12 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003054741/http://www.evconnect.com/flexibility-and-ocpp/ |archivedate=2013-10-03 |df= }}</ref>

The protocol is an initiative of the ELaadNL foundation<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elaad.nl/ |title=ElaadNL |publisher=ElaadNL |date= |accessdate=2019-05-23}}</ref> in the [[Netherlands]]. Its aim was to create an open application protocol which allows EV charging stations and central management systems from different vendors to communicate with each other. It is in use by a large number of vendors of EV charging stations and central management systems all over the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greentransportation.info/open-charge-point-protocol-ocpp-organization |title=Open Charge Point Protocol & OCPP Organization |publisher=Greentransportation.info |date=2013-08-08 |accessdate=2013-10-12}}</ref>

==Benefits==

Charging station owners, or hosts, are less vulnerable to individual system suppliers – if a charging station manufacturer ceased to exist, the host could switch to another OCPP-based network. Giving charging station customers choice and flexibility to use any network on any charge station would, through market forces, encourage charging station manufacturers and network providers to compete on price, service, product features, and innovation – all of which encourages demand by charge station owners. The end result is a significant benefit to EV drivers as the charging station infrastructure expands.<ref name="switchev1">{{cite web |url=http://infrastructure.switchev.co.uk/infrastructure-development-and-operation/network-operation/open-charge-point-protocol |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621140719/http://infrastructure.switchev.co.uk/infrastructure-development-and-operation/network-operation/open-charge-point-protocol |dead-url-status=yesdead |archive-date=2012-06-21 |title=Open Charge Point Protocol OCPP |publisher=Infrastructure.switchev.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2013-10-12 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/2013-ALT-01/documents/2013-08-15_workshop/presentations/EVConnect_Response_to_Workshop_Questions.pdf |title=EVConnect |publisher=Energy.ca.gov |accessdate=2013-10-12}}</ref>

OCPP also makes it easier to create a large-scale, visible network that uses a range of different charging stations since there is a requirement for only one operating system. Proponents of OCPP also cite a reduction in development costs since software designed to provide additional functionality would only need to be developed once and not several times to fit with each individual operating system. Finally, OCPP will ease interoperability across the United States, and elsewhere, and minimize remedial work on systems.<ref name="switchev1"/>