Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) has become a central part of the rapidly growing electric vehicle charging industry and is the standard that will influence how we view electric vehicle infrastructure for a long time to come. OCPP stands for Open Charge Point Protocol, a welcome response to the challenges that arise when building and maintaining charging infrastructure.
OCPP is an open communication protocol that enables smooth interaction between electric vehicle charging stations and the systems that manage them. The protocol has been developed by the Open Charge Alliance (OCA) with the goal of being vendor-independent. This means that those who own charging facilities are not tied to a single vendor, thus avoiding the risk of vendor lock-in and unexpected future costs.
To gain a better understanding of OCPP and its significance, we spoke with Niklas Hilding, CEO of Wayblers partner LaddaTillsammans AB. He emphasizes the crucial role of OCPP and argues that OCPP is the most important point on the checklist when selecting a supplier for electric vehicle charging.
Choosing a charging solution that adheres to the OCPP standard is an investment in the future. It means you have the ability to switch vendors if your current vendor goes bankrupt or if you are dissatisfied with their service. Additionally, OCPP enables remote software updates, which keeps the charging facility in top condition and reduces the need for expensive technician call-outs.
-The worst that can happen if you have a system that follows the OCPP standard is relatively manageable. You can simply switch vendors if something goes wrong and choose from the options available in the market. But if you have a system that doesn’t follow the standard, you could be stuck with higher costs, and in the worst case, you may need to tear up your existing facility and install new systems, which can be a costly lesson,” says Niklas Hilding, LaddaTillsammans.
Drawing parallels between OCPP in electric vehicle charging and the flexibility we expect in other aspects of our lives is not difficult. Just as when we purchase a mobile phone, we expect to be able to choose an operator and switch when we wish. Similarly, we should have the same freedom when it comes to charging stations and charging services. Waybler has been a part of OCA for a long time, and with that, all Waybler’s charging stations also adhere to the OCPP standard.
-Think long-term and assume that your needs may change over time. By choosing a solution that follows the OCPP standard, you get the opportunity to adapt your charging infrastructure to your association’s or company’s development and changing needs,” says Niklas Hilding, LaddaTillsammans.
Open protocols like OCPP are important for increasing flexibility in electric vehicle charging. Moreover, you can mix and match different charging solutions and stations according to your specific requirements. This gives you the freedom to respond quickly if your current vendor goes bankrupt or if prices change.
To summarize some of the advantages of OCPP:
- Increased flexibility
- The ability to switch to an operator with better prices and services
- The ability to mix and match charging solutions and stations
- Confidence that the charging system will remain usable even if the provider is no longer available for various reasons
So, when you invest in electric vehicle charging for your association or company, you should think long-term and choose a solution that follows the OCPP standard. It will provide you with the freedom and flexibility you need to keep your facility updated and adapt it to your future needs.
Read more about Waybler’s charging station, Dynamic which adheres to the OCPP 1.6 standard.
