An OCPP EV charger is a smart EV charger that uses the open charge point protocol (OCPP) for communication between EV charging stations and any central control systems. the OCPP protocol is an open-source communication protocol that allows anyone to access and contribute to it, which means OCPP doesn’t favour any charger or software over others.
OCPP was developed to standardize communication protocols between EV charging systems and management systems in 2009, over the years OCPP has continued to evolve with new releases from OCPP 1.0 (2010), OCPP 1.2 (2012), OCPP 1.5 (2015), OCPP 2.0 (2018, and OCPP 2.0.1 (2020), each release of a newer version of OCPP comes with added features and capabilities including support for newer models of charging stations.
Best OCPP EV Charger for Homeowners.
One of the open source software that we recommend for Home EV chargers such as the Grizzl-E Smart home EV charger is ChargeLab software, it’s the leading OCPP software that allows individual users with a smart OCPP-compliant home charger to access convenient tools to manage their EV charging to track their charging sessions and set a time of use schedule, the benefits of ChargeLab software is that it’s free for ChargeLabs services when single-family homeowners use the app.
Grizzl-E Smart Level 2 (EV) Charger
How OCPP Works
OCPP provides a standardized communication protocol between EV chargers and central management systems, the communication involves the exchange of messages and data within the central management system and the EV charger.
The Charge Point (EV Charging Station) is equipped with one or more connectors that provide information about the availability and the status of your EV charging stations and energy consumption, for example, our EV smart charger that is compliant with the OCPP Grizzl-E Smart Home EV charger allows tracking of EV charging sessions, and energy usage, setting of charging schedules that also us to tap on off-peak session to save us money on EV charging, and remote monitoring of EV charging sessions.
The OCPP systems require a central system (or server) that is the backend charge point management system (CPMS) that communicates with the EV charger using OCPP to monitor and manage your EV charging sessions, it also collects data on your EV charging such as energy consumption and billing.
Types of OCPP Implementations
There are two types of OCPP implementations, Simple Object ACESS Protocol (SOAP) and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), when looking for an EV charger that is OCPP Compliant.
| OCPP 1.5 | OCPP 1.6 | OCPP 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| June 2012 | Oct 2015 | March 2018 |
| SOAP | SOAP & JSON | JSON |
| 24X2 messages | 28×2 messages | 65×2 messages |
| 42 Data Types | 49 Data types | 129 data types |
| 15 configuration keys | 43 configuration keys | 65 configuration keys |
| 60 Use cases | 260 test cases |
We recommend purchasing an EV charger that uses JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) such as the Grizzl-E Smart Home EV charger, and here is why:
Simple Object ACESS Protocol (SOAP)
Simple Object ACESS Protocol (SOAP) is an OCPP message-based protocol that uses XML to represent data, OCPP developers don’t like using XML because it’s a bulky format making it less suitable for home EV charging stations, the size of XML data and messages can cause delays and timeouts which is a problem is smart charging applications where users need real-time monitoring and communication.
Additionally, developers avoid SOAP because it is costly to the end user, as SOAP requires both the backend and the EV charger to act as servers to facilitate two-way communication.
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)
We do recommend purchasing an OCPP EV Charger that uses JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) which is a flexible and lightweight data interchange format, an EV charger that uses JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) such as Grizzl-E Smart Home EV charger provides much better diagnostics capabilities.
OCPP EV chargers that use JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) receive and send data through HTTP requests, and rely on web socket for two-way communication, which requires one entity to act as a server, which in OCPP case is the back end reducing the transfer of the costs to the EV owner, this means EV chargers using JSON are cheaper compared to EV Chargers using SOAP protocol.
Since most developers prefer using JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) over Simple Object ACESS Protocol (SOAP), finding a compatible EV charging software is easier, since building their implementation of the protocol requires an experienced development team to build the EV charging software from scratch, purchasing an OCPP EV Charger that uses JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) offers a wide range of ready-made solutions.
Benefits of OCPP EV Charger for Home EV Chargers
There are five major benefits of purchasing an OCPP EV charger such as the Grizzl-E Smart Home EV charger. they include:
Interoperability and Compatibility:
OCPP allows seamless communication between OCPP EV Chargers from different manufacturers and management systems. This ensures compatibility, scalability, and flexibility for operators to mix and match charging stations without concerns about compatibility issues.
Improved Management and Monitoring
OCPP enables remote control and monitoring of the OCPP EV Charger, allowing operators to start and stop sessions, load management, monitor energy usage, and billing, and troubleshoot issues in real-time.
Enhanced Customer Experience
Operators can use OCPP to manage customer accounts and billing, and offer various payment options, enhancing the overall user experience.
Cost Savings
OCPP EV Charger allows homeowners to schedule their EV charging times, this helps avoid peak charging sessions and allows flexibility of charging when the electricity tariffs are low. Purchasing an OCPP-compliant EV Charger will also allow you to integrate the EC charger with renewable power such as solar and wind which will save you on bills associated with charging your EV.
Future-Proofing Your Network
OCPP, as an open-source protocol, evolves with robust security features. This ensures that smart EV charging infrastructure connected to the internet remains up-to-date, secure, and compatible with emerging technologies and standards.
About the Author: James Ndungu
James Ndungu, founder and editor-in-chief of Electric Vehicle Geek, brings over five years of hands-on experience in Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) selection, permitting, and installation. He specializes in assisting businesses and homeowners in the United States with a seamless transition to electric vehicles.
As a certified EV charger installer and holder of advanced certifications, including the EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), Diploma in Electric Vehicle Technology, and Diploma in Engineering Fundamentals of Electric Vehicles, I provide expert guidance and in-depth reviews on the latest EV charging equipment.
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