Open Charge Point Interface
Overview
OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface) is an open protocol for communication between EV user networks (eMSPs) and EV charging networks (CPOs). The protocol was created to enable interoperability between different network operators, allowing electric vehicle drivers to use any charging station regardless of the network operator or charging station brand.
The OCPI protocol was developed by the EV Roaming Foundation.[1], a non-profit organization that was founded on 28th May 2020 and has been actively developing the OCPI protocol since 2014. The foundation’s ultimate goal is to allow any EV driver to charge at any charging station. The EVRoaming Foundation wants to ensure that OCPI is a sustainable and strong protocol that remains accessible in the long-term. The foundation is not limited to OCPI and can also support other related activities and services.
Protocol
OCPI is a RESTful API-based protocol that uses standard web technologies such as HTTP and JSON for communication between EV user networks (eMSPs) and charging networks (CPOs). It can be freely downloaded from the EV Roaming Foundation website. It defines a set of standard messages and data structures that allow the charging network to report their availability, pricing, and other relevant information to the users’ network, and for the users to send commands to the charging stations to start or stop charging sessions.
The protocol is designed to be extensible and flexible, allowing for future enhancements and the addition of new features as the charging infrastructure evolves. It is also designed to be vendor-agnostic, meaning that any charging station manufacturer can implement the protocol, and any network operator can use it to manage their charging infrastructure.
The protocol defines two key entities: eMobility Service Provider (eMSP) and Charge Point Operator (CPO)
eMobility Service Provider (eMSP)
An eMobility Service Provider (eMSP) is a company or organization that provides electric vehicle (EV) charging roaming services.
Using EV roaming, electric vehicle (EV) drivers can access charging services at a variety of participating charging networks. Drivers can charge their vehicles in such networks, without needing separate memberships or accounts with each individual network.
An eMSP focuses on the driver and fleet side. They provide billing and payment services for EV charging, as well as technical support and customer service. Examples of eMSPs include Google Maps[2], Waze[3], Plugshare, Zap Map and Octopus Electric Universe in the UK, and Cellocharge in Israel. Some large EV fleets even created their own eMSP to allow their drivers to charge at public networks[4]
Charge Point Operators (CPOs)
An Electrical Vehicle Charge Point Operator (EV CPO) is a company or organization that owns, operates, and manages electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This includes both public and private charging stations, as well as the hardware and software systems needed to manage them.
An EV CPO typically offers a range of charging options to meet the needs of different types of electric vehicles and drivers. These options may include different levels of charging speed, payment methods, and access controls.
OCPI Versions
The OCPI protocol has undergone several versions[5] since its inception. The current version of the protocol is OCPI 2.2, which was released in December 2020. OCPI 2.2 includes several improvements over previous versions, including improved support for roaming between charging networks, better handling of pricing information, and enhanced security features.
Previous versions of the protocol include:
- OCPI 1.2: initial release of the protocol
- OCPI 1.5: support for dynamic pricing and more detailed status information from charging stations
- OCPI 1.6: improved support for reservations and more detailed tariff information
- OCPI 1.6.1: bug fixes and minor improvements
- OCPI 2.0: support for roaming between charging networks and improved handling of pricing information
- OCPI 2.1: support for dynamic tariff updates and improved handling of reservations
- OCPI 2.1.1: bug fixes and minor improvements
- OCPI 2.2: improved support for roaming between charging networks, better handling of pricing information, and enhanced security features.
Each new version of the protocol has introduced new features and improvements over previous versions, while maintaining backwards compatibility with earlier versions to ensure that existing implementations can continue to work with newer implementations.
Adoption
OCPI has gained widespread adoption in Europe and is now being implemented in other parts of the world. The protocol is supported by a growing number of charging station manufacturers, network operators, and software providers, and is seen as a key enabler for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Other Open Protocols
OCPI is part of a family of open EV protocols that were designed to work together. Those protocols include:
- OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol)
- OSCP (Open Smart Charge Protocol)
- OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface)
References
- ↑ "EVRoaming Foundation". EVRoaming Foundation. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
- ↑ "https://twitter.com/mbayings/status/1451179562323234818". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-04-17. External link in
|title=(help) - ↑ "Places/EV charging station - Wazeopedia". wazeopedia.waze.com. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
- ↑ "British Gas Fleet Electrification | Osprey Charging Network". www.ospreycharging.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
- ↑ "Releases · ocpi/ocpi". GitHub. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
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