Key Takeaways
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What is OCPI?
Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) is a point-to-point protocol that enables eRoaming. OCPI ensures interoperability across the EV charging ecosystem by standardizing and streamlining communications between charging networks, e-mobility service providers (EMSP), and EV drivers. This seamless eRoaming helps create a transparent EV charging marketplace, enabling further growth in EV charging business volume.
How does OCPI work?
EV drivers need to access charging wherever they travel. Providing a cohesive and user-friendly EV charging experience is imperative to removing barriers to buying an electric vehicle. The Open Charge Point Interface protocol serves as the technical “handshake” between charging hardware, charging station software, mobile client apps, and back-end infrastructure across charging network operators and e-mobility service providers. EV drivers who subscribe to a specific service provider can charge their vehicles on diverse networks using their home charge point operator (CPO) mobile app.
OCPI lets CPOs and EMSPs track clients as they roam across systems by supporting:
- Registrations
- Customer charging session authorization
- Shared charge point location and other information
- eRoaming
- Charger reservation
- Billing
- Smart charging
The protocol is managed and maintained by the EVRoaming Foundation, which keeps OCPI brand agnostic and free to use. The foundation’s ultimate goal is to enable any EV driver to charge at any charging station, thereby accelerating the EV market for drivers and improving mobility services. OCPI is used globally by companies and eRoaming hubs. Having a communication infrastructure that unifies the EV and energy sectors also enables the development of integrated and profitable business models that offer flexibility and ensure reliable EV charging.
OCPI has gone through several versions:
- 2.1.1 and earlier OCPI versions are no longer supported
- 2.3.0 is the current OCPI version
- 3.0 is a new version that’s under development and will support ISO 15118 and Plug and Charge
How do OCPI and OCPP compare?
While OCPI and OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) are both important communication protocols for EV charging infrastructure, they serve different purposes when you look at OCPI vs OCPP.
- Communications: OCPI enables information exchange between charge point operators and e-mobility service providers. On the other hand, OCPP enables communication between electric vehicle charging stations and a central management system.
- Reach: Like OCPI, OCPP is an international, open-source, vendor-independent EV charging industry standard that’s available for free. It was developed by the Open Charge Alliance (OCA) for the EV infrastructure market and is considered the go-to standard for interoperability among charging equipment manufacturers, software and systems providers, charging network operators, and research organizations.
Both protocols optimize costs and minimize the risk of networked infrastructure investments. They provide flexibility for infrastructure operators to be EVSE-agnostic and allow easy access for EV drivers.
What are the benefits of OCPI for EV charging?
Streamlined integration and communication between charging networks, e-mobility service providers, and EV drivers through the Open Charge Point Interface offer several benefits.
| OCPI EV Charging Benefits | |
| Increased Interoperability and Convenience | Transparent eRoaming lets EV drivers use different charging networks with a single payment account. |
| Enhanced User Experience | Support for convenient features improves the user experience and encourages more people to adopt EVs. |
| Real-Time Data Exchange | EV drivers maintain up-to-date information about current and previous charging sessions. |
| Streamlined Billing and Payment | Facilitating billing and payment processes among different entities (CPOs, EMSPs, EVSPs) ensures transactions are accurately recorded and efficiently managed. |
| Scalability | OCPI can easily scale and support market expansion in both the number of EVs and charging stations. |
| Openness | Free and available to all, OCPI fosters widespread adoption and creates opportunities for innovation in the EV charging industry. |
| Business Model Flexibility | OCPI adoption facilitates technical data exchange and charging connectivity, enabling optimized business models. |
| Lower Costs, Improved Margins | Removing middlemen from the transaction chain saves EV drivers money and improves margins for CPOs. |
| Global Reach | Through global deployment, OCPI creates a more unified and accessible EV charging infrastructure and ecosystem. |
Why does OCPI matter to EV fleets?
Electric Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDVs), such as trucks and buses, are challenged to find suitable high-powered charging stations along their routes. No single network can deploy enough chargers in every location to meet demand, so fleets are increasingly forming partnerships by connecting networks through eRoaming agreements. Based on the Open Charge Point Interface, these agreements enable electric HDV fleets on different networks to communicate and charge at each other’s depots along routes.
The EVRoaming Foundation released an extension to OCPI 2.2.1 to streamline charging reservations for EV fleets. The fully featured capability supports:
- charging session reservations
- modifications and cancellations
- payment handling
- real-time status updates.
This improved bookings management module enables fleet operators and depot managers to reserve charging sessions in advance with partner fleets. Each fleet has access to high-powered charging along its HDV routes, while maximizing its own charger use and benefiting from predictable and scheduled charging stops. While the widespread deployment of megawatt chargers will take time, the OCPI Bookings module can help further HDV EV adoption by enabling charger reservations at partner depots, ensuring charger availability, reducing downtime, and boosting utilization.
Does Driivz support the OCPI protocol?
Yes, the Driivz EV charging management platform supports both the OCPI and OCPP protocols. Driivz was an early adopter of OCPI technology, with initial integration in 2015 and support for hundreds of OCPI 2.2.1 connections today. Driivz plans to support OCPI version 3.0 and future versions as well to handle reconciliation across all participating EMSPs, CPOs, and EVSPs.
