The words “OCPP compliant” can rest on two very different foundations. Under certification, an independent laboratory tests the product under the Open Charge Alliance’s certification program, and the model is listed as certified. Under self-declaration, the manufacturer asserts that its own implementation conforms — with no independent test behind the sentence. The datasheet wording looks identical. The evidence a buyer should ask for is not.
Key Takeaways
- “OCPP compliant” may mean independently certified or self-declared; the evidence behind the words differs.
- Certification covers protocol behaviour of a tested model and version — not safety, and not every pairing.
- Buyers verify by pinning the exact model, version and basis of the claim in writing.
- A private-label brand needs the compliance file in order under its own name, before launch.
Four Claims That Sound the Same
| Wording on the datasheet | What it usually means | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
| “OCPP certified” | The model passed the alliance’s certification testing | The certificate, naming the exact model and OCPP version |
| “OCPP compliant” | The maker declares its implementation conforms to the specification | The maker’s conformance statement and its own test reports |
| “Tested with” a named platform | A pairing test was run with one CSMS | The pairing record, naming both products and both versions |
| “OCPP-ready” | A capability claim without a named, implemented version | Written confirmation of the version and a tested pairing, before you rely on it |
What Certification Covers — and What It Does Not
Certification covers the protocol behaviour of the tested model and version: the messages work as the specification requires. It does not certify electrical safety. That is a separate world of safety listings and market marks — the NRTL system in the United States, CE marking in Europe — covered in our guide to EV charger certifications. Nor does certification guarantee pairing with every platform: two conforming implementations can still disagree on details, which is why pairing tests exist. And the claim attaches to the tested build, so a substantially changed firmware is a fair question to raise with the maker.
How a Buyer Verifies the Claim
- Ask for the certificate or the declaration, and check that it names the exact model and OCPP version you are buying.
- Ask which CSMS platforms the model has been pairing-tested with, and get the answer in writing.
- Write the version, and the basis of the claim, into the purchase documents, so the claim survives the order.
- On a private-label product, confirm whose name the evidence carries — the compliance file should match the brand that will sell the charger.
How EVDANCE States It
EVDANCE listings state OCPP 1.6J for two models — the EV-AC03201T dual-connector AC station and the EV-RHDC30K-L compact DC charger — and “OCPP-ready” for the EV-ACS3210E portable, the weaker, unnamed-version wording described above. No OCPP certification is claimed for these models, so the professional route is the one set out in this article: confirm the pairing with your platform in writing before a network depends on it. Start with the OEM and private-label program, or contact the team with your platform details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a self-declared charger a bad buy?
Not necessarily. Many working products are self-declared; it simply moves the verification work to the buyer. Ask for the maker’s test evidence and a named, tested pairing instead of a certificate.
Does OCPP certification replace UL, ETL or CE?
No. OCPP certification is about protocol behaviour between a charger and a management platform. Safety listing and market conformity are separate systems, with separate marks and separate evidence.
We are putting our own brand on the charger. Whose name should the evidence carry?
The brand that sells the product carries the responsibility for it. Certificates, declarations and test reports need to be in order for that brand before launch — not assembled afterwards.
Related Reading
- OCPP Explained: What Charge Point Operators Need From EV Charger Hardware
- EV Charger Certifications Explained: CE, UKCA, UL, ETL, CB and What Buyers Should Ask For
- UL and ETL Listing for EV Chargers: How NRTL Certification Works
- Who Owns the Certificate in a Private-Label EV Charger?
