Charging hardware lasts many years. The software and partners around it may change in that time. Open standards make sure you can make those changes without replacing equipment that still works.
What OCPP is
OCPP, the Open Charge Point Protocol, is how a charger talks to its management software. It covers starting and stopping sessions, reporting status, sending meter readings, remote resets and firmware updates. Versions 1.6J and 2.0.1 are the most widely used.
What vendor lock-in looks like
- Chargers that only work with the manufacturer's own software.
- Software that only supports one brand of charger.
- Contracts that make it hard to move your chargers to another platform.
- Data you cannot export.
Lock-in limits your choices on price and features, and leaves you stuck if a supplier stops supporting a product.
How open standards help
- Choose hardware freely: mix brands on one network.
- Switch software if needed: move chargers to a new platform without replacing them.
- Join roaming: OCPI connects your network to others so more drivers can use it.
- Future-proof: new features arrive through software updates, not new hardware.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Which OCPP versions does the charger support, and is it certified?
- Can the charger be pointed to a different management system?
- Does the software support chargers from several makers?
- Can you export your session and charger data?
- Is OCPI roaming supported?
Our approach
The EVee Buddy CPMS works with OCPP-compliant chargers from different manufacturers and connects to partner networks through OCPI, so your network stays open as it grows.