OCPP, short for Open Charge Point Protocol, is like the universal language of EV charging. It sets the standard for how charging stations talk to cent

Designing a Scalable OCPP server

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2024-05-20 06:00:03

OCPP, short for Open Charge Point Protocol, is like the universal language of EV charging. It sets the standard for how charging stations talk to central systems, enabling functions like monitoring, management, billing, and even integration with third-party systems. This open-source protocol isn’t just a buzzword — it’s backed by a robust community of vendors and manufacturers, making it a widely adopted and trusted solution.How OCPP Works

At its core, OCPP operates through two main components: the protocol itself and its profiles. The protocol defines the communication rules between charge points and central servers, while profiles determine what data gets exchanged. Picture this: a driver plugs in their EV at a charging station. OCPP kicks into action, transferring driver details to the central server for authentication and initiating the charging process. Simultaneously, the station communicates key data like energy usage and status back to the central system for billing and maintenance purposes.Chargers

Chargers communicate with the OCPP or CMS server using the same OCPP protocol. They are equipped with small hardware, similar to a Raspberry Pi, where firmware code is written. This code is responsible for monitoring and transferring data about specific charging sessions to the OCPP server. Additionally, it accepts commands such as startTransaction and stopTransaction from the standard OCPP server to initiate a charging session.