Introduction
You are interested in electric vehicle charging and want to make the most of the potential for your network. You've heard about OCPP 2.0 and want to know more about what it can do for you.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at OCPP 2.0 and what makes it so special. We'll also explore some of the ways that OCPP 2.0 can help you unlock the full potential of your charging network. So, if you're ready, let's step into the future and see what OCPP 2.0 has in store for us.
OCPP 1.6J and Its Deficiencies
The EV Software Industry is about to get pwned.
The honest truth is that the software companies that built their architecture from the OCPP 1.6J spec are going to have such high switching cost to rewrite their entire software architecture for entirely new OCPP 2.0.1 spec.
I can attest to witnessing the growth of many OCPP 1.6J EV charging software companies which are now powering the early American EV charging infrastructure, since 2018.
The early-mover advantage was and still is getting as many plugs online as possible. Enable EV drivers to charge, grow the company, grow the industry.
Now that EV (and subsequent charging) market have been introduced. The North American charging market was built on OCPP1.6J and it’s a complete architecture rewrite to support OCPP 2.x.
EV charging infrastructure is young in the Americas, now that the OCPP 2.x spec is being implemented by hardware manufactures in their firmware, OCPP 2.x will steadily develop into the future. Supporting the infrastructure that will enable the phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles.
You may be using OCPP 1.6J for your current charging network, but that's about to change. OCPP 2.0 is out, and it's already defeated OCPP 1.6J in head-to-head comparisons.
What does that mean for you? Well, OCPP 2.0 is faster, more reliable, and easier to use. It also offers levels of more security and was built to support ISO 15118 (Plug-and-Charge). OCPP 2.x enables new levels of device control by the cloud that are not possible with OCPP 1.x… In other words, it's the future of EV charging networks.
If you're not using OCPP 2.0 yet, now is the time to make the switch as we’re still in the early days. Investing into future-ready infrastructure will carry your operations beyond the 2030’s.
What Makes OCPP 2.x Different?
OCPP 1.x is a standard that was released in 2009, and it's been used extensively in the EV charging market since then. But with the rise of OCPP 2.0, it's time to move on to a better standard.
What makes OCPP 2.x different? For starters, it's much more reliable. OCPP 2.x has been designed for the modern age and incorporates advancements in technology that simply weren't possible when OCPP 1.x was released. Additionally, it's much more scalable, meaning that it can handle a much larger number of chargers than the older standard.
This makes it the ideal choice for operators of large charging networks, who need a standard that can handle high demand and grow with their business. OCPP 2.x also offers more flexibility, allowing for a wider range of charging scenarios and use cases.
With all these advantages, it's no wonder that OCPP 2.0 is quickly becoming the new standard for EV charging networks.
OCPP 2.0 and ISO 15118: An Overview
OCPP 2.0 is the future of electric vehicle charging networks for two main reasons:
First, it's based on the ISO 15118 standard, which is the international standard for EV charging networks. This means that it's interoperable with all charge point manufacturers, making it easy to integrate new charge points into your network.
Second, OCPP 2.0 offers a lot of new features and benefits that weren't available in OCPP 1.6J. These include support for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) services, integration with renewable and energy storage sources, and interoperability with other networks and services.
This means that EV Initiative can offer customers a wider range of services and features, such as charging while parked or remotely controlling charge point operations.
Using WebSockets for Real-Time Communication
As WebSockets make real-time communication much faster than traditional HTTP, they are used in OCPP 2.0 to send and receive instructions between the Central System and the Charge Station. This enables real-time control over each station, allowing for more precise restrictions on charging sessions and payment methods, as well as enabling the collection of data on its use.
WebSockets also make it easier to keep track of usage for financial or billing purposes - such as automatically distributing payments for charging between different users - and can provide more detailed analytics than with OCPP 1.6J, which relied on scheduled communication between the Central System and Charge Station. This can be especially valuable when it comes to targeting maintenance or detecting fraud attempts on your charging network.
Paving a Path for Secure Electronic Transactions
OCPP 2.0.1 offers a secure path for electronic transactions, allowing EV Initiative and EV drivers to safely interact with charging infrastructure powered by The EVI Charging Network. The protocol ensures that all components used are genuine and valid and provides data encryption so that no one can intercept the information sent between parties.
The protocol is also designed to protect user credentials, ensuring that only legitimate users can access the network and confirming that the person making a payment has the right to do so. This prevents fraudulent activity and chargeback claims, meaning EV Initiative can operate our charging stations with confidence.
Finally, the OCPP 2.x spec on The EVI Charging Network also allows for flexible payment options, enabling operators to offer Pay-As-You-Go or subscription-based billing models - giving fleets, building owners and operators more options for how they charge electric vehicles.
What Does OCPP 2.0 Mean for The EVI Charging Network?
OCPP 2.0 is a major advancement from the OCPP 1.6J protocol, which means charge point operators like EV Initiative will now have a lot more features and functions at our disposal. One of the main benefits of the new version is that it will make EV charging easier to manage and more efficient for both drivers and operators.
For example, OCPP 2.0 now supports remote start and stop of charging sessions, meaning that users can trigger a session via their connected app, or operators can remotely manage/monitor sessions in real-time through the charge port management software.
Moreover, OCPP 2.0 features integrated pricing models such as hourly tariffs or flat rates that are configurable on a per-user basis, which gives operators more flexibility when it comes to differentiating pricing for different user types (corporate fleets, building owners and operators).
Finally, users get access to more detailed usage data with OCPP 2.0 -– drivers can view information about their previous charging sessions such as duration, energy consumption and cost – providing them with an improved user experience that encourages return visits. For fleets in particular this data provides invaluable insight into charging habits and efficiency levels which can be used to improve operational efficiency even further.
Conclusion
EV Initiative as an eMobility Service Provider is proud to be OCPP 2.x.
This version is a huge leap forward, and overcomes the limitations of OCPP 1.6. It has been specifically designed to meet the needs of charge port operators, and provides the flexibility and scalability required to manage large, complex networks.
We are confident that OCPP 2.x will play a major role in the future of EV Charging, and EV Initiative looks forward to working with our partners to make it a success within our marketplace.
