OCPP stands for Open Charge Point Protocol. It is the open protocol — the shared language — that a charging station and the software platform managing it use to talk to each other. Through OCPP the platform can start and stop sessions, collect meter readings, watch for faults and send settings to the charger.
Key Takeaways
- OCPP means Open Charge Point Protocol — the language between a charger and its management platform.
- It carries session control, authorisation, meter values, fault reports and settings.
- Because it is open, hardware and software can come from different makers — and platforms can be changed later.
- Read claims by grade: a named version is testable, “OCPP-ready” is a phrase to close in writing, and silence means standalone.
Two Ends of One Conversation
Every OCPP conversation has the same two ends. At one end is the charge point: the physical charger. At the other is the central system — the management platform (often called a CSMS) that an operator uses to run a site or a network. The messages between them fall into a few plain groups:
| Message type | Direction | What it does, in plain terms |
|---|---|---|
| Session control | Platform to charger | Start or stop a charging session remotely |
| Authorisation | Both ways | Check that a driver, card or app account is allowed to charge |
| Meter values | Charger to platform | Report how much energy a session delivered — the basis for billing and records |
| Status and faults | Charger to platform | Say whether the charger is free, busy or broken, so problems surface before drivers find them |
| Settings and updates | Platform to charger | Change configuration and deliver firmware, without a site visit |
Why the Word “Open” Is the Point
OCPP is published as an open standard, not owned by any charger maker. That one fact does the practical work: a charger from one manufacturer can be managed by a platform from another, an operator can mix brands on one site, and a site can change platforms later without replacing its hardware. Without an open protocol, the software and the charger would be a matched pair for life. Our OCPP explainer for operators goes deeper into versions and buying checks; this article is the plain definition underneath it.
How to Read an OCPP Claim on a Listing
Chargers state OCPP in three grades, and the grades are not interchangeable:
| What the listing says | What it actually states | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| A version is named, e.g. “OCPP 1.6J” | The charger runs that version of the protocol | That your platform runs the same version, and the pairing has been tested |
| “OCPP-ready” | A capability phrase — no version is named | Which version, and which platforms it has actually been paired with, in writing |
| Nothing about OCPP | No platform claim at all | Nothing to confirm — treat the unit as standalone |
EVDANCE’s own range shows all three grades. The EV-AC03201T dual-connector AC station and the EV-RHDC30K-L compact DC charger state OCPP 1.6J. The EV-ACS3210E portable states “OCPP-ready” — the phrase only, with App control and energy monitoring. Most home chargers state nothing, because a unit managed from its own app holds no platform conversation. One boundary worth keeping: EVDANCE makes the hardware; the platform itself is a separate service run by its own provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my home charger need OCPP?
No. A home charger charges perfectly well on its own. OCPP matters when a platform has to manage the unit — shared parking, driver billing, fleets and public sites.
Is OCPP the same as Plug and Charge?
No. Plug and Charge is a car-to-charger feature from the ISO 15118 family: the car identifies itself at the plug. OCPP is the separate charger-to-platform conversation that runs the site behind it.
A charger says “OCPP-ready”. Will it work with my platform?
Not on that wording alone. “Ready” names a capability, not a version or a tested pairing. Get the version and a named, tested platform confirmed in writing before a project relies on it.
Related Reading
- OCPP Explained: What Charge Point Operators Need From EV Charger Hardware
- How Do Commercial EV Charging Stations Work?
- How Do Smart EV Chargers Work?
