- numocity
- August 21, 2023
As the world rapidly shifts to a more sustainable way of life, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular. While electric vehicles are a great way to reduce emissions and save money, they come with their own set of challenges. One of the main issues is how to charge these vehicles, as there are different protocols and methods of EV charging. This is where the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) comes in. In this blog, we will discuss what you should know about OCPP for electric vehicles.
What is OCPP
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is an open source communications protocol that provides a standardised way for electric vehicle charging stations to communicate with a central management system. It enables the central management system to monitor, manage and control the charging station, as well as integrate with electricity networks and other third-party systems. It also allows for the management of access rights, billing, and other functions related to the operation of the charging station. The protocol is designed to be a universal and interoperable standard, and is supported by numerous vendors and charging station manufacturers.
OCPP was developed to facilitate communication between electric vehicle charging stations and back-end systems. OCPP enables the charging station to interact with the power grid, the billing system, and the EV driver. It is designed for use with both AC and DC charging systems. OCPP supports a range of functions including start-stop charging, credit/debit card payment, tariff management, local energy monitoring, and remote diagnostics. OCPP also allows charging station operators to manage their charging infrastructure remotely and efficiently.
How does OCPP work
The OCPP protocol consists of two components. The first is the OCPP protocol itself, which defines how charge points and the central server communicate with each other.
The second component is the OCPP profiles, which define what data is transferred between the charge point and the central server.
At the charge point, the OCPP protocol is used to allow drivers to connect their electric vehicles and initiate the charging process. The charge point is configured with the driver’s details, which is then sent to the central server. The central server uses this information to authenticate the driver and to initiate the charging process.
At the same time, the charge point communicates with the central server to send information such as the amount of energy that has been used, the current state of the charge point, and any faults that have occurred. This information is used by the central server to generate billing information, monitor the performance of the charge point, and to carry out maintenance tasks.
Features of OCPP
- Open Architecture: OCPP is based on an open architecture, allowing it to be implemented by any party. This promotes interoperability and allows developers to create custom solutions that meet their specific needs.
- Communication Protocols: OCPP supports multiple communication protocols, including SOAP, REST, and SMPP. This allows for a variety of communication methods, making it easier to integrate with existing infrastructure.
- Security: OCPP is designed with security in mind. It includes features such as user authentication and encryption, ensuring that communications are secure.
- Flexibility: OCPP is highly flexible, allowing developers to customize their solutions. This makes it easier to create solutions that meet specific needs.
- Scalability: OCPP is designed to be scalable, allowing it to support large numbers of users and transactions. This makes it suitable for high-volume applications.
- Compatibility: OCPP is compatible with a wide range of devices, making it easier to integrate with existing systems.
- Support: OCPP is supported by a variety of vendors, making it easy to find help and resources.
Advantages of Open Charge Point Protocol
- Increased Flexibility: OCPP allows for the easy addition and removal of charging points from a charging network, making it easy to expand or scale down the network as needed. This flexibility also makes it easier to deploy new technologies like V2G or Power-to-X, as well as enabling the integration of new services like payment or authentication.
- Improved Security: OCPP provides a secure communication channel for sharing data between the charging station and the energy provider. All sensitive data is encrypted using secure protocols, which helps to protect the data from cyberattacks.
- Highly Scalable: OCPP is designed to be highly scalable, allowing it to be used with a variety of charging stations, from single-point systems to large networks of hundreds of charging points. This makes it well suited for large-scale deployments.
- Reduced Costs: With OCPP, the cost of deploying and managing a charging network is much lower than with other solutions. This is because the protocol is open source and uses standard protocols, reducing the need for costly proprietary solutions.
- Easy Integration: OCPP is designed to be easy to integrate with existing systems. This means that it can be quickly deployed in existing applications, such as charging station networks, without requiring significant changes or additional investments.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for charging infrastructure, you should ask about us. After all, we’re an open network solution!
