Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is rising worldwide, making an efficient, scalable, and universally compatible charging infrastructure essential. The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) provides an open-source framework for simple charging operations with advanced features like smart charging, remote station monitoring, and renewable energy integration to meet this need.
OCPP is a crucial EV infrastructure standard, enabling communication between EV charging stations and central management systems (CMS), as illustrated in Figure 1. To encourage interoperability and flexibility, OCPP allows various charging station hardware and network software to work together.
Figure 1. OCPP functioning in the EV ecosystem, connecting the central management system and the charging station. (Image: Rakesh Kumar, Ph.D.)
What is the history of OCPP?
The Dutch grid operators’ E-laad organization created the OCPP in 2009. OCPP, designed initially to standardize public charging stations and CMS communication in the Netherlands, has earned international prominence for its potential to simplify and unify EV charging infrastructure worldwide.
The protocol progressed from OCPP 1.2 to OCPP 1.5 to OCPP 1.6, which added smart charging and security. OCPP 2.0, launched by the Open Charge Alliance (OCA), was the most significant improvement, including transaction management, security, and data reporting. The latest development in the series is the OCPP 2.0.1.
How does the OCPP operate with functional blocks?
Figure 2 shows 16 functional blocks in OCPP 2.0.1. Each block has its use cases and needs, as discussed below.
Figure 2. The 16 functional blocks in OCPP 2.0.1. (Image: Rakesh Kumar, Ph.D.)
1. Security: Ensures secure communication between charging stations and the CMS, utilizing encryption and authentication protocols to safeguard against unauthorized access and data breaches.
2. Provisioning: Involves the initial setup and configuration of charging stations, enabling them to register with the CMS and prepare for operation.
3. Authorization: Manages the verification of users or EVs, allowing access to charging services based on established credentials such as RFID, apps, or plug-and-charge technology.
4. Local Authorization List Management: Handles the maintenance of a local list of authorized users at the charge point, allowing offline authorization in case of network issues.
5. Transactions: Oversees the start, update, and stop of transaction messages that encapsulate the charging session’s details, ensuring accurate tracking and billing.
6. Remote Control: The CMS can initiate or terminate charging sessions remotely, providing flexibility in responding to system demands or user requests.
7. Availability: Manages the status of charging stations, indicating their operational readiness to users and the CMS for effective station utilization.
8. Reservation: Enables users to reserve a charging spot for a specific time, ensuring availability and convenience for scheduled charging needs.
9. Tariff and Cost: Facilitates the communication of pricing information, allowing charging stations to inform users about the cost of charging sessions in real time.
10. Metering: Captures and transmits precise energy metering data during charging sessions, critical for accurate billing and energy management.
11. Smart Charging: Supports intelligent power management at charging stations, optimizing energy usage based on grid capacity and EV demand.
12. Firmware Management: Manages distributing and installing firmware updates to charging stations, ensuring they operate with the latest features and security patches.
13. ISO 15118 Certificate Management: Handles the management of certificates required for the ISO 15118 standard, which enables secure plug-and-charge functionality and bidirectional communication.
14. Diagnostics: Facilitates the remote diagnosis of issues at charging stations, allowing for timely maintenance and minimal downtime.
15. Display Message: Controls the messages displayed on the charging station, providing users with instructions, statuses, and alerts.
16. Data Transfer: This enables the exchange of arbitrary data between the charging station and the CMS, which can be used for various custom applications and services.
Are there any use cases of OCPP?
Yes. OCPP has plenty of use cases. Figure 3 shows a few everyday situations where OCPP can be used.
Figure 3. A few use cases of the OCPP for EV charging. (Image: Rakesh Kumar, Ph.D.)
- Municipal EV charging networks: Cities worldwide are deploying public EV charging stations using OCPP to ensure interoperability across different vendors.
- Commercial fleets: Companies with EV fleets use OCPP-compliant charging stations to manage charging efficiently.
- Residential complexes: Multi-unit dwellings, such as apartment complexes, leverage OCPP to provide residents with secure, user-friendly EV charging solutions.
- Utility demand response programs: Utilities integrate OCPP to manage demand response via EV charging.
- University campuses: Educational institutions implement OCPP-compliant charging infrastructure to support faculty, staff, and students who drive EVs.
OCPP in the Spotlight
OCPP is a key part of the US’s big plan to have half of all new cars sold electric by 2030. This is a step toward meeting the goal of having net-zero emissions by 2050. Public EV chargers must meet OCPP 2.0.1 requirements to get government funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.
With a February 28, 2024 deadline, this rule makes it even more important to update charger software immediately to ensure it works with more devices.
Summary
OCPP is a crucial enabler for the EV charging infrastructure, ensuring interoperability, security, and efficient operation across different vendors and geographical locations. It defines a series of 16 functional blocks that outline specific areas of functionality within the EV charging ecosystem.
OCPP’s flexibility and open-source nature also aid in quick deployment and scaling of charging infrastructure, ensuring that the charging network remains reliable, user-friendly, and ready to meet future demands as EV adoption grows.
References
- Electric Vehicle Charging: a Survey on the Security Issues and Challenges of the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials
- Implementation of OCPP Protocol for Electric Vehicle Applications, E3S Web of Conferences
- The Complete OCPP Guide, AMPECO
- National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Standards and Requirements, Federal Register
- Biden’s electric vehicle charging network should use open source, Federal Times
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