The first-ever OCPP Plugfest & Conference Australia brought together over 130 conference participants and more than 20 test teams for three days of knowledge sharing, collaboration and hands-on interoperability testing in Canberra. A milestone for the OCPP community in Australia!
Day 1: Sharing knowledge and connecting the industry
The event kicked off on Tuesday with over 130 participants from industry and government coming together to share knowledge, exchange ideas and explore the future of EV charging.
The conference featured four thematic blocks throughout the day. The morning sessions focused on Grid Integration and Cybersecurity, followed by International and Local Learnings and Implementation and Testing Readiness in the afternoon.
Topics ranged from local controllers and OCPP & CSIP-AUS to OCPP security implementation and the Australian perspective on EV charging.
The presentations sparked plenty of questions and lively discussions, which continued during the networking breaks and well into the evening over drinks and bites. It was a great opportunity for participants to exchange experiences, discuss challenges and build new connections across the EV charging ecosystem.
Interested in exploring the conference presentations? They will be made available on the OCPP Plugfest & Conference Australia event page.
Days 2 & 3: Putting interoperability to the test
After a day of sharing insights and exchanging ideas, it was time to put interoperability into practice! Over the following two days, more than 20 test teams, participating both onsite and remotely, came together to test their implementations of OCPP 1.6, OCPP 2.0.1 and OCPP 2.1.
OCPP Plugfests provide an opportunity for participants to test their implementations with other teams in a collaborative environment. By exchanging technical knowledge, identifying potential issues and learning from each other, participants gain valuable insights that help improve interoperability across the EV charging ecosystem.
Alongside the testing sessions, OCA hosted a side program featuring a Local Controller Demo, an OCA Certification Program presentation and an OCTT Demo.
The enthusiasm for testing was clear. Participants requested additional testing slots, and some teams even continued testing after the venue’s official closing time! That’s the Plugfest spirit!
Recognising a valued member of the OCPP community
The event also featured a special moment as Riccardo Pagliarella, OCPP Ambassador for Oceania since 2024, received his official recognition in person.
Riccardo was unable to attend OCA’s 10th anniversary celebration in 2024, when the other OCPP Ambassadors were honoured. The Australian Plugfest provided a fitting opportunity to celebrate his contributions to the OCPP community, especially as his dedication and efforts played an important role in making this first Australian edition possible.
Thank you, Riccardo, for your continued commitment to bringing the OCPP community together!
A successful first Australian edition
Bringing the OCPP community together in Australia for the first time has been a wonderful experience, and we hope it marks the beginning of many more opportunities to connect, collaborate and test together in the region.
OCA would like to thank all participants, speakers and testing teams for their active involvement, enthusiasm and willingness to share their experiences and expertise.
A special thank you goes to our event partners Vehicle-Grid Network, RACE for 2030 and Climate KIC Australia for their support in bringing this event to life.
Stay connected with OCA
Would you like to join a future OCPP Plugfest or learn more about the Open Charge Alliance? Explore our upcoming events, follow us on LinkedIn or discover how to become an OCA member and contribute to the future of open and interoperable EV charging.