OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface)

OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface)

There's a term on everyone's lips in electric vehicle charging infrastructure: OCPP. But OCPP only works between the charging device and software. Have you ever wondered how different charging network operators (CPO) and service providers (e-MSP) communicate with each other?

The answer: OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface).

What is OCPI?
OCPI is an open interface protocol that enables different charging network operators and mobile service providers to exchange information with each other in a transparent, secure, and automatic manner. In other words, OCPI enables communication between two different systems, not between a charging device and software.

? Simply put:
OCPP → Communication between charging station and management software
OCPI → Communication between different companies' systems

What is OCPI Used For?
Electric vehicle users no longer want to be limited to just one operator's network. When traveling, they want to be able to use charging stations from different companies in different cities. OCPI makes these transitions possible.

Main use cases:
? Roaming (inter-network switching): A user who is a customer of company A can also charge at company B's station.
? Real-time price information and payment: Users can see the price they're charging at and automatic payment processing
? Station information sharing: Data such as location, availability status, power type is transferred to e-MSP systems
? Charging session data sharing: Information required for billing and analysis is transferred in real-time

Who Needs It?
OCPI is critically important especially for:
Charge Point Operators (CPO): Companies that want to open their stations to other service providers
e-Mobility Service Providers (e-MSP): Companies that want to offer their users access to the widest possible charging network
Municipalities and Consortiums: Local governments that want to make public charging networks accessible to different brands
Smart City Projects: City infrastructures aiming for different systems to work together

Technical Foundations of OCPI
Uses RESTful API structure
Works with JSON data format
Secure data exchange over HTTPS
Certified authentication and token management available
Version 2.2.1 is currently the most widely used version

OCPI is modular; meaning only the needed parts can be integrated. For example, if a company only wants to share location data, it can use only the "Location" module instead of the entire system.

OCPI is the key to collaborations in the e-mobility world. As charging stations multiply and transitions between different companies increase, open interface protocols like OCPI improve both user experience and business efficiency. If you want to build a future-oriented charging infrastructure, you should plan not only the hardware but also the integration strategy correctly. OCPI is at the very center of this strategy.

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