Necessity is truly the mother of invention and we are in, almost, a golden age of invention when it comes to EV charging infrastructure and solutions. From finding new applications for existing tech to new advanced technology changing the industry, the best part is that both drivers and owners/hosts come out as winners. It’s easy to get bogged down by the hardware and see all solutions as the same but non-networked and networked EV charging stations are not the same. And, in large part, the differences are directly connected to Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) and how it changes functionality, reliability, flexibility, transparency, and control. Given its importance, understanding what it is and where that tech is taking us is a key part to understanding what you want and need in charging station hardware and software.
Quick Links
- What is OCPP?
- Why OCPP Matters for EV Charging Infrastructure
- Benefits of OCPP for EV Station Owners and Drivers
- OCPI and What's Coming Next
What is OCPP?
OCPP stands for Open Charge Point Protocol. OCPP is an internationally recognized open-source application protocol designed to allow EV charging stations and portals from different vendors to communicate with each other.
OCPP compliance provides benefits for both hardware and software. The concept of open-source versus proprietary technology has long raged in the technology sector and, nearly every time, open-source solutions have proven their worth with benefits that pay off. OCPP is no different.
When it comes to charging stations, owners of OCPP-compliant stations are able to connect to multiple open networks. In other words, the same EV hardware can provide a seamless charging experience without the need for significant upgrades to existing hardware.
Why OCPP Matters for EV Charging Infrastructure
Time and again we hear that one of the biggest challenges for EV drivers, which ultimately creates challenges for EV charging station owners/hosts as well, is finding a reliable charging station. Unfortunately, sometimes, when drivers do spy an open charging station, they pull up to realize it’s a proprietary charging station on a closed network, which for some, makes the charging station unusable.
In contrast, OCPP and charging stations that utilize it, means there’s a greater likelihood that the charging station and the associated charging app or EV charging network will work for a greater number of drivers. In short, OCPP improves the flexibility and reliability of public charging stations when it comes to the driver experience.
And, when it comes to charging station owners, OCPP provides a similar flexibility. More specifically, an EV charging solution that requires you to rely only on their network can raise their fees at any time. Much like drivers, you’re left with no options. With OCPP, you have the ability to change your network at any time. As a result, the market becomes more competitively priced and neither you nor drivers are a single supplier’s captive audience.
As we work to improve EV charging infrastructure to drive wider EV adoption, one of the primary goals for industry and energy leaders is to provide a seamless EV driver charging experience and that means reliable and accessible charging stations. Largely, that means charging stations that utilize OCPP.
Benefits of OCPP for EV Station Owners and Drivers
Thankfully for everyone involved, the benefits of OCPP go beyond versatility, accessibility, and improving driver experience though those are certainly some of the highlights so we’ll drill down into exactly what that means.
First, let’s start with the fact that EV charging industry leaders and collectives, like the Open Charge Alliance (of which NovaCHARGE is a member) have a goal to improve EV infrastructure and the charging experience. Predominantly, stakeholders would love to make the EV charging experience more accessible and more reliable, and that means increasing and improving the interoperability of EV charging stations and creating more options for EV drivers. OCPP absolutely has a part in achieving those very important goals.
OCPP-Compliant EV Charging Station Hardware
Perhaps the biggest benefit here, for drivers and station owners alike, is that you have freedom and control and, if for some reason you’re not happy with the service level or the reliability, you can switch to another OCPP-compliant provider. As one can imagine, that freedom puts control in the hands of the station owner and EV driver, and puts pressure on the provider to deliver service.
Non-OCPP hardware, or closed network hardware, locks you (and drivers) into that hardware, specific software, and the EVSE provider. And, when EV hardware and software capabilities evolve, OCPP-compliant hardware is ready for updates without replacing expensive equipment.
OCPP-Compliant EV Charging Station Software
OCPP-compliant hardware is vital to future-proofing your EV charging station, but OCPP-compliant software is what really helps keep you, as a station owner, connected with EV drivers.
As an owner, your charging software provides access to each of your charging stations, allowing you to not just determine pricing models, but also to manage power consumption and balance that load or power share at the local level. This means that you can install more EV charging stations without worrying about overburdening the grid; you simply limit or manage power usage based on charging station use.
It also facilitates overall charging station management. Imagine having to manage all of your EV charging stations machine by machine? The right OCPP-compliant software, like NovaCHARGE’s ChargeUP means all hardware can communicate on the same EV charging network so you can create universal settings, schedules, and automations to make your job easier. In short, you can update multiple stations with one click.
That same network provides vital visibility when it comes to keeping your charging stations online. NovaCHARGE’s proactive monitoring maintenance, NovaBOT, can ping your stations and use the software to alert you to problems, improving reliability and reducing truck rolls. In the end, this protects your revenue stream and provides a much better driver experience.
Finally, for you and for drivers, OCPP-compliance ensures that your charging stations show up on maps used by EV drivers as they seek out EV chargers. And, that open network means, when they arrive, they will experience seamless EV charging.
OCPI and What's Coming Next
As we mentioned above, one of the biggest benefits of OCPP is that it helps keep your EV charging solutions future proof. As updates and upgrades occur, you’re easily able to update both your software and hardware, ensuring its functionality for both you and drivers alike.
Let’s take a quick step back, before we jump into OCPI or Open Charge Point Interface, and get a better understanding of the roles played in EV charging networks. Essentially, you have 3 players:
CPOs- Charge Point Operators operate networked EV chargers and provide the technology needed to communicate and interact with EV charging stations. Whether the command being given is to throttle the power supply due to increased demand or to simply start charging a vehicle, CPOs make that possible.
EMSPs- e-Mobility Service Providers are responsible for providing user/driver access to EV charging stations. They are, much like an internet service provider in that they provide the connectivity but not the hardware or other charging infrastructure. Many CPOs are also EMSPs, but that’s not always the case. NovaCHARGE, for example, is both.
DSOs-Distribution System Operators may not even be in the EV charging game…yet. Instead, they are responsible for distributing and managing energy from the generation sources to the final consumers. This could be your local electric utility, a local energy distribution company or an independent system operator. While they may not be actively involved in the EV industry, they are a vital part of EV infrastructure solutions as the demand on the grid and managing loads increases.
Why does all of this matter? This is where OCPI becomes important. While it’s still an emerging protocol in the EV charging space, much like OCPP allows stations and users on the same network to communicate, OCPI allows station and network interoperability, thereby enabling roaming, simplifying the charging process, and enabling interoperable payment systems. Put simply, OCPI allows EV drivers to use a wide variety of EV charging networks without having to have separate accounts or other troublesome means of verification with each of them.
Where OCPP has improved choice and flexibility in the EV charging arena for station owners and drivers, OCPI is an important part of making EV’s as flexible as gasoline-powered cars.
In an industry that struggles with reliability, which impacts adoption rates, which impacts ROI for station owners, these two protocols move the industry forward by leaps and bounds. Where routes forward have been, in some ways limited, open-source technology provides lifetime value in EV charging solutions and unlocks the whole arena.
If you’re ready to talk to an experienced team who can help you move your EV charging goals forward, finding a solution that works for you, reach out to us today.
