OCPP : Open charge point protocol

The goal of the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is to provide a uniform method of communication between charge points and central systems. This protocol makes it possible to connect any central system with any charge point, regardless of the vendor. A uniform approach helps prevent coordination problems and therefore benefits the entire electric vehicle market.

At the moment there are three versions of OCPP available.

• OCPP 1.6 was released in 2015.
• OCPP 2.0.1 was released in 2020. OCPP 2.0.1 ed3 was approved as an IEC standard (IEC63584) in 2024.
• OCPP 2.1 was released in 2025.

OCPP 2.1 Open charge point protocol 2.1

OCPP 2.1 is designed for smarter, more efficient, and user-friendly EV charging solutions. It is part of our mission to stay ahead and to improve constantly. We reached this milestone thanks to the input and feedback we received from OCA participants and OCPP enthusiasts from all over the world! Together, we define the future of EV charging. 

OCPP 2.1 builds on OCPP 2.0.1 by introducing additional functionality. Care has been taken to ensure that all application logic developed for OCPP 2.0.1 remains compatible with OCPP 2.1.

OCPP 2.1 includes improved and added functionalities compared to OCPP 2.0.1: 

1. Support for ISO 15118-20: Support for ISO 15118-20 with bidirectional power transfer.  
2. New Functional Block on Bidirectional Charging: Enablement of bidirectional energy flows (V2X), allowing EVs to act as energy sources.  
3. New Functional Block on DER Control: Enhanced integration with distributed energy resources (DER). 
4. Improved Smart Charging: Advanced tools for optimized energy distribution across charging stations. 
5. Extended Transaction Options: Possibility to perform transactions with fixed costs, energy or time. Possibility to resume transactions after a forced reboot. 
6. Battery Swapping: Support for battery swap stations for two- and three-wheelers and electric vehicles. 
7. Local Cost Calculation: Support for local cost calculation on the charging station.  
8. New Authorization Options:  
   • Support for Prepaid Charge Cards: Transaction cost cannot exceed prepaid card balance.  
   • Support for Ad Hoc Payment: Pay with credit or debit card via a built-in or a stand-alone credit card terminal. 
   • Secure Dynamic QR Codes: Introduction of secure dynamic QR-codes for ad hoc payment. 
9. Many Additional Improvements: A variety of updates driven by feedback from the EV charging community. 

OCPP 1.6 Open Charge Point Protocol 1.6

OCPP 1.6 was released in 2015 and brought the protocol to a new level. Since then, downloads have steadily increased, and OCPP 1.6 is now widely implemented by CS and CSMS manufacturers around the world.

OCPP 1.6 functions are:  

• OCPP 1.5 
• Both SOAP and JSON versions 
• Smart Charging support for load balancing and use of charge profiles 
• (Local) list management support 
• Additional status 
• Message sending requests such as CP time or status at the CP 
• Minor improvements in specifications (In comparison to OCPP 1.5)