Open Charge Point Protocol: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Protocol for managing EV charging stations}}

The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is an [[application protocol]] for communication between [[electric vehicle (EV) charging stations]] and a central management system, also known as a charging station network. It is comparable to communication between cell phones and cell phone networks. The original version of OCPP was developed by Joury de Reuver and Franc Buve.<ref>{{cite web|url=1. httphttps://ocppforumopenchargealliance.netorg/protocols/open-charge-point-protocol/}}</ref>

OCPP is used by a large number of vendors of EV charging stations and central management systems globally.<ref>{{cite web|url=2. https://openchargealliance.org/participants/}}</ref> As of January 2025, OCPP had been downloaded in 137 countries. The latest version, OCPP 2.1, was released in January 2025. This version includes features such as Distributed Energy Resource (DER) control and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities, and is backwards compatible with OCPP 2.0.1.<ref>{{cite web|url=2. https://openchargealliance.org/participants/}}</ref>

In late 2024, OCPP 2.0.1 Edition 3 was accepted by the [[International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)]] as IEC standard 68354. <ref>{{cite web|url=4. 4. https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/95734/}}</ref>OCPP is developed and maintained by the Open Charge Alliance (OCA), a non-profit foundation under Dutch law, headquartered in Arnhem, [[the Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=5. 5. https://openchargealliance.org/about-us/}}</ref> It is an open source standard and can be downloaded for free.[3] To contribute to OCPP’s development, one must become a member of the Open Charge Alliance.<ref>{{cite web|url=6. 6. https://openchargealliance.org/join-us/}}</ref>

==History==

OCPP was designed in 2009 at the request of the ElaadNL foundation, founded by Dutch distribution system operators (DSOs).<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 1. https://openchargealliance.org/protocols/open-charge-point-protocol/}}</ref>

The technical design and specifications were developed by Joury de Reuver, Franc Buve, and others. The goal was to create a protocol that enables communication between EV charging stations and central management systems from different vendors.

The first version of OCPP was published by ElaadNL in 2010 as an open-source standard. <ref>{{cite web|url=7. 7. https://openchargealliance.org/about-us/discover-our-history/}}</ref> This was followed by OCPP 1.5 in 2012, and then OCPP 1.6 in 2015, which introduced new features such as JSON, SOAP, and Smart Charging.<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 1. https://openchargealliance.org/protocols/open-charge-point-protocol/}}</ref>

With growing adoption, ElaadNL transferred the stewardship of OCPP to the Open Charge Alliance (OCA), which it co-founded with ESB (Ireland) and Greenlots (USA).<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 1. 7. https://openchargealliance.org/about-us/discover-our-history//}}</ref>

In 2018, OCPP 2.0 was released. Due to its comprehensive overhaul, it is not backward compatible with earlier versions. In 2019, OCA launched an OCPP 1.6 certification program, followed by OCPP 2.0.1 certification in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 10. https://openchargealliance.org/certificationocpp/}}</ref>

<ref>https://openchargealliance.org/certificationocpp/</ref>

==Objectives==

The main objective of OCPP is to provide a standard communication interface used by all charging stations to avoid vendor lock-in. This enhances interoperability and flexibility, enabling charging station owners to switch networks or hardware providers without being locked into proprietary systems.
<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 3. https://openchargealliance.org/protocols/open-charge-point-protocol/}}</ref>

OCPP facilitates the creation of large, diverse charging networks using a uniform protocol. It also defines end-to-end security architecture and provides implementation guidelines to protect against cyber threats such as server hijacking, eavesdropping, and device impersonation.<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 13. https://www.transportation.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/regulations/2023-03500/}}</ref>

<ref>11. https://wevo.energy/white-papers/open-charge-point-protocol-ocpp-security-explained/</ref>

==Certification==

The OCA operates an independent certification program to ensure compliance with the OCPP specification. Certification is available for OCPP 1.6 (since 2019) and OCPP 2.0.1 (since 2023). Certification labs appointed by OCA conduct the testing.<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 10. https://openchargealliance.org/certificationocpp/}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=1. 10. 12. https://openchargealliance.org/testing-laboratories/}}</ref>

==Adoption==

===United States===

In the U.S., OCPP adoption has increased since the Federal Highway Administration required its use (or an equivalent protocol) under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program.<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 13. https://www.transportation.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/regulations/2023-03500}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 14. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/15/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-standards-and-major-progress-for-a-made-in-america-national-network-of-electric-vehicle-chargers/}}</ref>

The states New York <ref>{{cite web|url=1. 15. https://jointutilitiesofny.org/ev/make-ready/}}</ref> and California <ref>{{cite web|url=1. 16. https://calevip.org/ocpp-certification-process/}}</ref> require OCPP compliance for charging infrastructure funding.

[[The U.S. Department of Energy]] has supported interoperability efforts since 2013 through the EV-Smart Grid Interoperability Center at [[Argonne National Laboratory]].[17]

===Asia===

In South Korea, OCPP is widely used for charging station management. Its popularity is driven by the requirement for OCPP certification in order to receive public funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 18. https://www.ktc.re.kr/web_eunited/board/view_season_02.asp?pagen=2364&paging=5&sno=2853}}</ref>

===Europe===

OCPP originated in Europe, and much of the protocol’s development community is based there. Several cities and regions mandate OCPP use for communication between recharging points and charge point operators (CPOs). <ref>{{cite web|url=1. 19. https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/clean-transport/sustainable-transport-forum-stf/reports/2020-recommendations-recharging-point-tenders_en/}}</ref> In 2020, the European Commission's Sustainable Transport Forum issued recommendations promoting OCPP compliance in tenders and funding programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 19. https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/clean-transport/sustainable-transport-forum-stf/reports/2020-recommendations-recharging-point-tenders_en/}}</ref> In the UK, since July 2019, new charging stations must meet smart charging requirements to qualify for funding under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme. While OCPP is not explicitly mandated, compliance with OCPP 1.6 or equivalent is necessary to meet these smart criteria.<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 20. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-funded-electric-car-chargepoints-to-be-smart-by-july-2019}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=1. 21. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/residential-chargepoints-minimum-technical-specification/}}</ref>

==See also==